Why I Love Being a Continuing Education Provider (Even When It’s Difficult)

When people ask me what I love about being a continuing education (CE) provider for mental health professionals, my answer usually starts with the same word: connection.

I love connecting with clinicians across the country—some seasoned, some just starting out—who show up with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to learn. I love being part of meaningful conversations in our live classes, hearing diverse perspectives, and watching familiar names pop up again and again in our therapist book clubs. I love watching light bulbs go off in real time when someone discovers a new grief and trauma-informed technique or finally finds language for something they’ve felt in their work for years but haven’t quite been able to name.

As a therapist and lifelong learner, I’ve always loved attending clinical trainings myself. There’s something energizing about sitting in a room (or virtual space) with others who care deeply about healing, justice, and the human condition. Creating high-quality CE workshops allows me to combine that passion for learning with a deep desire to give back to the field. It’s not just about sharing research-based tools—it’s about co-creating a space where therapists feel inspired, supported, and seen.

But if I’m being fully transparent, the happiness of this work comes with complexity.

There are many joyless aspects to running a CE business—details people don’t often see from the outside. There’s the endless triple-checking of compliance regulations to meet multiple state and national standards. The steep and ongoing costs of continuing education platform hosting, credentialing fees, and tech tools. The administrative load of marketing, enrollment, customer service, and evaluations. The months of prep and revisions that go into creating a one-hour training that appears effortless to participants.

And let’s not forget the emotional investment—because when you care deeply, you give deeply. That means staying up late to revise content that’s not landing, reworking slide decks to reflect the latest research, and troubleshooting tech issues at 11 p.m. the night before a live event.

It’s a labor of love… and labor is the key word.

And yet, I wouldn’t trade it.

There is something incredibly rewarding about creating CE experiences that feel engaging, accessible, and grounded in real-world practice. Something about watching someone realize they’re not alone in their burnout or their questions or their desire to keep growing. Something about building a community where people can be both learners and teachers—where we can all show up a little messy and still feel like we belong.

That’s the heart of EngagedMinds—and the heart of why I do what I do.

Being a CE provider gives me the opportunity to lift up other voices, explore new ideas, and help therapists feel just a little more resourced as they return to their clients and communities. It also means collaborating with incredible presenters—colleagues who have become friends, which has been one of the most unexpected and meaningful gifts of this work. It lets me say: You’re not alone in this work. And that message, more than anything, feels worth the complexity.

So if you’ve ever attended one of my trainings or joined a book club, or downloaded a free resource, thank you. Your presence, questions, and insights are what make this work meaningful. I’m so grateful to be part of this learning journey with you.

Related CE Trainings and Resources:
Check out our upcoming workshops, self-study courses, and free offerings: EngagedMindsCE.com