Professional conferences provide therapists with continuing education credits, networking opportunities, and exposure to emerging clinical practices. Attending conferences helps clinicians stay current with evidence-based approaches while connecting with colleagues across specialties and practice settings.

Key Takeaways

• Conferences offer CE credits alongside professional networking. Most major therapy conferences provide 15-40+ continuing education hours while creating opportunities to meet colleagues, engage with research, and discover clinical resources.

• Options range from large national conventions to specialized gatherings. Therapists can choose comprehensive conferences covering broad mental health topics or focused events addressing specific modalities, populations, or treatment approaches.

• Virtual conferences have expanded access and reduced costs. Online formats eliminate travel expenses and scheduling barriers, making professional development accessible to rural therapists, those with family obligations, or clinicians on limited budgets.

Major National Therapy Conferences

APA (American Psychological Association) Annual Convention

The APA Annual Convention is the largest gathering of psychology professionals in North America, featuring hundreds of sessions covering the full spectrum of psychological science and practice, from clinical interventions to research presentations to policy discussions.

Who should attend: Psychologists, researchers, and doctoral-level practitioners across all psychology specialties. Graduate students and early career psychologists benefit from dedicated programming and networking events.

Typical CE credits offered: Attendees can earn unlimited CE credits for fully attended sessions. The conference offers both standard APA CE certificates and New York-specific CE certificates.

Cost and registration: Registration fees vary by membership status and timing. Virtual registration provides a lower-cost alternative to in-person attendance.

Registration timeline: The 2026 convention takes place August 6-8 in Washington, DC. Registration typically opens in April with early bird rates available for several months.

NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Conference

The NASW National Conference brings together thousands of social workers from every discipline and practice level, offering programming across clinical practice, policy advocacy, and social justice.

Who should attend: Licensed social workers including LCSWs, LMSWs, and MSW students. The conference serves clinical social workers, macro practitioners, policy advocates, and social workers in healthcare, schools, and community settings.

Focus areas and tracks: Clinical practice, policy advocacy, social justice, ethics, supervision, cultural competence, and emerging practice areas. Sessions include 60-minute and 90-minute formats, symposiums, and poster presentations.

Cost and format: Registration fees vary by membership status with discounted rates for NASW members, students, and retired social workers. Pre-conference workshops require separate registration.

Registration timeline: The 2026 conference, "Beyond the Breaking Point: Connection Through Purpose and Power," takes place June 10-13 in Washington, DC, expecting over 2,000 attendees.

ACA (American Counseling Association) Conference & Expo

The ACA Conference & Expo is the premier professional development event for professional counselors, featuring educational sessions and an exhibit hall with resources for counseling professionals across all specialties and settings.

Who should attend: Licensed professional counselors, licensed mental health counselors, school counselors, rehabilitation counselors, career counselors, and counseling graduate students at all career stages.

Specialties represented: School counseling, clinical mental health counseling, addiction counseling, couples and family counseling, career counseling, and counselor education. Sessions run 60 or 90 minutes with poster presentations available.

Networking opportunities: The expo hall connects attendees with publishers, assessment companies, graduate programs, and technology vendors. Division meetings allow focused networking around specific counseling specialties.

Registration timeline: The 2026 conference takes place April 9-11 in Columbus, Ohio, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Registration typically opens several months before the conference.

AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) Conference

AAMFT hosts multiple conferences throughout the year focused on systemic therapy and marriage and family therapy practice. The flagship Systemic Family Therapy Conference provides programming on systemic approaches and clinical skills training.

Focus on couples and family therapy: AAMFT conferences emphasize systemic thinking, relational dynamics, and evidence-based interventions for couples and families across three core areas: personal development, clinical skills, and community integration.

Typical CE credits offered: The Systemic Family Therapy Conference offers up to 18 CE credits. The Leadership Symposium provides up to 11 CE credits, with an additional 6 CEs through the Approved Supervision Refresher course.

Who benefits most: Marriage and family therapists, couples therapists, and clinicians working with relational systems and family-based interventions.

Registration timeline: The 2025 Systemic Family Therapy Conference took place virtually October 28-30. The 2026 Leadership Symposium will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, with dates to be announced.

Specialized Therapy Conferences

Trauma-Focused Conferences

The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies holds an annual meeting featuring research presentations and clinical training on trauma assessment and treatment. The EMDR International Association hosts conferences on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy with basic training and advanced applications. These conferences typically provide 15-30 CE hours for clinicians treating PTSD, complex trauma, and trauma-related disorders.

CBT and DBT Conferences

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies holds an annual convention featuring research and clinical applications of cognitive-behavioral interventions for anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, and eating disorders. Specialized DBT conferences provide foundational and advanced training for clinicians implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Who should attend: Therapists practicing cognitive-behavioral approaches and clinicians treating emotion dysregulation or borderline personality disorder.

Child and Adolescent Therapy Conferences

Specialized pediatric mental health conferences address developmental considerations and age-appropriate therapeutic approaches. Play therapy conferences provide training in therapeutic play techniques and sandtray therapy. School counselor conferences focus on mental health services in educational settings including crisis response and academic interventions.

Addiction and Substance Use Conferences

NAADAC hosts conferences on addiction counseling, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions. These events cover evidence-based treatments, harm reduction approaches, medication-assisted treatment, and recovery-oriented care.

Who should attend: Addiction counselors, dual diagnosis specialists, and therapists who frequently encounter substance use concerns in their practice.

How to Choose the Right Conference

• Align conference content with your clinical population and theoretical orientation

• Verify CE credits are recognized by your state licensing board

• Evaluate total costs including registration, travel, accommodations, and lost income

• Check employer policies on conference support and reimbursement

• Review conference schedules to confirm sufficient relevant programming

• Consider networking potential based on conference size and specialty focus

• Think about your career stage and training needs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many conferences should therapists attend per year?

Most therapists attend at least one major conference annually. Specialists often attend 2-3 conferences yearly—one general conference plus specialty gatherings. The ideal number depends on CE requirements, budget, and professional development goals.

Can I get reimbursed for conference costs?

Many agencies and group practices offer partial or full conference reimbursement. Therapists should inquire about organizational policies regarding registration fees, travel expenses, and paid time off. Private practitioners can typically deduct conference expenses as business costs.

Are online conference CE credits accepted by all licensing boards?

Most state licensing boards now recognize online CE credits, but requirements vary. Some boards limit virtual CE percentages or require specific content areas in person. Therapists should verify state regulations before relying exclusively on virtual conferences.

How far in advance should I register?

Early bird registration typically opens 4-6 months before conferences, offering 20-30% savings. Early registration also guarantees access to popular pre-conference workshops. Most conferences close registration 1-2 weeks before the event or charge late fees.

Can students or pre-licensed therapists attend?

Most major conferences welcome students and pre-licensed clinicians at reduced registration rates. Student attendance provides professional exposure and networking opportunities. Pre-licensed attendees should confirm CE credit eligibility with their state board, as requirements vary.

Takeaway

Professional conferences represent a valuable investment in therapeutic development, providing continuing education, clinical skill building, and professional community. Starting with one conference annually creates a foundation for ongoing learning. As your practice evolves, you may pursue additional specialty conferences supporting your expertise. The relationships and knowledge gained at conferences extend far beyond the event itself, shaping clinical work for years to come.

Sources

1. APA Annual Convention. (2026). Convention overview and CE information. American Psychological Association. https://convention.apa.org/

2. APA Convention Call for Proposals. (2026). Overview and deadlines. American Psychological Association. https://convention.apa.org/proposals

3. NASW National Conference. (2026). Beyond the breaking point: Connection through purpose and power. National Association of Social Workers. https://proposalspace.com/calls/d/1899

4. NASW 2026 Conference Details. National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/Events/NASW-Conferences

5. ACA Conference & Expo. (2026). Annual conference information. American Counseling Association. https://www.counseling.org/events-education/conferences

6. ACA Call for Proposals. (2026). Conference programming submission. American Counseling Association. https://www.abstractscorecard.com/cfp/submit/login.asp?EventKey=BJAZGYWB

7. Systemic Family Therapy Conference. (2025). Annual conference overview. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. https://www.aamft.org/AAMFT/Shared_Content/Events/Event_display.aspx?EventKey=SFTC2025

8. AAMFT Leadership Symposium. (2026). Professional development for MFT leaders. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. https://www.aamft.org/AAMFT/Shared_Content/Events/Event_display.aspx?EventKey=LS2026

Professional Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional clinical judgment, supervision, or continuing education. Therapists should consult current clinical guidelines and use their professional discretion when applying this information to individual client cases. Always verify continuing education credit acceptance with your specific state licensing board before relying on conference attendance to meet renewal requirements.