Okay, so lemme tell you about my experience with the Washington State Psychological Association (WSPA). It was a bit of a journey, not gonna lie.
It all started when I was looking for some professional development opportunities. I’m always trying to stay up-to-date on the latest stuff in psychology, and WSPA kept popping up in my searches. I figured, “Hey, why not check it out?”
The first thing I did was cruise their website. I gotta say, it was pretty easy to navigate. They had a bunch of info about upcoming conferences, workshops, and even some online courses. I spent a good hour just browsing through everything, trying to figure out what would be the best fit for me.
Decided to attend one of their regional conferences. It wasn’t too far of a drive, and the topics looked really interesting. Plus, I was hoping to network with some other psychologists in the area. Networking is always a good idea, right?
Registered for the conference online, which was super straightforward. They had different pricing tiers depending on whether you were a member or not. I wasn’t a member at the time, but I figured I’d see how the conference went before committing to a membership.
The day of the conference finally arrived. I drove over, found parking (always a win!), and checked in. The registration process was smooth, and they gave me a little swag bag with some pens and a notepad. You know, the usual conference stuff.
The conference itself was actually pretty good. I attended a few different sessions on topics like trauma-informed care and ethical considerations in telehealth. The speakers were knowledgeable, and I actually learned a few things that I could apply to my practice.
During the breaks, I tried to mingle with some of the other attendees. It was a bit awkward at first, but I eventually struck up a conversation with a few people. We talked about our work, our challenges, and shared some resources. It was nice to connect with others who understood what I was going through.
One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote speaker. They gave a really inspiring talk about the importance of self-care in the field of psychology. It was a good reminder that we need to take care of ourselves if we want to be able to help others.
After the conference, I started thinking about becoming a member of WSPA. I weighed the pros and cons, and ultimately decided that it would be a worthwhile investment. The membership gave you access to a lot of resources, including a directory of psychologists, continuing education opportunities, and advocacy efforts on behalf of the profession.
So, I went ahead and signed up for a membership online. The process was easy, and I started receiving their newsletter right away. It was full of useful info about upcoming events, policy updates, and job postings.
Since then, I’ve attended a few more WSPA events, including some online workshops and webinars. I’ve also gotten involved in some of their advocacy efforts, like writing letters to legislators about mental health funding. It’s been a great way to stay connected to the profession and make a difference in my community.
Overall, my experience with the Washington State Psychological Association has been really positive. I’ve learned a lot, met some great people, and gotten involved in some important work. If you’re a psychologist in Washington state, I’d definitely recommend checking them out.
- First, I checked out their website.
- Then, I attended a regional conference.
- After that, I became a member.
- Finally, I got involved in their advocacy efforts.
My WSPA Takeaways
Honestly, it’s been a solid experience. I recommend it if you are looking for a supportive psych community.
