My Trip to the TPA Conference 2023
So, I decided late last year that I really should check out the Texas Psychological Association conference in 2023. Heard some folks talking about it, figured it might be worth the trip. You know, get out of the office, see what’s new, maybe learn a thing or two.
First step, obviously, was getting myself registered. Went onto their website, clicked around until I found the registration page. Filled out all the usual stuff – name, credentials, workshop choices, the whole deal. Had to pull out the credit card, of course. Never cheap, these things. Got the confirmation email, so that was sorted.
Next up was figuring out where to stay and how to get there. Looked up hotels near the conference center. Found one that wasn’t crazy expensive and seemed decent enough. Booked a room for a few nights. Then booked my flight. Always a bit of a gamble trying to get a good flight time without paying through the nose.
Packed my bag the night before – clothes, toiletries, notebook, pens. Threw in some comfy shoes because I knew I’d be doing a lot of walking around the conference venue. Double-checked I had my registration confirmation and hotel details printed out, just in case the phone died.
Hitting the Ground Running
Travel day went okay. Got to the airport, through security, onto the plane. Landed, grabbed my bag, and got a ride to the hotel. Checked in, dumped my stuff in the room. Felt good to finally be there.
The next morning, headed over to the conference center. Big place. Lots of people milling around already. Found the registration desk, gave them my name, and got my badge and the conference bag full of papers and schedules. Put the badge on – felt official now.
Spent the next couple of days pretty busy. Here’s roughly how it went:
- Grabbed coffee first thing each morning. Essential fuel.
- Looked at the schedule, tried to pick out sessions that sounded interesting or useful. Sometimes it’s hard to choose.
- Went to the actual talks. Found a seat, listened to the speaker, tried to scribble down some notes. Some sessions were great, really engaging. Others… well, you know how it is. Sometimes you just zone out a bit.
- Walked around the exhibit hall during breaks. Lots of booths set up – publishers, software companies, therapy resources. Picked up a few free pens and brochures. Talked to a couple of the vendors.
- Caught up with a few colleagues I hadn’t seen in a while. Stood around chatting in the hallways or grabbed a quick lunch together. Met some new folks too, exchanged pleasantries. It’s part of the whole conference thing, right? Networking, they call it.
- Attended one of the evening social events. Had a drink, made small talk. It was alright, a bit noisy, but a decent way to wind down.
By the last day, I was feeling pretty worn out. Information overload, maybe. Sat in on one final session, then it was time to head out. Checked out of the hotel, got back to the airport, and flew home.
Overall thoughts? It was a solid conference. Didn’t have any earth-shattering revelations, but I definitely picked up a few practical tidbits I can probably use. Seeing familiar faces and making a few new contacts was good too. Was it worth the time and money? Yeah, I think so. It’s good to step away from the daily grind sometimes and just immerse yourself in the field for a bit. Glad I went.
