Professional Development Opportunities

CAP was formed in 1989 to protect the right of psychotherapists to practice psychotherapy. In 2019, the Board of Directors reconfirmed the goals set for CAP in 2012. The goals were to provide education, networking and legislative representation as a way to support the professional development of our members. CAP offers these activities as ways to enhance the professional development of psychotherapists.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

CAP is committed to providing support to psychotherapists seeking to continue their competency as psychotherapists. We do this by hosting regular monthly meetings where we highlight a speaker on a specific modality or psychotherapeutic practice. At these talks, CAP helps link its members to schools, institutes, academic institutions as well as educational programs offered throughout the year by recognized thought leaders in psychotherapy. CAP is committed to supporting members with increasing their skills and knowledge.

Three CAP Advisory Board members who strongly encourage continuing education as a way to maintain professional standards have founded schools that provide education, certification, training, and supervision.

Schools

The Boulder Psychotherapy Institute (BPI), founded by Dr. Betty Cannon, has been training therapists and graduate students in Applied Existential Psychotherapy (AEP) and Gestalt Therapy since 1989. Applied Existential PsychotherapyTM (AEP) is an experiential psychodynamic approach that has been developed and taught at the Boulder Psychotherapy Institute over the past twenty-three years. AEP interlaces the insights of existential philosophy and contemporary psychoanalysis with techniques drawn from Gestalt therapy and other experiential approaches. It is a dynamic here-and-now therapy that also takes into account how the past impacts the present. BPI provides training and certification in AEP as well as group therapy and other techniques.

The Colorado School for Family Therapy (CSFT), founded in 1995 by Dr. Reo Leslie, Jr., is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupation School Board. The School provides an advanced learning experience and direct clinical practice with families, couples and individuals. The CSFT offers the opportunity to earn post-graduate certifications and credentials in a wide array of clinical specializations, including but not limited to:  Addictions Counseling (CAC), Play Therapy, Eating Disorders Treatment, Clinical Sex Therapy, and Trauma and Abuse Psychotherapy.

America’s Academy of Coaching, Counseling, and Hypnotherapy, founded by Dr. Carol Ann Watson, provides life coaching training, hypnotherapy training, and continuing education for mental health professionals.

We encourage CAP members to attend the school that offers training, classes, and certifications or degrees that supports their practice.  To learn about CAP members who offer supervision go the Find A Therapist section of the website. Also, feel free to contact any CAP Board member or attend a CAP networking event to collect information on resources for training offered to psychotherapists in Colorado. 

Supervision

Professional supervision is a paid service that is available through these schools and from individuals practitioners listed in the Member Directory.

Legal Advice

Keep Your Practice Legally Current: Because the laws can be complex, we are extremely grateful for posting a provided by CAP Advisory Board member Jim Carr, Attorney-at-Law. We are honored to have Jim as our advisor.  He brings to the Board his prior experience as a former Assistant Attorney General serving the Mental Health Boards of Colorado. Check out the CAP Blog page to get the latest advice on how to keep your practice in compliance with the Mental Health Practice Act.

Networking

CAP is focused on building a community of mental health professionals who support one another.  Each of our education events includes time for networking.  CAP members and visitors exchange cards, share information about their practices and make referrals. We look forward to seeing you at any of our education or networking events.  A popular networking event is the end of year social hosted at BPI. Watch the CAP Calendar and join us.

Legislative Representation

Core to CAP’s mission is representing psychotherapists at legislative events. For a full description of how we do this, go to our Legislative Page.