Starting a practice
6 of the top conferences for counselors to network with other providers
Attending therapist conferences is a great avenue for networking, continuing education, and more.
July 25, 2025
4 min read
As a mental health provider, your expertise grows through continuous learning and meaningful connections with peers. Professional conferences offer an unparalleled opportunity to expand your knowledge, discover innovative therapeutic approaches, and build relationships that can transform your practice. Whether you're launching your first therapy practice or looking to enhance an established one, attending industry conferences provides access to cutting-edge research, evidence-based techniques, and a community of professionals who share your commitment to mental healthcare.
The investment in conference attendance pays dividends through enhanced clinical skills, expanded referral networks, and renewed passion for your work. From large-scale national gatherings to specialized workshops, these events create spaces for professional growth that can't be replicated through online learning alone.
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How can attending conferences for counselors benefit your practice?
Professional conferences serve as catalysts for practice growth in ways that extend far beyond traditional continuing education. The face-to-face interactions, live demonstrations, and collaborative discussions create learning experiences that translate directly into improved patient outcomes and business success.
The networking opportunities at conferences are particularly valuable for new practice owners who need to establish referral relationships and build professional credibility. When you connect with other providers, you're not just exchanging business cards — you're building a professional ecosystem that supports both your practice and your clients' needs. These relationships often lead to mutual referrals, collaborative treatment approaches, and ongoing professional support.
Key benefits of conference attendance include:
- Connecting with other providers to build your referral network: Meeting specialists in different areas of mental health creates opportunities for appropriate client referrals and collaborative care.
- Learning cutting-edge therapeutic techniques and evidence-based practices: Exposure to new modalities and research findings keeps your practice current and effective.
- Gaining continuing education credits required for license maintenance: Most conferences offer CE credits that fulfill professional development requirements.
- Discovering new tools and resources for practice management: Vendor exhibitions showcase technology and resources that can streamline operations.
- Finding mentors and building peer support networks: Connecting and networking with experienced professionals provides guidance and reduces professional isolation.
- Staying current with industry trends and regulatory changes: Understanding evolving standards and requirements helps maintain compliance and best practices.
- Reinvigorating passion for your work through inspiring presentations: Exposure to success stories and innovative approaches can reignite enthusiasm for mental health work.
The conferences for counselors you can't miss
These conferences represent the premier professional development opportunities in mental health, offering diverse learning experiences that cater to different specialties and career stages.
1. American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference & Expo
Cost: Typically ranges from $300 to $600 for members, with non-member rates higher
The ACA Conference & Expo is the largest annual gathering for professional counselors nationwide, featuring over 200 educational sessions organized across 24 distinct mental health and counseling topic areas, including aging, ethics and legal issues, substance use and addiction, suicide, wellness and self-care, and more. This comprehensive event represents the gold standard for counseling professional development, attracting thousands of practitioners from every counseling specialty.
The ACA combines an extensive educational program with a major expo hall featuring the latest counseling resources, technology, and services, plus an impressive lineup of presentations. Past ACA speakers include Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the 2016 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub and a nationally recognized advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety, as well as the CEO and founder of You Are Never Too Young to Make a Change, Samirah Horton.
2. American Psychological Association (APA) Convention
Cost: Registration typically ranges from $200 to $500 depending on membership status and timing
The APA Annual Convention features more than 1,000 sessions spanning the field of psychology, along with over 50 social hours and networking events. It brings together psychologists, researchers, and mental health professionals from around the globe.
The APA hosts dozens of keynote speakers each year who speak on topics ranging from enacting anti-racism in therapy and fostering joy in children with disabilities to how AI can contribute to the therapeutic alliance. In general, the conference integrates the latest empirical findings with practical applications, making it invaluable for evidence-based practitioners.
3. American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Annual Conference
Cost: Typically ranges from $250 to $450 for members
The AMHCA Annual Conference is designed as an in-person-only event for mental health counselors, featuring specialized programming on clinical topics such as trauma therapy, diagnostic assessment, and evidence-based treatment modalities.
Its smaller size compared to ACA or APA allows for more personalized learning experiences and the opportunity to create meaningful professional relationships, making it particularly valuable for counselors seeking depth over breadth in their professional development. This is especially true in the conference’s many breakout sessions, which cover topics like DBT for veterans, an intro to EMDR, anti-fat bias in counseling, and more.
4. Innovations in Psychotherapy Conference
Cost: Registration fees range from $280 to $1,200 depending on if you’re joining live or virtually
The Innovations in Psychotherapy Conference bills itself as the premier trauma therapy conference, featuring renowned experts who blend clinical expertise with popular appeal. The conference attracts high-profile speakers from both the therapeutic community and culture at large, creating a unique intersection of evidence-based practice and public engagement. Case in point? In 2025, the conference will host singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and actress Mayim Bialik.
Attendees tend to appreciate Innovations’ focus on cutting-edge therapeutic modalities and its ability to attract speakers who bridge the gap between clinical practice and mainstream mental health advocacy. Overall, it emphasizes emerging therapeutic approaches and innovative techniques that may not yet be widely adopted in traditional practice settings. It also brings together the most sought-after experts in the field, making it particularly appealing to therapists who want exposure to the latest developments in psychotherapy before they become mainstream.
5. American College Counseling Association (ACCA) Conference
Cost: Typically $300 to $500 for members
The ACCA conference serves the specialized niche of college and university mental health professionals, addressing the unique challenges of supporting student populations in higher education settings. It’s become increasingly vital as campus mental health needs have grown in complexity and urgency.
Each annual conference tends to stick to a theme. One recent theme, for example, highlighted what it meant to foster deep, meaningful connection as an antidote to the loneliness epidemic amongst the college population. It considered the changing landscape of living in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, and fostering wellbeing as mental health professionals. Topics addressed at the conference typically include crisis intervention on campus, student development theory, academic stress management, and building resilient campus communities.
6. Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Conference
Cost: Typically ranges from $300 to $550
The ADAA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through aligning research, practice and education. Their annual conference allows for an opportunity for professionals specializing in anxiety and mood disorders.
The ADAA is specifically involved in education, training, and research for anxiety and stress-related disorders, with a mission to promote prevention, treatment, and cure through evidence-based approaches. This specialized focus allows for deeper exploration of specific treatment modalities, assessment techniques, and emerging research in these areas than would be possible at a general mental health conference. Past topics covered include mental healthcare for transgender and gender diverse people, the youth mental health crisis, and stress and resilience research findings.
Tips for making the most out of conferences
Maximizing your conference experience requires strategic planning before, during, and after the event. The key is approaching conferences as investments in your professional development rather than passive educational experiences.
Before attending, research the session schedule and create a personalized agenda that aligns with your learning goals and practice needs. Identify specific skills you want to develop or challenges you hope to address. Download the conference app if available, and pre-schedule meetings with vendors or colleagues you want to connect with. Prepare conversation starters and bring plenty of business cards or contact information.
During the conference, take detailed notes and actively participate in sessions by asking questions and engaging in discussions. Don't try to attend every session — quality over quantity leads to better retention and application. Make time for networking breaks and meals, as these informal interactions often prove most valuable. Collect contact information from new connections and make brief notes about your conversations.
Key strategies for conference success include:
- Set specific learning objectives before attending: Define what you want to accomplish to guide your session choices and networking efforts.
- Prepare an elevator pitch about your practice: Have a clear, concise description of your services ready for networking conversations.
- Follow up within 48 hours of meeting new contacts: Send personalized messages referencing your conversation to solidify new professional relationships.
- Schedule implementation time after returning: Block time in your calendar to review notes and plan how to integrate new knowledge into your practice.
- Join conference social media groups: Engage with other attendees before, during, and after the event to extend networking opportunities.
- Attend smaller sessions and workshops: These often provide more interactive learning and better networking opportunities than large presentations
- Document your experience: Take photos (when appropriate), save handouts, and maintain a conference journal for future reference.
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This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.
© 2025 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
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