Follow These Organizations
by Miranda Rex, MA, MT-BC
There are a lot of awesome modules, workshops, and lectures available exclusively to MT-BCs, but have you ever wanted to branch out and explore other options or specific areas? In my work as a life-long learner, I’ve done much searching for continuing education courses that are outside the norm. Sometimes they can be counted as CMTEs, and sometimes they’re just for my own personal benefit and knowledge.
Here are some of my favorite resources:
National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM)
NICABM has some really outstanding workshops and lectures on trauma and mindfulness that include well-known researchers like Bessel van der Kolk and Stephen Porges. They can get a little pricey, but they have regular discounts and sales.
Re+Birth Equity Alliance
A nonprofit organization committed to building bridges in the interest of achieving birth justice for marginalized communities across the state of Texas. They also provide a mobile mental health clinic and other trainings that address implicit bias within the healthcare system, as well as other trainings and exercises that address iniquities within the healthcare profession. HHMT has partnered with them for trainings and their mobile mental health clinic previously and we have enjoyed collaborating with them.
The Gladney Center for Adoption’s Gladney University
Gladney University hosts live streams on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, parenting, trauma, grief, and, this past January, music therapy! They also have a podcast called reFramed where they dive in to a more intimate discussion of many of the live stream topics, and is available in video form and audio form. (Click here to see Heart and Harmony’s reFramed spotlight from 2020!)
The Institute of Child Psychology
An organization for parents, caregivers, and professionals to help children lead emotionally healthy lives. They have several different free resources, online courses and webinars, live workshops, and other resources.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people, whose activities include public policy advocacy, the development of autistic cultural activities, and leadership trainings for autistic self-advocates. They have a lot of amazing resources cultivated and created by and for the autistic community. They also have a lot of ways for people to get involved with the mission and support their projects.
National Alliance on Mental illness (NAMI)
NAMI works nationally and locally to promote awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. They have mental health education courses, support groups for individuals and families, and easy-to-understand definitions and classifications of different mental health concerns, as well as a plethora of other resources and guides. They also have local chapters throughout the nation that have events and trainings relevant to current events in mental health. Check out the NAMI website to see what your local branch is doing.
Other resources include international music therapy associations, which include, but are not limited to Australian Music Therapy Association, Malaysian Music Therapy Association, British Association of Music Therapy, the World Federation of Music Therapy, and many, many others.
Now it’s your turn!
What are some resources you have used for continuing education or professional development? Comment and let us know!
Miranda Rex, MA, MT-BC
