Hello! What an opportune time to write about the Professional Training Program (PTP) at ISSTD! My tenure as Chair is coming to an end, and I am so grateful for having this experience. I am moving into the Past-Chair role and passing the baton to Ann Smith, PsyD, as incoming Chair, and Adithy, PhD, as incoming Chair-Elect. I could not have asked for more talented, wise and kind people to partner with!
We are expanding the Leadership of the PTP! After many months of talking about this, we finally have our very first ever Course Lead, John Lovern. He is one of our favorite instructors and will serve as a guide to the Level 1 instructors. So, if you were hesitant about becoming a Level 1 instructor, now is a great time to come aboard!
We are busy at the PTP, collaborating with the Curriculum Directors, Su Baker and Joan Turkus. Besides updating each course, one level at a time, we are also strategically planning mini courses that will add the missing pieces to an ever-expanding topic. Some keywords I can share (as a tease!) are Psychodynamics, Attachment, Neurobiology, Mind Control, and more. There is always more to learn, and ISSTD continues to strive to be your professional home where you can always keep learning.
Some more interesting developments for 2026 is a planned Open House where you will get to discuss what you can expect from a PTP class. (What is a Seminar class?) You’ll also “Get to Know Your Instructor” through recorded short interviews; so, you can choose a class not just based on the schedule but also based on which instructor you connect to more easily.
Here’s the hardest part of this spotlight on the PTP: We are saying goodbye to our dear Mary Pat! She has been the force behind all decisions made, the central nervous system directing all of our activities. We’re taking the growth she promoted and will continue the mission.
As we get ready for 2026, there will be new faces, new expansions, new improvements, and still, at the core, the same familiar Professional Training Program you’ve come to know. If you haven’t, now is the perfect time to start! View courses open for registration here.