Early Career Specialists

• Tell us about your current professional roles and activities.

I am a Registered Psychologist in community practice in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a city whose closest American correlate is probably Denver, Colorado. My practice is in the areas of clinical and forensic psychology. Most of my workdays are spent assisting adults, children and families by conducting evaluations or providing therapeutic support in both civil and criminal contexts. I also try to contribute academically via publishing articles and presenting at conferences every year, but here I face the typical practitioner’s dilemma of having to make time on the side of my desk for these types of activities. But I do very much enjoy contributing to the profession in this way, and I suppose I always have.

• What do you enjoy most about your job?

There is no such thing as a dull week in my area of specialization, and I am fortunate to be surrounded by like-minded colleagues who challenge and inspire me on a daily basis. 

• What motivated you to seek board certification as an early career psychologist (ECP)?

A dear mentor gave me the initial push, and as I learned more about the steps towards certification, they became motivating in and of themselves. I always say that one of the pitfalls of clinical practice is that there is such a premium on ‘doing’–on meeting with clients and producing the reporting that earns us our income–that, over time, we can neglect even the most basic questions related to our professional identity. Board certification allowed me the time and space to reconsider how I identify professionally and how I would characterize the way that I do what I do. I found this to be as much a pleasure as it was a chore. And then, at the end, a bonus: Those added ‘ABPP’ letters behind your name.  

• How has board certification contributed to your professional activities?

My involvement with ABPP has granted me another international circle of colleagues and opportunity to give back to the profession via my board involvement. On a local level, I have perhaps naively been surprised to find that the designation allows me to stand out. I get asked routinely what those additional letters refer to, and I am always proud to describe the purpose of Board Certification and the level of rigour required to obtain the same.

• What advice would you give to psychologists or trainees interested in pursuing board certification?

Don’t wait. One of the most common characteristics of professionals is our tendency to diminish ourselves and our skills. I’m ‘just a new graduate’, ‘just another psychologist’, that type of thing. You are a product of your training, and that training has not been insubstantial. If you are interested in pursuing certification, you lose nothing by reaching out to ABPP to inquire as to how suitable you might be as a candidate. My experience has been that ABPP representatives are very willing to provide guidance, feedback, and support.