CONCEPT Continuing & Professional Studies at Palo Alto University delivers advanced training for mental health professionals, with programs customized to individual learning needs. High caseloads, limited resources, limited time and budgets—we understand the everyday barriers to achieving the level of professional development you need.
With content curated by psychologist Dr. Patricia Zapf and our Advisory Board, we make training for developing skills, following best practices, and improving credibility. Our continuing education programs are accessible and individualized to fit every schedule so you can take your practice to the next level.
Our Values
The core values behind everything we do
Who We Are
We are CONCEPT, Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies, a not-for-profit educational institution offering world-class continuing education programs for individuals and groups.
What We Do
We transform mental health generalists into specialists through meaningful courses from leading subject matter experts. Our innovative, high-quality, and flexible post-graduate training is offered through an easy-to-use, learner-centric platform with live or on-demand options.
Why We Do It
We exist to elevate the level of practice and professional fulfillment for mental health professionals, as a means of boosting confidence, improving lives, communities, and society.
Your Continuing Education Experience
CONCEPT will work with you to determine your continuing education needs — for groups or individuals, training goals, objectives, implementation and compliance concerns — as well as training delivery. If you need us there, we are in-person. If time and travel are barriers, we’ll customize your online training. Each of our professional training programs can be offered individually or bundled, in multiple, convenient formats. And we make learning relevant. Each program contains didactic materials as well as interactive exercises so you can apply what you learn to real-world situations.
Our Story
Dr. Patricia Zapf founded CONCEPT in 2009 to better equip mental health professionals with the education and specialized skills to map their paths for continuing success. By combining our strengths with Palo Alto University’s faculty expertise and academic leadership, we custom-design online and in-person, post-graduate training for mental health and allied professionals — connecting you directly with world-class experts on relevant, specialty topics. We continually expand the breadth and depth of our Continuing & Professional Studies course offerings and partnerships so we can help you practice lifelong excellence.
Together we're changing the world
At Palo Alto University, we've earned our reputation as a leading educator of psychologist and counselors. Psychology and counseling is all we do. That focus creates a culture you won't find at schools offering a wider range of academic programs. Our students are part of a culturally-conscious community that reflects today's society, which fosters deeper understanding and preparation to meet the needs of diverse populations. Our programs, rigorous research, and clinical practice opportunities prepare students to make an immediate difference in the lives of those they serve. Students are personally guided by engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and thrive as teachers and mentors. We address pressing and emerging issues that are affecting communities right now. When you put all of this together, it creates a legacy of professionals who are confident, competent, and compassionate.
“Some of the most amazing experts in the field”
“The programs are staffed by some of the most amazing experts in the field, and they made themselves available to me if I followed up with a question.”
Dr. Abraham Loebenstein
- Ph.D, Psychologist PSY15631
“I don’t know that I would have passed my boards without CONCEPT”
“Having the downloadable source materials to study from was a huge advantage for my board certification tests, since I could review the content as many times as I needed. I don’t know that I would have passed my boards without CONCEPT, since much of what I reviewed in those presentations were covered in my exam.”
Dr. Kyle M. Clayton
- Associate, Price Proctor
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