Mental Health Continuing Education Hot Topics

As in any medical field, the field of mental health requires its professionals to pursue further training once they have their basic degree. These professionals must attend seminars, take classes, and pursue advanced degrees in order to maintain a competitive edge and keep their certifications in many states. If you find yourself looking for something new to learn about as you pursue your necessary mental health continuing education, consider some of these hot topics.

Depression in Children

Depression in children is currently on the rise all around the world. While it is still relatively rare in children under the age of 12, it can happen. You need to know how to identify and treat this dangerous condition, even in your youngest patients. Do you know the basic signs of depression in children? These may be different than the signs of the disease in adults. If you are not aware of the signs to look for, it may be time to pursue mental health continuing education on the topic.

Couples Therapy

As more and more marriages are hurting because of the stresses of modern life, you may find that your clinic is filled with people seeking couples therapy. Remember, a healthy marriage is vital to a healthy state of mind. It is crucial that you find ways to help these patients that will work in the busy modern society that we live in. consider taking a few courses to help you relate to struggling couples.

Brain Science

Today's field is much more complex than it ever was. Are you providing your patients with the latest scientific advances in the field of psychotherapy? Are there medications out there that you are not aware of or using properly? There are two ways to ensure that you are up to date on the latest advances in these fields. The first is to subscribe to and read periodicals in your field. The second is to sign up for conferences and online seminars on this topic. Remember, your patients are relying on you to provide them with the safest, most up-to-date treatments, and your mental health continuing education gives you the ability to give them what they expect and need from you.

Recovery from Trauma

In the violent world we live in, you will likely see more and more patients with traumas in their past that they need help recovering from. You are likely quite skilled already in treating these individuals. You need to make sure you have the best possible skills, though, to facilitate healing of the mind for those you treat who have significant traumas in their past history. Again, furthering your training ensures your skills stay sharp.

Remember, no matter where you are in your career, your main goal is to provide quality treatments to your patients to help them heal from whatever is plaguing them. No matter how good you are at what you do, you can always learn something new. Mental health continuing education provides you with the opportunity to learn about the latest advances in the field and provide your patients with the best possible care.

Mental health continuing education is not difficult but it takes time and commitment and entails being rewarded for your work. To learn how you can participate please see: http://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/

8(A) Information, Fact Or Fiction?

The 8a designation is a coveted federal certification for small business owners. Everyday there are hundreds of business owners seeking advice about the 8(a) program and how to get certified. By doing thorough research, you can literally save thousands of dollars in preparation fees.

So what is fact or fiction about the 8a program? You can do to the source, the SBA website, but unfortunately it is really difficult to navigate and find the exact information you need.

So then you start with a Google search and you find articles.

Just because an article appears on the Internet does not make it fact or even truth. Take for example, the flurry of poorly written articles I have seen on SBA 8(a) certification.

I find it interesting that many of the articles that are written by "Internet Experts" who have NO - that is zip, zilch, nada - experience in owning an 8a business.

In addition to the poor grammar and sentence structure, they are writing articles that are simply not factual. One recent article that I read stated there are "millions of 8a companies". In reality, there are less than 10,000 certified SBA 8a companies currently. If you were researching the 8a program and learned there are millions of companies versus thousands of companies, how would that affect your perception? Would you decide it was too easy or too difficult to even apply for certification?

How do I know how to distinguish between fact and fiction? Here are three tips to help you sift through the fiction and find facts.

1. When you are seeking advice about 8a certification take time to look at the author's credentials and determine if they are credible or not. Check out their website and see how much they reveal about themselves as individuals and as a company. Take time to learn about the writer and their experience in the 8a program, if there is any.
2. Do a Google search of the person's name and see if there are any relevant websites associates with that author. Put the writer into context and determine for yourself if they are truly qualified to be making statements about a very complex program.
3. Call the author, ask them questions, get to know them as a person. Reputable authors are more than happy to email and speak with you on the phone about specifics regarding the 8a certification process.
Don't be duped by "experts" who simply copy other people's work, add in some filler words and pass themselves off as 8a experts.

Karen Miller is The 8a Mentor. She has assisted business owners for the past five years to prepare their social and economic disadvantage narratives, a critical part of the SBA 8a application process. Get the facts about SBA 8a certification and the narrative requirements at: http://www.The8aMentor.com

Sport Pilot Training Certification

"Sport Pilot" used to mean any pilot who flew any type of aircraft for sport, with or without training or license. But the United States Federal Aviation Administration (or FAA) has recently redefined the term "sport pilot" to be applied to the new light sport aircraft airmen's certificate for which training and a certain amount of solo flying time are required.

Light sport aircrafts include parachutes for parasailing, hang gliders, and trikes -- in other words, aircraft that rely on their human sport pilot's physical power, athletic ability and expertise rather than a mechanical engine, which the aircraft may or may not have. They are also easy to transport by car or truck, and expensive hangars aren't necessary.

Those who wish to become sport pilots find that flying light sport aircraft are safe and affordable and that the necessary training is quick and easy. After learning the techniques and dynamics of being airborne from a qualified flight instruction school - such as takeoff, turning and landing - you can be flying solo and progress to longer and higher flights in just a few days. There are many sport pilot training or club organizations around the world to assist you and help you find friends to fly with.

Although there is relatively low risk involved with flying most light sport aircraft, safety is of the utmost importance to the sport pilot. A good training program will have instilled in a prospective sports pilot the habit of properly preparing and exercising good judgment, especially in terms of the weather conditions that he or she will be flying in. The most important decision you as a sport pilot will start with is what type of flying fits your lifestyle and what type of aircraft will do it for you. The next is finding a certified training program to meet your needs.

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Yoga Teacher Training Online Correspondence Courses - The Inside Story

Is Yoga certification online a new concept? Not really; correspondence courses have existed for decades - concerning a multitude of subjects. It was only a matter of time for correspondence courses to evolve into online courses. Higher education has learned to adapt to the needs of busy adults, who have many commitments at home and at work.

With the help of Email and telephone support, Yoga teacher interns receive much quicker responses, from their tutors, than ever before. Written assignments, completed exams, and critiques, can be sent back and forth via Email.

Some interns elect to send their practicum in a video format or by streaming video. The most popular way to send a practical exam is still by postal mail in DVD format. Of course, the large VHS tapes are also acceptable. However, the small Hi8 tapes, which resemble cassette audio tapes, can be erased by scanning equipment.

Sending a video taped practicum is a viable option, if travel for an on site Yoga certification practical exam is a hardship. The cost of travel, time out of work, family obligations, and commitments to a higher college education, can make it impossible to complete an on site practicum.

Interns of Yoga correspondence courses must be self-starters. It is best to have smaller specific goals in mind for successful completion of the ultimate goal - which is to graduate with a Yoga teacher's diploma in hand.

Examples of smaller specific learning goals are: Reading ten pages per day, teaching for an hour per day, or a mix of learning methods, for a specific number of hours per week. The end result is a state of competence and successful completion of your Yoga instructor certification course.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA - http://www.riyoga.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Yoga Teacher Certification - Your Untapped Potential

What is your untapped potential? Why do people take a certification course to become a Yoga teacher? Could Yoga teacher training help you to find inherent talents that have remained hidden inside you? Let's look at these, and many other questions, related to finding natural resources within each of us.

What is your untapped potential? Most of us let a few set backs in life guide us down a well-beaten path that is traveled by many. Most people do not consider their full potential. Instead, they become conditioned to settle for less from life. They "play it safe," and become extremely conscious of risk.

Your untapped potential is your ability that lies hidden in dormancy. You may not have had time to consider what you really want to do in life. Assessing your natural talents is a start, but envisioning where your natural talents could carry you is your untapped potential.

Why do people take a certification course to become a Yoga teacher? There are a wide variety of reasons why people take intensive courses. Some interns may feel a calling toward teaching Yoga as a vocation. Some choose to teach as a part-time hobby.

There are many, who take Yoga teacher courses, to help friends and family members. In this case, they are seeking enough information to teach safely. Rarely do interns have visions of a big Yoga teacher salary. It is possible to earn respectable wages, but this requires teachers to market themselves.

The marketing aspect tends to be a "turn off" for those who do not seek full time employment. This runs parallel to the mindset of many artists and writers, who begin to realize that a successful marketing campaign may require 50%, or more, of their time.

Could Yoga teacher training help you to find inherent talents that have remained hidden inside you? Yes, a Yoga teacher intensive course makes it possible to tap into the inner-self through self-realization. For anyone who experiences this awakening of consciousness, the world around them has changed.

This change is due to a transformation from within. At this point it is up to each individual, as to what he or she will do with complete awareness. A few may use it to garner a respectable Yoga instructor salary, while most will use the information they learn to help others.

Untapped potential means many things to different people, but it usually comes down to our personal values. Within each of us, what we see as valuable will be different. Regardless of our differences, a Yoga teacher intensive will guide us to find our true purpose in life.

© Copyright 2009 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA - http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com. He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html.

Aerospace Plastics For Aircraft Plastic Components

Plastics cover a broad field of organic synthetic resin and may be divided into two main classifications - aerospace thermoplastics _ and aerospace thermosetting plastics. Thermoplastics may be softened by heat and can be dissolved in various organic solvents.

Aerospace Thermoplastics.

Thermoplastics may be softened by heat and can be dissolved in various organic solvents. Two kinds of transparent thermoplastic materials are commonly employed in windows, canopies, etc. These are known as acrylic plastics and cellulose acetate plastics. Cellulose acetate was used in the past but since it is dimensionally unstable and turns yellow after it has been installed for a time, it has just about passed from the scene and is not considered an acceptable substitute for acrylic. Acrylic plastics are known by the trade names of Lucite or Plexiglas and by the British as Perspex and meet the military specifications of MIL-P-5425 for regular acrylic, MIL-P-8184 -~ 184 for craze-resistant acrylic.

Aerospace Thermosetting Plastics.

Thermosetting plastics do not soften appreciably under heat but may char and blister at temperatures of 240 to 260 'C (400 to 500 °F). Most of the moulded products of synthetic resin composition, such as phenolic, urea-formaldehyde, and melamine formaldehyde resins, belong to the thermosetting group. Once the plastic becomes hard, additional heat will not change it back into a liquid as it would with a thermoplastic.

Storage and handling.

Because transparent thermoplastic sheets soften and deform when they are heated, they must be where the temperature will never be excessive.

Aerospace thermoforming.

Transparent acrylic plastics get soft and pliable when they are heated to their forming temperatures and can be formed to almost any shape. When they cool, they retain the shape to which they were formed. Acrylic plastic may be cold-bent into a single curvature if the material is thin and the bending radius is at least 180 times the thickness of the sheet. Cold bending beyond these limits will impose so much stress on the surface of the plastic that tiny fissures or cracks, called crazing, will form.

Forming methods.

Simple Curve Forming. Heat the plastic material to the recommended temperature, remove it from the heat source, and carefully drape it over the prepared form. Carefully press the hot plastic to the form and either hold or clamp the sheet in place until it cools. This process may take from ten minutes to one-half hour. Do not force-cool it.

Compound-Curve Forming.

This type of forming is normally used for such parts as canopies or complex wingtip light covers, and it requires a great deal of specialized equipment. There are four commonly used methods, each having its advantages and disadvantages.

Stretch forming. Preheated acrylic sheets are stretched mechanically over the form in much the same way as is done with the simple curved piece. Special care must be taken to preserve uniform thickness of the material, since some parts will have to stretch more than others.

Male And Female Die Forming. This requires expensive matching male and female dies. The heated plastic sheet is placed between the dies which are then mated. When the plastic cools, the dies are opened.

Aerospace Vacuum Forming Without Forms. Many aircraft canopies are formed by this method. In this process a clamp with an opening of the desired shape is placed over a vacuum box and the heated sheet of plastic is clamped in place. When the air in the box is evacuated, the outside air pressure will force the hot plastic through the opening and form the concave canopy. It is the surface tension of the plastic that shapes the canopy.

Aerospace Vacuum Forming With A Female Form. If the shape needed is other than that which would be formed by surface tension, a female mould, or form must be used. It is placed below the plastic sheet and the vacuum pump is connected. When air from the form is evacuated, the outside air pressure will force the hot plastic sheet into the mould and fill it.

aviation-database.com has lots of resources for the aircraft industry. The web is a vast source of information. Aviation-database collects the industry into one huge database of contacts. Aerospace plastic thermoforming aircraft interiors by Cox Wokingham Plastics uses technical thermoforming to manufacture aircraft plastic components.

Information on the Purpose of the SBA 8a - SDB Certification

There is much news going around about the SBA 8a program and it's benefits to small business owners. Here is a quick overview with relevant information about the program purpose and eligibility requirements.

SBA 8(a) / SDB Certification Overview Submission of the 8(a) and SDB application is required from a small business owner who wants to obtain certification to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(a) Business Development (BD) program and/or the small disadvantaged business (SBD) program. We recommend you do a Google search to locate the FedBizOpps database and view potential contracting opportunities in your field.

Purpose of Certifications Certification for participation in the 8(a) BD program qualifies eligible firms to receive certain managerial, technical, and contracting assistance designed to assist the firms in competing in the American Economy. It is interesting to note that the definition of a small business may seem rather large to the "traditional small business" owner. For example: 541511 Custom Computer Programming the limits are no more than 500 employees and less than $23 million in sales for three consecutive years.

Certification as an SDB qualifies eligible firms for Federal contract assistance, including the price evaluation adjustment, a source selection evaluation factor or sub-factor, and other subcontracting incentives. This designation offers even more opportunities when submitting bids that are or are not designated for small business owners.

Basic Eligibility Requirements To qualify for 8(a) BD program certification, the applicant firm must: Be a for-profit small business concern, non-profit organizations are not eligible. The SBA looks favorably upon small business owners who have been in a specific field and then choose to open their own consulting practice. So if you are thinking of a second career, this might be a great choice.

Prove 51% unconditionally owned by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged. This group includes women, minorities and service disabled veterans.

Demonstrate the management and daily business operation is controlled by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Demonstrate potential for success; and possess, together with all its principals, good character. Government agencies are getting more strict in conducting criminal background checks to ensure that owners are in good standing with taxes and other personal / business legalities.

To qualify for certification as an SDB, the applicant firm must: Be a small business concern. As stated earlier the definition of a small business is much more than just a one person office. Despending upon the classification a small business might be a large company in a community.

Be at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Companies that have one owner do not have to do as much paperwork, while companies that are comprised of husbands and wives may come under additional scrutiny to prove that the woman is qualified and serving in the leadership role.

Management and daily business operation controlled by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially economically disadvantaged.

Special Eligibility Rules for 8(a) BD Certification Firms certified for 8(a) program participation are automatically certified as SDBs. But if a company applies for SDB certification is does not automatically become SBA 8a certified.

Another important note: A firm and the disadvantaged individual upon whom eligibility is based can participate in only one time. Once an individual has used the one-time eligibility to qualify a firm, that individual will be considered non-disadvantaged with respect to any other applicant firm or 8(a) SBD program participant. Note: Brokers and Non-Profit Entities are not eligible for participation in the 8(a) BD Program

Karen Miller, owner of Design2Train (SBA 8a certified) shares SBA 8a application information with small business owners. Each year the federal government sets aside millions of contract dollars for qualified small businesses to bid and receive contracts relating to the many federal agencies. The designation of SBA 8(a) is a coveted program certification. Many federal contracts are "set aside" for 8(a) firms, meaning that only certified businesses may apply or be considered. To become SBA 8(a) certified, a business owner must take the time to apply for and receive certification. Learn more about the application process at: http://www.getsba8acertified.com

Distance Learning Courses for Yoga Instructor Training

Is distance learning for Yoga instructors a new concept? No, distance learning for Yoga instructors has been around for decades. The concept of training to become a Yoga instructor, by distance learning, is much like working with any university via correspondence, but the efficiency of Yoga teacher training courses has improved with new technology.

Does Yoga teacher training online sound "tacky?" These days, the Internet has managed to become the "ultimate vehicle" for learning anything, including Yoga. It makes perfect sense for Yoga centers, and universities, to use the Internet for teacher / student contact.

Traditional on-site Yoga instructor training programs are much more computerized than they were ten years ago. Many on-site Yoga instructor trainers, and master Yoga teachers, maintain contact, with interns, by Email. This constant dialogue, from teacher to student, and vice versa, is very good for exchanging ideas. It also helps avoid common mistakes in communication.

With technology advancing at a rapid pace, the age of online Yoga teacher training is here. Yoga certification online is usually composed of assignments that can be sent by the intern, to the Yoga instructor school, via Email.

Even the Yoga certification videos, or practical exams, can be sent by interns with video streaming technology. Many Yoga instructor interns may still prefer to send their training assignments back, in the traditional way, by Postal Mail.

Is this the best Yoga certification program? The fact is many people cannot afford to leave their families, and employment, for weeks, or months, at a time. Many Yoga instructors outside of India are female, have children, work a full-time job, maintain a home, and some of these women are going to college at night.

With this in mind, the concept of a distance learning Yoga instructor's training course, developed for certification, is convenient and affordable. Truthfully, many interns do shop for an affordable certification, to become a teacher of Yoga.

A Yoga teacher certification, in Thailand, may be affordable, but what will the cost of a flight be? Just the cost of travel, by round trip flight, to Thailand or India, could be, "in the neighborhood" of, $3,000 USD, from North America. Compare that to a premium 200-hour, or more, Yoga instructor's training course and certification, for about $500 USD.

Now you can understand why Yoga instruction, Yoga certification, and Yoga teacher training, packed in a convenient home-study course, is so popular.

This is the 21st century, so Yoga music, Yoga products, Yoga exercise DVD's, and Yoga teacher certification courses, can be easily shipped to any part of the world.

Even, traditional Yoga meditation is being packaged into a certification course. Is this a good thing for Yoga? The demand for Yoga is global, and technology has found the answer - with Yoga instructor training courses and Yoga certification online.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Complete Your SBA 8a Certification In Four Easy Steps

Why have you been putting off getting SBA 8a certification? It is NOT that difficult to get certified if you really want to break into government contracting. And you do NOT have to pay someone else to help you fill out the form. If you can read and follow instructions, you can do it. How do I know? I successfully completed my company SBA 8a certification in 2004. Here's the blueprint... now get it done!

Where do you start?

There is an electronic application form at the SBA website. If you take the time to read the four steps to the Electronic Application Process, you will be prepared to complete it in the least amount of time with the least amount of personal pain. I recommend submitting the electronic application form over the mail-in version because you will receive your results back in days, NOT weeks.

Step One: Get registered with CCR

The first step is to get your company registered at the federal Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database The CCR database is a single point of vendor registration and is key to streamlining the procurement process. Note: It might take 24 - 72 hours to get your CCR profile active in the system. Then you can proceed.

Step Two: Register in the SBA General Login System (GLS)

This system supports all services offered by the SBA. Two key pieces of information you will need to know are your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security Number. You will also need to register for a Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS). The DUNS is a requirement for all federal contracts as well as many major corporations. Note: You can register for the FREE service and do not have to sign up for any other monthly fee-based D&B services.

Step Three: Download, sign, get notarized and mail-in Signature Authorization card

This is the only "manual" portion of the process. It becomes the trigger for the SBA to begin screening and reviewing your Electronic application. Be sure you send your Signature Authorization card to the appropriate SBA Program Certification & Eligibility address, based upon the state you are doing business.

Step Four: Begin SBA 8a Application Process via the GLS

Using your new GLS user name / password - enter your information into the application online. Note: You do not have to complete the application in one sitting, fill out as much as you can and then save and come back later. How long will it take to complete the application? The more complex the company structure, the longer it takes to fill out the information. For example:a 100% owned sole-proprietorship owned will not take as long as a multi-owner corporation located in a community property state. Note: My application took about two hours total to complete. You will need your tax returns from the past three years and other documents for reference.

The SBA does offer FAQs and an online training course to get you prepared for the application process. Once you have submitted the application, by law, there is a 90 day response time on getting back to you. My application was reviewed in less than 30 days. So if you submit the application online, you will get a much more timely response.

One other note: Caucasian women have more difficulty in getting SBA 8a certified. One extra support document you may be asked to prepare and submit is a disadvantaged social narrative. This is a paper that documents how overcome social, economic and business factors have influenced your inability to succeed to your maximum capability. Can you write this paper without hiring a company to prepare it for you? YES. Learn how I took my experience and now help hundreds of other women to gain confidence to prepare their own narratives. Read more about the toolkit I prepared at my company website.

Ok, now you know the four steps to the SBA 8a process, what is keeping you from starting your application today?

Karen Miller, President of Design2Train an SBA 8a company has created a Narrative Toolkit to assist small business owners. Get a free report at: [http://www.sba8anarrativetoolkit.com]