Posts Tagged Association
Psychological Trauma – Continuing Education For Specialists
Dealing with serious issues in a patient’s past can be one of the most important things a mental health professional has to help with. When it comes to dealing with trauma, continuing education can keep these professionals on the cutting edge of new research, always ready to avail themselves of new weapons they can use in the fight against mental illness. The American Psychological Association has a number of standards and recommendations when it comes to guiding the course of further learning by psychologists and psychiatrists. These standards help to ensure that learning and teaching is done in such a way that both individuals and groups continue to advance in this field.
It has been long known by professionals in the mental health field that many issues of current mental health in a patient can be traced back to a singular point in the patient’s background. If a patient was abused or neglected or faced some terrible incident in their past, it can have a tremendous effect on their current life, even without them knowing that the incident in question was the root cause. Some could consider these concepts to be at the very foundation of much of modern psychology. Because it is so important, doctors in the field should do everything they can to stay abreast of the latest research in the field. This means reading academic journals, attending workshops, and even listening to lectures from other prominent mental health professionals.
Some professionals eschew the idea of furthering their studies after graduation, at least in anything that could be considered a formal manner. This feeling is common in many fields, actually, not just psychology. Most educational experts, however, warn that this is a dangerous position to take. In a field such as this, that is ever changing, a doctor does himself and his patients a grave disservice by not continually updating their knowledge of their chosen field. A doctor who is just five years behind the current research can find themselves hopelessly out of date. Does that mean that the knowledge that came before is worthless? Sometimes. But usually the new research simply expounds on that earlier base and a doctor who doesn’t take advantage of the new ideas in the field is a fool.
When it comes to psychological trauma, continuing education is even more important. Every day, we learn a little bit more about the human brain and how it functions. Every day, the science gets a little clearer. With greater understanding, mental health professionals can modify their techniques and have greater results with their patients.
Writing For Health Magazines
Freelance writing for health publications will not only keep you on the edge of the latest trends and advice for maintaining a healthy mind and body – it can also be healthy for your bank account.
Freelance writers produce articles covering a range of diverse topics including nursing, disabilities, diseases, prevention and cure, health research and education, alternative treatments and more.
On the technical writing side medical writers also work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, writing materials that include regulatory documents, investigative drug brochures, and clinical study protocols.
There is a good demand for health writing and this is a growing industry. Consider for a moment for 76 million baby boomers that have been entering their fifties. They are worrying more about their health. They want to lose weight. They are trying to get fit. They want to prevent disease and remain as healthy as possible.
It is not just the boomers, of course. Everyone wants to be healthy and avoid sickness in order to feel better and enjoy life.
Here Are A Few Examples of Health Publications
The following are just a few examples of health publications that you could work for as a freelance writer.
360 Magazine
An ezine accepting articles on all topics related to the wheelchair community, including health, travel, sports and relationships. Payment ranges from $0.10 to $0.25 per word.
Arthritis Today
A national consumer health magazine published by the Arthritis Foundation. Contains information about arthritis research, treatment, self-care and emotional coping. This publication pays up to $2,000 for feature articles of up to 2,000 words.
Cure
A publication for those with cancer and their caregivers. Providing the latest cancer updates’ research, and education. Pays freelance writers $1.00 per word.
Diabetes Health
Providing patients, educators and healthcare professionals with practical advice and the latest information on new methods, technologies and research related to diabetes. Payment varies with experience and length of article.
Healthplan
This magazine of trends, insights, and best practices is published by the American Association of Health Plans. Pays freelance writers $0.65 per word.
In addition to specialty health magazines, remember that you can also write about health topics for hundreds of other magazines, such as family magazine or men’s and women’s interest publications.
There are also some good organizations and associations for medical writers. Here are several of them.
- American Medical Writers Association
- Australasian Medical Writers Association
- European Medical Writers Association
- Health Sciences Communications Association
- National Association of Medical Communicators
- World Association of Medical Editors
