Professional Development for Mental Health Professionals

Your growth matters to us

Professional Expertise is a core value at Oaklawn, and it shapes how we invest in our people. Through strong onboarding, ongoing training, supervision and opportunities for advancement, we support employees in building expertise, growing their careers and providing the highest standard of care to those we serve.

Whether you’re early in your career or an experienced professional, Oaklawn provides the tools, support and opportunities to help you succeed.

  • Licensure Support & Clinical Supervision – We help clinicians obtain full clinical licensure with supervision and guidance throughout the process.
  • Advancement opportunities – Many Oaklawn leaders began their careers in direct service roles and advanced through training, experience and mentorship. We encourage employees to take on leadership roles and shape their own career paths.
  • Education Assistance & Grants – Receive support through educational grants and loan repayment opportunities.
  • Professional Development Funds – Access funding for seminars, memberships, certifications and continuing education.

Best Practices for the Best Care

You’ll receive training to fidelity in evidence-based practices, keeping you on the leading edge of clinical care while ensuring the best outcomes for the people we serve.

Evidence-based practices are treatment methods that have been researched and proven to produce the best outcomes for clients. These outcomes may include:

  • Decreased symptoms
  • Improved daily functioning
  • Fewer risky or harmful behaviors
  • Stronger, healthier relationships

Using evidence-based practices ensures clients receive the most effective care available, supporting the highest possible quality of life. Oaklawn invests in training staff to fidelity or certification so you can feel confident you’re delivering care that meets the highest standards.

During your first two years at Oaklawn, training focuses on core evidence-based practices relevant to your role. As you continue your career, you’ll have opportunities to pursue more specialized training and, in some cases, to become a trainer yourself.

All staff who work directly with clients receive EBP training appropriate to their education level and role. Core practices include:

  • Motivational Interviewing – Helping clients identify and act on their own reasons for change
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helping clients understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected
  • DBT-Informed Skills System – Supporting emotion regulation, relationship skills and reduction of harmful behaviors

Specialized training opportunities include:

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Brief Strategic Family Therapy
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Illness Management and Recovery
  • Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
  • Others as needed and available

Oaklawn fully supports staff through supervised clinical practice and certification requirements to ensure training is meaningful, practical and effective.