5 Reasons Therapists Don’t Create CE Courses — And How to Start Today
Jun 09, 2025
Creating continuing education (CE) courses may seem like something only large companies or seasoned educators do. But in truth, many therapists have powerful ideas worth teaching. On this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice, host James Marland chats with Leo DeBroeck, founder of the Counselor’s Choice Award, about why more therapists aren’t making CE courses—and how they can.
Whether you’re a solo practitioner, a group leader, or a therapist with years of wisdom, this blog will help you overcome five common blocks keeping you from building the online course you’ve been thinking about.
1. “It Just Seems Too Hard”
One of the most common reasons therapists don’t start a CE course?
“It just seems too hard to get started.” — Leo DeBroeck
Many therapists think they need a big, polished product from the start—a full workshop with slides, breakout groups, and certification. But that’s like trying to eat an elephant all at once. Leo recommends something much simpler:
“Just write a blog post on your idea. Can you do one page? That’s a great first step.”
Instead of trying to build a huge training, just focus on one hour of content for your peers. Think of it like brushing your teeth before running a marathon—you have to start with small wins.
2. “I’ll Do It Someday” Never Comes
This might sound familiar: You’ve had a great course idea for months (or years), but it keeps sitting in your mental “later” folder. Life gets busy. Paperwork piles up. And teaching keeps slipping off the to-do list.
Leo puts it clearly:
“If you want to contribute to the world, you need to get started. Write a blog post. Put something out there.”
Even therapists can fall into a trap of feeling busy but stuck. Leo and James both say writing down goals—even just one or two small ones—can re-center your energy. Progress starts with action, not perfection.
3. “I Don’t Like the Sound of My Own Voice”
Let’s be honest: Listening to ourselves talk can be awkward.
“I can’t even leave a voicemail,” Leo joked.
But here’s the truth—most audiences don’t care if your voice sounds radio-ready. They care if you help them grow. Half the value of any course is the content itself, and the other half is how you present it. You’ll only get better with practice.
“Your first one won’t be good. That’s okay. But you have to do your worst before you can do your best.” — James Marland
Remember, your clients don’t judge your voice when you help them. Your students won’t either.
4. “The Technology Feels Overwhelming”
Therapists are healers, not tech experts. So the idea of setting up software, recording video, and editing can stop people before they start.
But James points out:
“If you’ve ever shared your screen on Zoom, you’ve already run a presentation.”
Modern tools make recording and editing easier than ever. James uses Descript, which even corrects eye contact in video and polishes audio automatically. You can start with free tools and graduate to fancier ones later.
5. “I Don’t Know How to Get It Accredited”
Even if a therapist builds a course, the final barrier often feels like the biggest: accreditation.
“It’s not a CE if it’s not accredited,” Leo explained.
The good news? You don’t have to do it alone. Organizations like Counselor’s Choice Award handle CE accreditation for you. Trying to do it yourself can cost hundreds of dollars and loads of paperwork. Working with an existing provider means you can focus on the teaching—they’ll handle the red tape.
“Do the things you're good at. Let someone else handle the bureaucracy.” — Leo DeBroeck
Bonus Advice: Get an Accountability Buddy
If you remember one thing from this episode, it’s this:
“Get an accountability buddy.”
Whether it's a colleague, friend, or someone from Leo’s team, having someone to check in with can make all the difference.
“Forget everything else if you have to,” Leo said, “but don’t try to do this alone.”
Workshop Alert: From Course Idea to Paycheck
Leo and James are hosting a hands-on event to help you move from idea to action. It's called:
📅 Course Idea to Paycheck Workshop
🗓 Thursday, June 26th
🕙 10 AM–12 PM Eastern / 7 AM–9 AM Pacific
🎯 Learn to design, write, and prepare CE content for submission
💡 Includes checklists, tools, templates, and submission standards
Don’t miss it if you’re ready to take the leap. You'll leave knowing how to turn your idea into income.
Resources
- Course Idea to Paycheck Workshop Registration
- Counselor’s Choice Award – CE accreditation, therapist recognition, therapy tools
- Follow Leo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
- Scaling Therapy Practice Podcast
Course Creation Planning Worksheet Download
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