One of the best ways to get management support is to submit a formal proposal to your direct supervisor, outlining the facility benefits of attending the conference.

• First, determine if your facility has a formal professional development policy, form, and/or designated amounts for employees
• Second, review the daily schedule for the conference to identify the educational sessions and networking events that address the specific needs within your facility
• Third, begin preparing your proposal. Here are some talking points to help you along:

How to Create a Successful Proposal

Your proposal should include the following:

• A schedule of sessions you will attend and why the knowledge gained will be valuable to your practice
• Make your proposal more powerful by listing your organization's goals and objectives, and how they relate to the corresponding educational sessions
• Make a list of areas where your company faces challenges, and how the sessions offered at Psych Congress will help you develop solutions to meet those needs
• The cost of registration

Proposal Template to Get Approval from Your Employer

There is so much to gain from attending Psych Congress in San Diego. Don't let anything hold you back! Use the email template below to request approval from your employer, and start packing your bags for San Diego.

Subject: Request to Attend Psych Congress – A Strategic Investment in Our Clinical Excellence

Dear [Supervisor's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I’d like to request approval to attend Psych Congress, the nation’s leading conference on practical psychopharmacology, taking place September 17-21, 2025 in San Diego. As our patient population continues to present with increasingly complex mental health needs, I believe this event offers significant value for both my professional development and our team’s overall clinical strategy.

Here are a few key reasons why attending Psych Congress would be highly beneficial:

• Cutting-Edge Education in Psychopharmacology
  The agenda is built around the latest evidence-based practices in prescribing for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. Sessions are led by some of the most respected names in psychiatry and psychopharmacology, including Dr. Stephen Stahl, Dr. Rakesh Jain, Dr. Greg Mattingly, and so many more leaders in the field.

• Practical Tools for Immediate Implementation
  Unlike academic conferences, Psych Congress is known for its real-world clinical focus. I’ll gain actionable insights and updated protocols I can bring back and share with our team—enhancing outcomes and efficiency.

• CME Credits and Professional Development
  The event offers robust CME opportunities that will support my licensure and ongoing education requirements. I expect to earn 20+ credits during the event, or 90+ if I'm approved to add on the On-Demand package for session recordings.

• Networking with National Thought Leaders and Peers
  I’ll be able to exchange ideas with colleagues from across the country, benchmark our practices, and explore innovative approaches to care that we can consider adapting.

The current registration cost is $975, and Psych Congress has partnered with numerous local hotels to keep travel and lodging costs reasonable. I’m happy to provide a post-event summary with key takeaways and resources to share with our team.

Thank you for considering this request. I see this as an opportunity not just for individual growth, but for reinforcing our department’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of psychiatric care.

Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Credentials]
[Your Title]
[Your Contact Information]

Ideas for Overcoming Objections to Your Request

Objection

This conference is too expensive.

Rebuttals

• Psych Congress registration fees are reasonable given the value of the education, networking opportunities provided, and transformational knowledge I will gain.

Objection

What will the organization gain from your attendance?

Rebuttals

Show in your proposal, through examples, how the conference provides the following:

• New ideas, strategies, or techniques that will positively impact your organization's ability to care for patients or improve outcomes.
• Access to educational programming (data, practices, and techniques) that can be brought back to the organization (all attendees receive access to all session slides).
• Opportunities for relationship building with experts, colleagues, referral sources, and product and service providers.

Additional General Details

Why Should You Attend?

Psych Congress the nation's #1 conference on practical psychopharmacology, providing you with access to the latest treatment strategies, techniques, and leading minds of the field.

No other mental health education conference offers the same breadth and depth of psychopharmacology education.

Continuing Education Credits

HMP Education is an approved continuing education provider for Psych Congress.

This meeting is accredited for psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other mental health professionals.

Key Benefits of Attendance

• Lectures from world-class researchers and dynamic speakers
• Late-breaking research in mental health
• The opportunity to learn about emerging innovations and technologies that can improve patient outcomes