Counseling Interns Explained
What Exactly is a Counseling Intern?
An Intern is a masters or doctorate level student working on the therapeutic practice portion of the degree. Usually an Intern is either finished with or nearing the completion of their academic studies and require clinical experience before obtaining the degree. When Interns achieve their counseling degree, they move to the status of “resident”. A resident is a clinician working towards a clinical license with their state licensing board. Using an Intern can help control the costs of therapy, while still getting a well rounded approach to treatment.
How Will My Intern Learn Best Practices?
Our Interns receive direct supervision from Gabrielle Anderson, LMFT, RPT-S the practice owner. Most college and universities require Interns to receive weekly supervision from their clinical site (that would be us) as well as their academic site (their school). We offer one more layer of support and encourage our Interns to also attend two weekly group consultations per month. Group consultation is comprised mostly of seasoned clinicians within the community. This allows the Intern to see some of the masters in the field explore best practices.
Our Interns are also receiving outside trainings to pursue certifications or registrations beyond their degree or license. The Family Therapy Center is rigorous in its expectations of how our therapists will learn and practice and requires consistent outside learning from credentialed learning sites.
An Intern is a masters or doctorate level student working on the therapeutic practice portion of the degree. Usually an Intern is either finished with or nearing the completion of their academic studies and require clinical experience before obtaining the degree. When Interns achieve their counseling degree, they move to the status of “resident”. A resident is a clinician working towards a clinical license with their state licensing board. Using an Intern can help control the costs of therapy, while still getting a well rounded approach to treatment.
How Will My Intern Learn Best Practices?
Our Interns receive direct supervision from Gabrielle Anderson, LMFT, RPT-S the practice owner. Most college and universities require Interns to receive weekly supervision from their clinical site (that would be us) as well as their academic site (their school). We offer one more layer of support and encourage our Interns to also attend two weekly group consultations per month. Group consultation is comprised mostly of seasoned clinicians within the community. This allows the Intern to see some of the masters in the field explore best practices.
Our Interns are also receiving outside trainings to pursue certifications or registrations beyond their degree or license. The Family Therapy Center is rigorous in its expectations of how our therapists will learn and practice and requires consistent outside learning from credentialed learning sites.
Interns Receive Measurable Clinical Support During Therapy Sessions
Our Interns are layered with measured support, which makes choosing an Intern a safer and more cost effective decision for you. Essentially, choosing an Intern is choosing 2 therapists for the price of one, at a reduced fee for you. Here is the breakdown of support:
Our Interns first observe real therapy sessions performed by a licensed therapist before participating in sessions themselves. This process is super saturated in the beginning of the internship and is continued throughout the process. They then will share a case with their supervisor. Day 1, the Intern and supervisor meet the client and enter the therapy room together. In the beginning of the relationship, the owner takes the lead during sessions. The goal is to then allow the intern to become the lead when the client, parents if applicable, supervisor and intern are all ready.
As time progresses, the therapist will no longer be in the therapy room with the client and intern, but will be watching electronically from a nearby office. This also allows the supervisor to re-enter a session easily if the need arises. The supervisor watches the session and takes copious notes, giving the intern play by play feedback both negative and positive in nature. The intern then writes up their own reflections on the session via a handout created by the supervisor, that can be discussed further in 1:1 supervision.
When the client and Intern are ready, the Intern will take the case alone, without the same-time connection with the supervisor. The intern will video-record sessions as needed for personal review and for supervisory purposes. Even when the Intern is alone with clients, each and every case is monitored by the supervisor and/or academic site during supervision.
Contact us today to see if our intern is right for you!
Our Interns first observe real therapy sessions performed by a licensed therapist before participating in sessions themselves. This process is super saturated in the beginning of the internship and is continued throughout the process. They then will share a case with their supervisor. Day 1, the Intern and supervisor meet the client and enter the therapy room together. In the beginning of the relationship, the owner takes the lead during sessions. The goal is to then allow the intern to become the lead when the client, parents if applicable, supervisor and intern are all ready.
As time progresses, the therapist will no longer be in the therapy room with the client and intern, but will be watching electronically from a nearby office. This also allows the supervisor to re-enter a session easily if the need arises. The supervisor watches the session and takes copious notes, giving the intern play by play feedback both negative and positive in nature. The intern then writes up their own reflections on the session via a handout created by the supervisor, that can be discussed further in 1:1 supervision.
When the client and Intern are ready, the Intern will take the case alone, without the same-time connection with the supervisor. The intern will video-record sessions as needed for personal review and for supervisory purposes. Even when the Intern is alone with clients, each and every case is monitored by the supervisor and/or academic site during supervision.
Contact us today to see if our intern is right for you!