3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Working With A Graduate Intern Therapist
/Have you seen the term “graduate student” or “graduate intern” on our website but feel confused about what that actually means or what the benefits may be? We’ve got you covered!
Graduate interns have already completed a Bachelors degree and are currently completing requirements for a Masters degree, typically in either Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Social Work. Before ever seeing clients, interns have completed the vast majority of their coursework and have also done many role plays/demonstrations of their clinical skills.
In addition, some interns may already have experience working in the mental health field in roles such as being a mental health technician or behavior specialist for a treatment center. Or, they may already be certified in another therapeutic role, like our graduate intern Courtney who is a board-certified music therapist but is pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
While, of course, graduate interns don’t have the same level of experience as someone who has been fully licensed for many years, they are still able to provide an excellent quality of care (that can sometimes even be MORE effective).
Here are three reasons why you should consider working with a graduate intern therapist:
The session fee for graduate interns is affordable and workable for most budgets.
At The Gaia Center, our standard intern rate is $60/session, and our interns also offer some lower-fee spots for folks based on need. We value making therapy accessible, and we have been able to make therapy financially possible for many folks through our graduate internship program.
This is also a great option for folks who have insurance but either can’t find someone in-network who specializes in their needs or would prefer for insurance not to dictate their care, as our intern rates are pretty comparable to many insurance copays.
Working with a graduate intern is like getting three therapists for the price of one!
Graduate interns receive weekly supervision through The Gaia Center, in addition to supervision through their university.
During supervision, our interns consult with their supervisor on their clients’ needs/progress and receive valuable feedback and wisdom that they are in turn able to share with their clients.
So, you’re not only getting your therapist’s perspective but also the perspective of other more experienced clinicians, with a significantly lower fee than what you would pay for sessions with a licensed clinician.
Research has shown that therapists early in their career/training can sometimes be more effective than therapists who have been in the field for many years.
Newer therapists are often more eager to gain knowledge and try new things than some more “seasoned” therapists who have been in the field longer and may be more “set in their ways.” In addition, their training in school reflects approaches and perspectives that are more updated than those that therapists who have been in the field for many years may have received.
Interns are also often able to access trainings for a lower cost than licensed therapists, so an intern therapist may be able to engage in a specialized training that would be a bit more challenging for a licensed clinician to afford.
In addition, our clinicians at The Gaia Center have unlimited access to specialized trainings for modalities and presenting concerns including, but not limited to: eating disorders, trauma, ADHD, sex therapy, relationship therapy (including Gottman Method), ACT, somatic therapy, experiential therapy, parts work, Safe and Sound Protocol, and more.
