Why Work with A Therapist in Training?
We get a lot of clients asking about what it's like to work with a newer therapist, a therapist in training, and/or a licensed therapist who is working on accruing their post-graduate hours for full licensure. It's confusing! Clients understandably want to know: can the therapist I'm meeting with help me? Do they have enough experience? Would I be better off working with a therapist who's been practicing longer? It can feel scary to meet with a therapist for the first time, and every client wants to feel like they're in good hands so we want to demystify why working with a newer therapist can be a solid choice.
At GT Therapy, we built a home for therapists at all stages of their professional careers. Our therapists have anywhere from 0-20 years post graduate experience! We believe that every stage, and every individual therapist, has experience and wisdom to elevate our team as a whole. So let's break it down a little more…
Pre-graduate unlicensed therapists are seeing clients as part of their masters or doctoral program, concurrently with coursework and working toward completing their degrees. They are in supervision with their university and with their site of practicum or internship. We have hosted graduate trainees and it's been such a rich experience for us and for clients! In fact our own Jennifer Slaski completed her graduate training with us before coming on as a post-graduate LPC Associate.
Post-graduate licensed therapists (LPC Associates, LMFT Associates, LMSWs) have at a minimum received a masters degree in their field. They have completed graduate-level hands-on clinical training for a full year prior to graduating. Associate therapists meet weekly in supervision with a fully licensed supervisor, and in our practice they also get a second hour of supervision at least biweekly, and a monthly consultation group with our whole team. This is a lot of experienced professionals putting the energy into supporting associate therapists who work with you!
Supervisors do not generally sit in on sessions with associate therapists. They may occasionally review videotaped sessions (only with prior consent). They do talk in depth with their associate therapists about how to support clients. They provide invaluable guidance for newer therapists who are working hard outside of their client sessions to integrate their training and provide the best possible care. When the hour is up, your therapist in training will still be working on how to show up for you.
Newer therapists have the benefit of studying the latest research and methodology in the field of psychology, counseling and mental health. They are steeped in new learning and actively working on integrating this new learning. This often includes updated teaching around cultural responsiveness, interpersonal neurobiology, somatic work, mindfulness and all the cutting edge clinical developments. They read books voraciously, take all the trainings, and show up eager to learn all they can about what the newest research shows as well as what their specific clients are navigating.
When therapists are still in training, they know how much they don't know. They're adaptable, willing to take in new information that shapes their interventions, and able to be open-minded in their approach to their work. Those of us who have been doing this work longer have to work harder to stay as flexible and engaged in the never-ending learning process of being an effective therapist.
When you meet with a newer therapist, you are likely to be able to do so at more flexible hours and at a more affordable rate. Our associate therapists are eagerly working towards full licensure and are motivated to see clients at high-demand times like after school or work, and on weekends. In our practice associate fees are $130 vs $175 for our therapists with 10+ years of experience.
We value having a team of newer (lightly seasoned?) therapists who work right alongside our senior therapists in the perennial pursuit of providing high-quality therapy support to clients of all ages. Right now we are thankful for the contributions that Jen, Julia, Vanessa and Alicia make to our team and to our clients. When we meet, it is as peers who are equally committed to staying engaged, lifelong learners, and we learn as much from each other as from our trainings, workshops, courses and books. When a client reaches out about scheduling with a newer therapist, we can unequivocally say, “you are in good hands.”
*Did you know?? Blake & Tracy met way back in 2007 in graduate school at St. Edward's University and completed part of their post-graduate training together at Austin Child Guidance Center along with fellow GT therapists Sarah Jones Park and Shawn Kent. Therapists who hone their craft together, stay together!
