If you’re trying to find a therapist, there can be many options to choose from. Something you may notice is that some group practices have master’s level interns working with them. Deciding to work with an intern can be a little concerning for many people! The assumption is that because they haven’t gotten their degree yet that they won’t make good therapists. However, they make great therapists! There are also many benefits to choosing an intern for your therapist.
They are provided with extra supervision and consultation
What does this actually mean in practice? Essentially, it means they have someone checking in on them much more often than a licensed therapist. They’re getting advice, being steered in the right direction, and are able to get a second opinion on their case(s). What does this mean for you? It means someone who is being held accountable, being given weekly advice, and someone who is going to be implementing that advice constantly.
They are more familiar with the most recent research and evidence-based practices in the field
By being in graduate school, an intern is being given the latest research to work with. They are often encouraged through their school work to look into the most recent work in the field. Often, professors don’t even let them use any research older than 5 years for their assignments! This means you have an intern who is informed on what the current research says is the best way to go about providing therapy.
Short-term therapy: the limited amount of time pushes you, as the client, to seek change a little faster
This may not seem like a plus, but an intern is usually only at their location for a few months at most. What this short time frame means is that you get pushed to really seek the change you came to therapy for. Knowing that there is a deadline to your therapy sessions can help you dig a little deeper than you would otherwise.
A fresh perspective, passion, and energy
An intern is going to have a fresh passion for the work in comparison to someone who may have been working as a therapist for many years. They also are going to have a new perspective, especially because of their exposure to the newest research.
They carry a smaller caseload
A smaller caseload means your intern is less likely to experience burnout! It also means they can dedicate a lot more mental space to the work they’re doing with you. While they also have their school work to do, that is going to be pulling a different level of energy from them than therapy work.
Many of them already have experience in the mental health field
Graduate programs prefer to accept students who already have experience in the mental health field. This ensures they are more likely to continue with the program because they are aware of the field they’re getting into. Depending on how far the intern is in their program, this may not even be their first internship! Some programs require that interns do their internships at a minimum of two different locations during their program. Many also have done mental health field internships during their undergraduate programs.
6 Reasons to Choose an Intern as Your Therapist
