Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit can be a real challenge. Should you work with a fully licensed therapist, a provisionally licensed therapist, or a student therapist? While we believe all our clinicians are amazing at what they do, and there are certainly benefits to working with licensed clinicians, we want to take a moment to highlight our new student therapists.
At Rooted, we pride ourselves on providing a positive learning experience for students studying to become therapists. Student therapists are available to meet with clients for individual, family, or couples counseling, and they also help facilitate many of our groups. Our student therapists are a great resource for our clients!
Here are five reasons to consider working with a student therapist and how it can be beneficial for you on your healing journey.
1. Supervision and Consultation
Before a therapy student can work independently in an internship, they have to have a strong foundation in being a therapist. Therapy students have to complete and pass a wide variety of classes and trainings at the master’s degree level or be in a graduate program, as required by the state of Utah, to become a therapist before they can complete their practicum or internship.
As part of their clinical practicums, or internships, student therapists are required to have weekly supervision. Their supervisors are fully licensed, active clinicians here at Rooted, who have a wealth of knowledge to share. During supervision, our interns discuss their cases and get support from their supervisors about what treatment approaches to take.
Additionally, our interns also receive monthly group supervision, where they can learn from many of our amazing, licensed clinicians and apply this knowledge in their treatment approaches. Students also have regular access to their professors, many of whom are experts in the field, and their student peers, who can also help consult and support them clinically.
This can be a major benefit for you because you have a therapist who is getting a lot of clinical support and has access to a variety of licensed, experienced professionals in the field. This gives you the opportunity to work with someone who has a foundation and with a team behind them who can give advice, direction, and support specifically for you.
It’s important to note that confidentiality is always our top priority. While our clinicians may consult about your care, it’s always within the bounds of keeping your information private.
2. Access to Information
Student therapists are completing school and learning the ins and outs of what it means to be clinicians. This means they are constantly engaged in learning, research, and practice to become a therapist. Many also have access to extensive libraries and research databases through their schools, giving them more resources to pull from. Additionally, at Rooted, we provide weekly training to our students so that they have additional tools and skills that they can share with you in your sessions.
This is beneficial for you because you have a therapist who is regularly learning and reviewing the newest research. Students are constantly practicing skills and therapeutic approaches, learning tools, and getting feedback from peers, supervisors, and professors. Making them well-versed and ready to work with you in session.
3. Caseload and Availability
Student therapists often have smaller caseloads than other clinicians. Even if they are working part-time, this gives them more flexibility, and they usually have more availability in their schedules.
This can be beneficial for you because they have more openings and flexibility, which may be easier to manage with your schedule. With fewer clients, prime spots are usually more available too. Additionally, they have more time to dedicate to researching and focusing on your specific healing journey.
4. Affordability
Therapy is an expense, and that can be a barrier for many people when times are tough. At Rooted, our student therapists can be seen at a reduced cost compared to our Associate Therapists and Fully Licensed Therapists. Fortunately, our student therapists are also able to be seen under some insurance providers for a reduced fee.
This helps make therapy affordable and accessible for many people in our community. Whether you’re on a tight budget or just mindful of cost, you can get great care for a reduced fee. See our website for more information on rates and insurance.
5. Eager Attitude
One of the biggest benefits of working with a student therapist is their attitude. While all our therapists care deeply and want to make sure therapy is a positive experience, student therapists are brand new to the field and eager to take good care of their clients. While they may be a little nervous, they are enthusiastic and ready to apply the skills they have been learning. Student therapists are also ready to get feedback and can be great to collaborate with.
Their excited attitude and willingness to learn and be better often lead to a strong therapeutic alliance and individualized care. Especially if you’re new to therapy, it can feel less intimidating to work with someone who is also learning and open to feedback.
How Can I Work with a Student Therapist?
We are excited that we will have new student therapists starting at Rooted this fall! If you’re interested in seeing how they can support you in your goals, check out our team page for updates.
You can also contact our intake team, and they can help you find a student therapist who will be a good fit for you and your specific needs. Whether it’s individual therapy, family or couples therapy, or one of our groups, we are confident our students will be able to provide great care to you.