Low-Cost Therapy with our Supervised Training Program
Our practice offers reduced-cost therapy sessions with clinical interns who are completing their graduate-level training under the direct supervision of licensed therapists. This clinical internship program is designed as a mutually beneficial, community-focused model rooted in equity, access, and sustainability. Clients receive high-quality, affordable therapy while interns gain essential clinical experience in trauma-focused interventions.
FAQs
What clinical training do interns receive?
Before being eligible to start their field work (i.e. internship), clinical interns must earn an undergraduate degree and be actively attending graduate school for a master's degree in social work, mental health counseling, or a related field. Graduate programs typically consist of approximately two years of rigorous classwork and a 9-12 month clinical internship (or field placement), in which students apply their studies directly to working with clients in order to complete their degrees. Due to the specialized nature of our work, our team carefully interviews and selects clinical interns based on their strong clinical foundation, passion for trauma-focused care, and commitment to ongoing learning. At the start of their placement at Sustainable Wellness, interns complete a week-long orientation, shadow experienced trauma therapists in individual and group therapy sessions, and observe clinical consultations and supervision meetings as preparation for working with their own clients.
What approaches do clinical interns offer?
While clinical interns typically do not offer trauma-processing modalities like EMDR, IFS, or Somatic Experiencing (SE), they can play an instrumental role in helping clients prepare for that work. Trauma treatment always begins with a phase of stabilization and preparation—an area where interns are especially skilled. Our team specifically prepares interns to integrate evidence-based approaches including, but not limited to: - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Attachment-focused therapies - Somatic and body-based techniques - Mindfulness, grounding, and other stabilization strategies - Cognitive and behavioral therapies (CBT, DBT) - Narrative Therapy - IFS-informed parts work - Early phases of EMDR therapy (history-taking, resourcing, stabilization) - Schema Therapy - Strengths-based approaches
What approaches do clinical interns offer?
Due to the specialized nature of our work, our team carefully interviews and selects clinical interns based on their strong clinical foundation, passion for trauma-focused care, and commitment to ongoing learning. Our interns receive ongoing education and supervision in key trauma concepts including shame resilience, nervous system regulation, attachment, and cultural humility. They bring fresh knowledge, clinical curiosity, and a thoughtful integration of modalities that can be greatly supportive to therapeutic progress.
How It Works.
Our Supervised Training Program is intentionally designed to support all parties involved, including the client, the clinical intern, and the practice. Clients receive high-quality, affordable therapy from a clinical intern who is practicing under the close supervision of a licensed, trauma-specialized provider. Interns gain essential clinical experience, allowing them to grow in their expertise of trauma-focused skills and interventions. Both support our practice's mission of building access and awareness of evidenced-based trauma therapy within our local community.
What to Expect.
Like the rest of our team at Sustainable Wellness, our interns offer trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned support for people of all backgrounds. There are many benefits to working with a therapy intern in a trauma-focused setting, including:
-
Reduced session rates
-
Frequent guidance from a licensed, trauma-specialized supervisor
-
More flexibility with scheduling
-
Quicker access to therapy, often with short or no wait times.
Who This Is For.
Our Supervised Training Program might be a great fit if:
-
You're exploring therapy for the first time and are not sure what you're looking for (an intern can help with that!).
-
You need a more affordable option to begin or continue therapy.
-
You want temporary support while on a wait list for another provider.
-
You are ready to start trauma work, but are not yet ready for trauma processing (interns can provide support with coping & stabilization).
-
You are looking for support with depression, anxiety, life transitions, or insight-oriented work (ie. looking to understand patterns and grow emotionally).