Why Therapy With A Student Intern?

Nov 9

What Is A Student Intern?

A student intern, or a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern (CMHCI) is a graduate-level student who is in the process of completing their degree. In order to graduate and to become a licensed counselor in the future, students are required to complete hours of direct therapy work, and therefore are allowed to provide therapy to clients before they are licensed or have graduated.

There can be some hesitancy in working with a student intern, as many worry about a lack of experience in comparison to a licensed counselor. However, working with a student intern is a unique experience which has many benefits that one may not get from working with a more experienced counselor.

Affordability

One of the biggest benefits of working with a student intern is that they are often more affordable than a licensed counselor. Although therapy is helpful in helping people navigate tough times and work towards functioning effectively, it can unfortunately be inaccessible to a many due to costs. Average mental health therapy costs differ between states, but according to PsychologyToday, rates for a licensed counselor can vary from $100- $200 per session (How Much Does Therapy Cost?, 2026). There are outliers below and above these parameters as well. If you have insurance, that can make that cost more manageable, but many therapists don’t accept insurance. This means that the full price may fall on the client. Since Clinical Mental Health Counseling Interns aren’t licensed yet, students can often offer therapy at a reduced rate, and some may even offer free services depending on the agency or practice they are working with.

At BreakFree Therapy Services, mental health counseling services for presenting challenges including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, grief, relationship challenges, transitions in life concerns, mood disorders, behavioral dysregulation, and meal support for management of eating disorders are offered at a reduced rate or even pro bono when appropriate with a student intern. This can make a huge difference for individuals who want to begin therapy but feel like they are unable to due to financial concerns. Therapy should be something that people can access when they need support, rather than something that is only available to those who can afford higher session rates. Working with a student intern can be a great way to receive professional support while making therapy a little more financially manageable.

Accessibility

Another benefit of working with a student intern is accessibility, particularly when it comes to availability and wait times. Established counselors often have full caseloads and waitlists, so finding a counselor who is accepting new clients can sometimes be difficult. For someone who has made the decision to seek therapy, having to wait weeks or months to get started can be discouraging and can ultimately put them off from seeking help. A benefit of working with a student intern is that they may be more accessible.

Interns are often actively looking and eager to take on new clients, as they not only need to complete their required clinical hours, but are also excited to expand their skill sets and truly jump into this work as new clinicians. Since their caseloads may be smaller, student interns may also have more flexibility when it comes to scheduling appointments. Additionally, a smaller caseload also means that the student intern clinician may spend more intentional time outside of sessions, as the bandwidth of the clinician is so focused on a smaller caseload than that of someone with full licensure. Not only may you be able to receive therapy much sooner and not feel like you’re disrupting your routine to fit therapy into your life, but you will even receive highly intentional care, as the student is often engaging in case conceptualization processing far outside the scope of normative general practice of established providers.

Supervision

One of the biggest misconceptions that make people hesitant to work with a student intern is that they have “no experience” or that they are simply “learning as they go” with no support. Although student interns are in the process of developing their counseling skills and gaining experience, they don’t go through that process alone. An important part of the internship process is supervision. Student interns are required to receive supervision from an experienced, licensed professional who provides them with guidance and feedback. This means that interns have someone they can consult with about their clients, explore treatment approaches, and receive feedback on their counseling skills.

Often, interns may have multiple supervisors that they can turn to in order to receive support. At BreakFree, this is the case. So, when you’re working with a student intern, you’re also indirectly receiving the insight of a more experienced counselor, or even multiple. In a way, it's like having your own specialized care team. While working with a student intern does mean working with someone who is developing their clinical experience, it also means working with someone who has additional support behind them.

Is Working With A Student Intern Right For You?

Choosing a counselor to work with can be a difficult decision, and there will be many factors impacting your choice. Factors such as affordability and accessibility are of great importance, but having a counselor you feel comfortable with is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic process. Although a student intern may not have the same number of years of experience as a licensed counselor, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t able to provide meaningful and effective support.

Student interns have an eagerness to build connections with clients and a strong commitment to developing their counseling skills. They also work with experienced counselors to ensure that they are providing clients with the best care possible through supervision. If you have been considering therapy but have been hesitant to start, for different reasons, working with a student intern may be a great option. You don’t have to wait until things are overwhelming to seek support, and you don't have to navigate everything on your own. At the end of the day, the most important thing is finding a counselor who makes you feel heard, understood, and supported. Sometimes, that person may just be a student intern.

About the Author

Elizabeth Termilus, CMHCI, is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern at BreakFree Therapy Services, providing counseling support to clients in Fort Myers, Florida, and throughout Florida through online therapy. She takes a compassionate, person-centered approach to counseling and is passionate about helping clients better understand themselves, explore their identities, and develop a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

Elizabeth works with clients to create a supportive space where they can explore their experiences, values, relationships, and goals without judgment. She is especially interested in helping clients develop greater self-awareness, navigate life transitions, and better understand what is meaningful to them.

Reviewed and Edited By: Jenesis Vasquez, LMHC/ Maria Oritz, LMHC, CEDS