Why Working With an Intern Might Be One of the Best Kept Secrets in the Therapy Room

Eleven years ago, I walked into my first social work internship feeling both incredibly excited and completely out of my element.

I was 22 years old, fresh out of college, and working in the Bronx within the family court system. I was doing home visits, meeting with families, and suddenly being trusted with responsibilities that felt very real. I loved the work, but there was one thing I couldn’t shake: I felt insecure about how young and inexperienced I was.

About a month into my internship, I finally admitted it to my supervisor.

“I feel bad for my clients,” I told her. “They’re getting an intern instead of a more experienced social worker.”

Her response completely changed the way I thought about being an intern, and more than a decade later, I still think about it.

She told me that she saw it differently. “Clients who are assigned to interns can actually be incredibly fortunate. They’re getting someone who is eager, engaged, and bringing fresh energy to the work. Their therapist has a smaller caseload and more time to devote to them, and they also benefit from another experienced clinician who is closely supervising the case. In many ways, they’re getting an entire team invested in their care.”

At 22, that perspective gave me confidence. At 33, as the owner of a group therapy practice and a supervisor of interns myself, I understand just how right she was.

There are some real advantages to working with a therapist who is still in graduate school. Interns are immersed in current research and training while simultaneously putting what they are learning into practice. They receive intensive supervision from seasoned clinicians who review their work, help them think through cases, and offer perspectives that ultimately benefit the client. They also tend to carry smaller caseloads, allowing them to devote significant thought, preparation, and attention to each person they see.

Interns can also make private therapy accessible to people who may otherwise find it financially out of reach. For many individuals and families, this can open the door to high-quality therapy at a fee that fits more comfortably within their budget.

This year, we have the privilege of welcoming Natalie Singer as an intern at Collaborative Minds Psychotherapy. Natalie is entering the mental health field as a second career, so while she is a graduate student learning the clinical side of the profession, she also brings years of life and professional experience into the therapy room. That combination of current clinical training, close supervision, and lived experience is something we are especially excited for her clients to benefit from.

Natalie works with children, teens, and adults and is available for both in-person sessions in Teaneck and virtual therapy. Her fee ranges from $25 to $100 per session based on what each client or family is able to afford.

Eleven years ago, I worried that being assigned an intern meant a client was somehow getting less. Today, after years of being a therapist, supervisor, and practice owner, I see what my supervisor was trying to teach me: sometimes having an intern as your therapist means having someone with tremendous enthusiasm for the work, substantial support behind them, and the time and energy to become deeply invested in helping you.

To learn more about working with Natalie or to schedule a consultation, follow this link to book a free call with our intake coordinator.