A Guide to Working with a Clinical Intern Therapist
May 7, 2025 | By Jenna Smith
Working with a Clinical Intern: What to Expect and How It Helps
At Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy, we’re proud to support both our clients and the next generation of caring therapists. One way we do this is by offering therapy sessions with clinical interns. Clinical interns are graduate students who are well-trained, closely supervised, and passionate about helping others.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with a clinical intern, this guide will walk you through what to expect, how the supervision process works, and why choosing to work with an intern can be a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
What Is a Clinical Intern Therapist?
A clinical intern therapist is someone who is currently enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral degree program in counseling, social work, or a related mental health field. They are in the final stages of their education, and part of their training includes working directly with clients.
During this time, they are gaining real-world experience, building their skills, and practicing everything they’ve been learning in school. They are not licensed yet, but they are well on their way
What Does It Mean to Work Under Supervision?
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Every clinical intern works under the supervision of a licensed therapist who has typically completed special training to become a clinical supervisor. This means that a fully licensed, experienced therapist is overseeing their work to make sure they are providing the best care possible.
At Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy, our Clinical Director and supervising therapists work closely with our interns. They meet regularly to review cases, discuss client needs, and make sure that interns are following the right therapy practices, paperwork, and ethical guidelines. As part of this process, supervisors also review session recordings together (with client consent) to ensure that care is compassionate, effective, and aligned with our high standards.
You can feel confident knowing there’s a strong, supportive team behind every intern you work with.
Why Do All Therapists Need to Complete an Internship?
Completing an internship under supervision is a required step for every therapist before they can become fully licensed. Here's what the process usually looks like:
Master’s or Doctoral Program:
The intern must be enrolled in an accredited Master’s program (such as clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy).
Internship Placement:
They work at a site like Monarch to complete direct therapy hours. During this time, they intensely discuss their cases with their supervisors as discussed above.
Supervised Hours:
Interns must meet strict requirements set by their state. In Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, interns typically need thousands of supervised clinical hours during their training and even more hours after graduation before they can earn full independent licensure.
Licensing Process:
After completing their degree and internship, the potential therapist must pass licensing exams and complete post-graduate supervised work before becoming a fully licensed.
Every fully licensed therapist you meet has gone through this exact process!
How We Select Our Interns
At Monarch Wellness & Psychotherapy, one of our top priorities is ensuring the high quality of care we provide to our clients and that starts with the people we bring onto our team. We do thoughtful interviews and screening to ensure that our interns (and clinicians) are highly qualified, demonstrate professionalism, and align with our values of compassionate and ethical care. Our interns :
Are enrolled in accredited, respected Master’s or Doctoral programs
Show strong foundational skills, empathy, and dedication to client care
Are committed to learning, growing, and receiving feedback through supervision
Share our focus on treating eating disorders, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, family therapy, couples therapy, and more
How We Support Our Interns
Our Clinical Director and licensed supervisors are actively involved in each intern’s development. We provide:
Weekly individual and group supervision
Regular case consultations
Oversight of therapy notes, assessments, and treatment planning
Review of session recordings (with client consent) to support skill-building and ensure clients are receiving thoughtful, high-quality care
Ongoing training and professional development
This close support ensures that your therapy experience is safe, ethical, and helpful.
Benefits of Working with a Clinical Intern
Choosing to work with an intern can be a fantastic decision for many reasons, including:
Lower Cost:
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Intern sessions are offered at a reduced rate, making therapy more affordable for individuals, couples, and families.
Fresh Perspective:
Interns bring fresh ideas and are deeply engaged in the latest therapeutic research and techniques.
High Level of Support:
Because they’re supervised so closely, you essentially get the benefit of two therapists reviewing your care.
Compassion and Dedication:
Interns are excited to work with clients and are incredibly dedicated to helping you meet your goals.
At Monarch Wellness & Psychotherapy, we’re honored to be part of training the next generation of therapists and we’re just as honored to offer you access to thoughtful, compassionate, and affordable care through our intern program.
Learn more about what it’s like to work with a clinical intern therapist in this video. If you are interested in working with one of our clinical interns in Virginia, Washington DC, or Maryland (either in-person or through telehealth), you can check out their bio pages here.
Reach Out
If you’re considering professional support, we’re here to help. Please reach out to schedule a free, no-commitment consultation. There’s no fee and no obligation—just click the button below to get started.
You can also call or text us at 202-656-3681, or email us directly. Give yourself the opportunity for the support you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical Interns
What is a clinical intern therapist?
A clinical intern therapist is a graduate student who is finishing their Master’s degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field. Part of their training requires working with real clients while being closely supervised by a licensed therapist.
Learn more about intern training and supervision from the American Psychological Association (APA) Guidelines for clinical Supervision.
Are clinical interns supervised?
Yes! clinical interns must be supervised by a licensed therapist who has special training in supervision. The supervisor helps guide their work, reviews therapy notes and sessions, and makes sure that everything meets professional and ethical standards.
At Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy, our interns receive careful supervision from our experienced clinical Director and licensed therapists. You can read more about supervision practices here: APA Guidelines for Supervision and APA Services: Supervising an Intern or Postdoctoral Trainee.
How many supervised hours are required before a therapist becomes licensed?
The number of supervised hours required can vary based on both the graduate program and the state licensing board. Each accredited graduate school or mental health training program sets its own internship hour requirements for students in fields like counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy. These hours are a vital part of becoming a graduate-level clinician. Completing these supervised hours during the degree program helps prepare students to move into pre-licensure roles after graduation. Once a graduate finishes their degree, they must complete additional post-graduate supervised hours, pass licensing exams, and meet other state-specific requirements before they can become a fully licensed therapist. Licensure Requirements by State (National Psychology Training Consortium)
What does intern supervision look like at Monarch Wellness?
At Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy, supervision is taken very seriously. All clinical interns are supervised by experienced licensed therapists, including our Clinical Director, Carissa L. Strohecker Hannum, LCPC, LPC, CCTP. Carissa and our supervising team work closely with each intern to review client care, case notes, treatment plans, and therapy skills to ensure you are receiving high-quality, ethical, and compassionate care. Supervisors also review session recordings to provide direct feedback and help interns grow in their clinical skills so clients can feel fully supported at every step.
Learn more about our intern supervision process directly from our Clinical Director Carissa in this video.
Is it safe to work with an intern therapist?
Yes, it is absolutely safe. Interns are supported at every step by licensed supervisors who are experienced in guiding clinical work. When you work with an intern at Monarch Wellness, you have the added benefit of knowing your care is backed by a team of experts. If at any point you'd like to speak directly with the supervisor overseeing your clinician intern, that can easily be arranged. It’s important to us that every client feels comfortable, heard, and well cared for throughout their treatment at Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy. You can also explore important supervision issues by visiting Important Issues in Supervision (APA).
Why are sessions with a clinical intern lower cost?
Intern sessions are offered at a reduced rate because the therapist is still completing their training and licensure requirements. This makes therapy more affordable without sacrificing quality or compassion. You also receive the added value of dual oversight, your care is supported by both your intern therapist and their licensed supervisor.
Do interns offer in-person and telehealth therapy?
Yes! At Monarch Wellness, our clinical interns provide both in-person counseling at our Maryland office and secure virtual therapy (telehealth) for clients located in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and Psypact states. This flexibility allows you to choose what feels best and most accessible for your needs.
We are proud to offer thoughtful, supportive, and affordable care through our clinical intern program. If you’re interested in learning more or scheduling a session, we invite you to reach out to our team!
If you'd like to learn more about the training, supervision, and licensing process for clinical intern therapists, here are some helpful resources from trusted organizations:
APA Guidelines for clinical Supervision in Health Service Psychology: An overview of how supervision helps support ethical and high-quality therapy care.
APA Services: Supervising an Intern or Postdoctoral Trainee: Details about the responsibilities of licensed therapists when supervising interns.
APA Services: Important Issues in Supervision: A guide to common topics and ethical standards in clinical supervision.
APPIC Internship Membership Criteria: Standards for internship programs across the field of psychology.
Licensure Requirements by State (National Psychology Training Consortium): A comprehensive breakdown of how many supervised hours and steps are required for therapist licensure in different states.
