Therapy can be a lot of things — scary, overwhelming, calming, eye-opening, healing, and expensive. What if there was a way to get the help you needed at a reduced cost?  

At CW Psychological Services in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, there is. We work closely with local universities to employ highly skilled, experienced clinicians who are on their way to becoming fully licensed.

We understand that receiving care from a not-yet-fully-licensed therapy professional for your mental health needs might make you a little nervous. But, there are several benefits to working with an associate clinician.

Who is an associate therapist or psychologist-in-training? 

An associate therapist has been participating in a rigorous education program at the school of their choice. They have already completed a master’s program in counseling, psychology, or a related field from an accredited program. 

A psychologist-in-training has a master’s degree and has completed at least 15 graduate hours in their doctoral program. Both are working in an office setting to complete requirements for their formal licensure. 

Associate clinicians are not working alone. They are being supervised by other trained and formally licensed counseling professionals. This oversight is designed to ensure clients are receiving the best care possible. It is as if you are receiving care from multiple therapists at once. Supervisors collaborate with associates and clients to come up with treatment plans that work best for everyone. 

To learn more about how associate therapists are supervised, visit our master’s level associates and psychologists-in-training page here:https://cwpsychologicalservices.com/associate-level-clinicians/

Benefits of working with an associate clinician

As mentioned above, visits with an associate clinician cost clients less. Associates and trainees don’t have the same costs as fully licensed therapists. They aren’t responsible for office fees, taxes, license fees, or other overhead, so they can charge less. Some insurance companies will even cover all or some of the cost of visiting an associate therapist or psychologist-in-training. 

Cost is not the only benefit of working with an associate clinician. 

Associates and trainees are fresh out of the classroom. They are knowledgeable on the most up-to-date evidence-based practices, guiding principles, and theories. They are acutely aware of recent research and what has been most effective.

They have more time to focus on you. Associate therapists and psychologist trainees have fewer clients, so they can give more individualized attention to the clients they do have. That means even when your session is over, your associate clinician is still trying to figure out solutions to your needs. 

Associates and trainees are excited to work with you. This is the career path they have been working toward for a long time. They are enthusiastic and they tend to have more energy to give to each client. Often we see that energy rub off on clients, helping them to excel in life changes or challenges. It is a win-win. 

Questions or concerns

If you are unsure or have questions about working with an associate therapist or psychologist-in-training, we are ready for your call. Getting the help you need for your mental health is extremely important and valuable. It can help shape the rest of your life and improve overall well-being.

If you want reduced-cost, client-focused, enthusiastic, knowledgeable care, an associate or trainee may be the perfect fit. Email us at [email protected] or call (610) 308-7575 with any questions, concerns, or to schedule a visit. We want to help. 

Training opportunities for master and doctoral-level clinicians

We are always on the lookout for experienced master and doctoral-level clinicians seeking supervision to join our mental health outpatient team. Our team treats adults, children, and families with a wide variety of behavioral health concerns. We regularly help clients struggling with issues related to anxiety, depression, stress management, PTSD, trauma, sexual and gender identity, self-esteem, grief, life transitions, and more. 

We offer a beautiful office space, a steady flow of clients, administrative support, ongoing clinical supervision, the use of electronic health records, and a supportive atmosphere. We also provide in-house training surrounding evidence-based practices with some of our niches, such as trauma treatment and working with the transgender community. 

We encourage a culture of collaboration among all clinicians to enhance growth. At CW Psychological Services we value all of our staff and believe that a warm, friendly, open, respectful, and inclusive environment is essential to promote healing for our clients and growth for all our clinicians. 

To apply or learn more about our career opportunities, visit https://cwpsychologicalservices.com/career-opportunities/.

We would love to hear from you.