You may be wondering what a prelicensed therapist is and why you would want to work with one. A prelicensed therapist is a mental health professional who is in the process of completing their clinical hours and licensure requirements. In other words, they are not yet licensed to practice independently, but are able to provide therapy under the supervision of a licensed clinician.

Benefits of Working with A Prelicensed Therapist

There are a number of benefits to working with a prelicensed therapist that are well worth considering.

Educational Foundation and Training

Prelicensed therapists have completed graduate-level coursework in psychology or a related field and have likely taken at least one of their state board exams. This means that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality therapy services. Their education is also often fresh in their minds.

Alexis Bibler, AMFT

Alexis is a trauma therapist offering holistic therapy and EMDR therapy via teletherapy to people in California.

Post-Degree Registered Associates

At Laurel Therapy Collective, we ONLY employ post-degree registered associates. This means they have completed their graduate degree and registered with their future licensing board. It’s a lot like medical residency; they’ve completed their education and are highly qualified, but are still gaining professional experience before taking their board licensure exam.

Affordability and Flexibility

Prelicensed therapists are often more affordable than licensed therapists. They are also sometimes more flexible with their scheduling.

Fresh Perspective

Perhaps the most undervalued aspect of working with a prelicensed therapist is the fresh perspective they likely have, as they have completed their training more recently than licensed clinicians and are more recently trained and educated on different therapeutic modalities, best practices, and theories.

Think of it as similar to medical residency. When a doctor has completed their degree, they have to do a few years of supervised hands-on experience before they can sit for their board exams. They are qualified professionals and often very good clinicians. The same is true of prelicensed therapists.

Supervised Clinical Experience

All therapists must complete thousands of hours of direct clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed clinician before they can become licensed. This ensures that therapists have received adequate training and supervision to provide ethical and clinically sound therapy services.

Dual Perspective and Enhanced Care

Working with a prelicensed therapist also means that your therapist is consulting with an experienced provider weekly, giving you more attention and care devoted to you outside of the session. Think of it as getting two therapists for the price of one: you see your prelicensed therapist weekly, and they consult with their supervisor, who may have additional ideas about how to help you feel better and achieve your therapy goals. Professionals who consult and collaborate usually have better outcomes.

Convenient Teletherapy With A Prelicensed Therapist In California

If you are considering starting therapy, working with a prelicensed therapist may be a good option for you. You can schedule a free consult today to get started.