Counselor Intern Program
Affordable Therapy and Culturally Grounded Counselor Training
We are proud to support emerging counselors through our Counselor Intern Program.
The Counselor Intern Program exists for two reasons: to make therapy more accessible and to train counselors who can see beyond symptoms.
Good clinical care requires more than technique. It requires cultural humility, self-awareness and the ability to understand clients in the full context of their lives.
Clients receive reduced-fee therapy from carefully selected counselor interns under licensed supervision. While counseling students receive a training experience that supports clinical skill, professional confidence and the development of an authentic therapeutic voice. With a culture-first clinical lens, the program helps emerging clinicians learn to see clients in the full context of their lives, not only through symptoms or diagnosis.
Two Pathways, One Purpose
For Clients Seeking Reduced-Fee Therapy
Therapy should not be out of reach because of cost. Through our Counselor Intern Program, clients can receive therapy at reduced rates while still receiving thoughtful, supervised care.
Our interns are master’s level counseling students completing the final phase of their clinical training. They are supervised by a licensed therapist and supported in providing ethical, culturally responsive care. This can be a good fit for clients who want support with anxiety, stress, relationships, grief, trauma, identity, life transitions or emotional overwhelm.
Note: Reduced-fee therapy does not mean reduced attention. Clients deserve care that takes their symptoms seriously and also considers the world that shaped them.
For Counseling Students Seeking Internship Placement
Our internship program is designed for counseling students who want more than a place to collect hours.
This is a clinical training space for emerging counselors who want to think deeply about cultural identity, power, bias and the real-life conditions that shape mental health. We are especially committed to supporting underrepresented counseling students as they develop their clinical voice. And seek to create an environent where interns of all cultures can flourish without feeling pressured to leave parts of themselves outside the counseling room.
Interns are trained to move beyond rigid clinical performance and toward grounded, ethical, culturally aware practice.
Our Training Philosophy
Many counseling programs teach students how to identify symptoms, apply theory and follow a treatment plan. Those skills matter. But they are not enough.
In our Counselor Intern Program, interns are encouraged to ask better questions before reaching for easy conclusions.
What context am I missing?
What has this client had to carry?
What is this behavior a response to?
What has this client been taught about emotion, strength or survival?
We do not treat culture as background information. Culture is part of the clinical information.
Our goal is to help interns become clinicians who can think critically, stay curious and sit with complexity without rushing to simplify it.
Supervision That Builds Clinical Identity
Counselor interns receive traditional supervision focused on clinical skill, ethical practice, and case conceptualization. What hey also receive is specialized attention to culturally responsive care.
Our supervision style helps interns examine their own assumptions, strengthen their use of self and develop a therapeutic presence that feels grounded rather than performed.
We do not want interns to become copies of another therapist. We want them to become thoughtful clinicians who can use training, judgment and authenticity with care.
All Interns are Trained and Supervised
Counselor interns receive weekly supervision focused on ethical care, clinical skill, case consultation and culturally responsive practice. Supervision gives interns space to strengthen their judgment, ask thoughtful questions and consider the client’s full context, not just the presenting concern.
Interns work closely with their supervisor to give clients the best care possible. At Simplicity Psychotherapy all interns are supervised onsite by Rayvene Whatley, LPC.
FAQs About Sliding Scale Therapy With An Intern
Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about our therapy services. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to us directly.
Will I meet with the same intern for each session?
Yes. We believe that the relationship between you and your therapist is an important factor in your progress. Your comfort with the intern will allow you to focus on yourself while obtaining the skills you need to thrive.
How often will I attend sessions?
We cannot guarantee a specific time frame for services since the therapeutic process is tailored to each individual. We do ask that you commit to 6-8 consecutive sessions before realistically evaluating the effectiveness of therapy. You and your therapist will collaborate to determine what frequency of sessions is most appropriate to reach your goals.
What happens at the end of internship?
Interns contract with the program for a minimum of one year of service. Once that contract is complete, the student may leave the practice. At that time, you will be offered services with another therapist if you wish to continue. Schedule permitting, that therapist may be the supervisor of the intern such that you may have a smooth transition between therapists. We can also provide referrals to therapists outside the practice if necessary.
Interns will not accept new clients if less than two months are remaining in their internship.
What is the cost of sliding scale therapy sessions?
Interns offer sliding scale rates of $50 – $100 per session for individuals and $70 – $150 for couples. These reduced fee sessions are an excellent choice if your circumstances require low-cost therapy services.
Start Sliding Scale Therapy With A Counseling Intern in Atlanta, GA
Start Sliding Scale Therapy With A Counseling Intern in Atlanta, GA
There are a lot of benefits to starting therapeutic services with a counseling intern at Simplicity Psychotherapy in Atlanta, GA. Including services at a decreased rate and support from not only a counseling intern but also a supervising therapist. If you are ready to start sliding scale counseling follow these simple steps:
- Reach out for a free consultation
- Schedule your first sliding scale therapy appointment
- Receive support using the most recent developments in mental health
Other Therapy Services We Offer In Atlanta & Online in Georgia
Our caring therapists offer in-person therapy at our Atlanta office and throughout Georgia with online counseling. With options for both individual therapy and relationship counseling. For Black men and Black women, we offer depression therapy, and anxiety therapy. For relationships, we offer premarital counseling, relationship counseling, and couples therapy.
