What is a Mental Health Practitioner?
A Mental Health Practitioner is a graduate-level or post-grad therapist who is typically completing the final clinical requirements for their master’s degree or the final requirements towards full licensure in the State of Minnesota. Many of our new therapists come to us with previous experience working in mental health or a related field. Working under the supervision of a licensed therapist and approved supervisor, mental health practitioners provide the same direct care as our licensed therapists. They receive weekly individual and group supervision, where they receive guidance and feedback to help them refine their skills, provide competent care, and meet the standards necessary for licensure.
What are the benefits of working with a Mental Health Practitioner?
Frequent supervision
Mental health practitioners work under the supervision of experienced, licensed therapists and clinical supervisors, both in our clinic and through their university. Typically, they receive 2-3 hours of direct supervision per week to help them develop their skills and provide effective client care. This means your therapist will be regularly collaborating with another experienced clinician to talk about how things are going and how to help you reach your therapy goals.
Smaller caseloads
Our mental health practitioners typically have smaller caseloads than our licensed therapists. This means they have more time to prepare for each session and are able to give each client their full attention.
More availability and scheduling flexibility
Finding a therapist with openings can be a real challenge! Because our mental health practitioners have smaller caseloads, they will often have the most immediate availability for scheduling. In addition, they may be able to offer more flexible scheduling options for clients who have a hard time meeting at a regular time due to their work schedules or other obligations.
Ongoing education
Our mental health practitioners continue to participate in their education and clinical growth throughout their work experience at our clinic. They also have access to ongoing training opportunities with us on areas of interest and specialty.