[objectclient]

I have been let down by yet another T who said she had space for me in their diary but now doesn't. She's put me on a long waiting list and I've no idea when I'll be seen. Meanwhile I am wasting my life away. I am down to my last options now when it comes to finding a T as I can't afford private so I'm relying on the healthcare system and mental health charities that offer therapy in return for a small donation. Both have long waiting lists. However, a slot has come up with a trainee T. It feels like the only chance I have so part of me wants to grab it but another part of me knows it's not worth risking my mental health deteriorating further if this T isn't competent.

I need help making this decision. Please help. Would you/do you see a trainee T? Anyone had a good/bad experience they can share?

[stopdog]

I would not do it, but not because I think the person would necessarily be more likely to be incompetent/useless than I think they are to begin with. I would not do it because of the added interference of supervisors.

I'm a trainee T, and from experience I can tell you that everything depends of the support in the trainee's placement. I would ask what sort of support the trainee receives and from whom. I'm lucky enough to have a supportive placement, a great supervisor and very good tutors too, who all contribute to me being able to provide good therapy. Part of my being effective involves knowing when a client's issues are beyond my level of competency and seeking appropriate support/referring if appropriate and being honest. This is vital and should (in theory) protect you from damaging therapy (sometimes qualified therapists can be a bit cock sure of themselves and not seek appropriate support-this happened to me as a client). You have the right to ask what support the trainee has in place should you decide to try them.
I personally have a very experienced T who is very good, and not sure I'd choose a trainee at this point in my life, but I might in another situation. It really is about making the decision you feel is right for you.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I need a higher level of experience and education than a trainee could provide.

Originally Posted by stopdog

I would not do it, but not because I think the person would necessarily be more likely to be incompetent/useless than I think they are to begin with. I would not do it because of the added interference of supervisors.

It's a good job you aren't in the UK - supervision is compulsory for professional body membership, and career-long.

[stopdog]

I guess I would think it a higher likelihood of active interference the newer the trainee.

[atisketatasket]

I considered this last week when I found out the issues of scheduling with No. 2. My school offers counseling at low low prices ($25/semester (=12 weeks)) for faculty and staff. The counselors are trainees with a supervisor.

But, I need someone long term, I don't want to be the person a trainee cuts their teeth on, and I don't like the idea of a supervisor looking over their shoulder.

Originally Posted by Echos Myron

It's a good job you aren't in the UK - supervision is compulsory for professional body membership, and career-long.

There is a difference between supervision and consultation though. My therapists consulted with others, but they were not in any way controlled/dictated to by those peers they consulted. Under supervision, the way I've seen it, it that there is more interference, more prescriptive suggestion, more control over the person being supervised. That may be a difference in how it might be defined in various countries though.

I would not see a trainee because I'm done being a guinea pig for people under training. It would be going backwards at this point. I might have been okay with it (maybe) when I was much younger at less cognizant of my own needs, but I wouldn't do it now.

Originally Posted by lolagrace

There is a difference between supervision and consultation though. My therapists consulted with others, but they were not in any way controlled/dictated to by those peers they consulted. Under supervision, the way I've seen it, it that there is more interference, more prescriptive suggestion, more control over the person being supervised. That may be a difference in how it might be defined in various countries though.
.

The supervision I receive is very like what I can expect to receive throughout my career - very much a collaborative process and in no way prescriptive or interfering. I think that can depend on the quality of the supervisor though.
In this country it is formalised supervision with a qualified supervisor which you must receive throughout your career, not simply collaboration with other Ts. I know this is very different from the US model and I apologise for veering off topic OP.

[Argonautomobile]

I'd at least try it.

[Out There]

Yes , I would give it a go and see how it went. If I've ever been in a position where someone is training like doctors/ physiotherapists and they have to ask your permission to be in the real life situation I always say Yes so they will gain experience.I would also consider a less experienced T as well.

[justdesserts]

I would try it. I have been a trainee therapist, and received excellent supervision. Also, the clients who came into our office were triaged for level of need, so the more complicated clients saw the more experienced therapists. If you're working with an organization that is experienced in placing trainees with clients, I would have no problem trying it.

[MobiusPsyche]

It depends. I would give one a shot if I didn't have other options, absolutely. I'd worry about how long I could see them; I think I would not form as strong an attachment to them because I'd know going in that they were only there for a year or a semester. That might be a good thing....

Seeing a trainee night change the type of things I worked on. I wouldn't work on attachment issues with a trainee, for instance. But if I needed other types of help and they could provide that, I'd give it a try.

[Trippin2.0]

I had a trainee, he was the first therapist I stuck it out with, I was very anti therapy before him, but he managed to help change my perspective.


I saw him for 8 months and he was very helpful with the issues I was dealing with at the time.

[Lauliza]

I would try it out. A therapist doesn't have a supervisor looking over their shoulder, just someone to check in with and review the more complicated cases and talk about any countertransference that may have. Anything more intrusive is only done with the client's permission. I will say that any reputable practice or agency will not give clients with complex issues to trainees as treatment in this case does require a bit of experience and acquired skill. Otherwise it's probably worth giving this T a try.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I had a T trainee once when I was in college. It was horrible. No issues were worked on. She was a complete blank state with strict boundaries. I can't work with someone like that. So I spent the time trying to break her boundaries and she just tried to survive me. When I finally had enough and terminated, she was upset! She thought we were doing well?

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by ScarletPimpernel

I had a T trainee once when I was in college. It was horrible. No issues were worked on. She was a complete blank state with strict boundaries. I can't work with someone like that. So I spent the time trying to break her boundaries and she just tried to survive me. When I finally had enough and terminated, she was upset! She thought we were doing well?

Do you believe that to be because she was a trainee or because of the model of therapy she was practicing?


Just curious....

[ScarletPimpernel]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Do you believe that to be because she was a trainee or because of the model of therapy she was practicing?


Just curious....

I don't even know what model of therapy she was practicing. I started seeing her because my T of 3 years terminated with me (on good terms), and my boyfriend broke up with me. I terminated with the trainee because I told ex-T what we were doing and she agreed to take me back until she had to transfer so long as I stopped seeing the trainee. Ex-T agreed that what the trainee and I were doing wasn't healthy or helpful, and her supervisor should have known and stepped in. I think the trainee just wanted to say she could survive someone with BPD.

[growlycat]

I need someone experienced who isn't going to leave in six months. Hell to the NO

Originally Posted by growlycat

I need someone experienced who isn't going to leave in six months. Hell to the NO

Good point.

[rainboots87]

Depends on what trainee means. As student? No, I wouldn't. I have before, and I need someone who can handle me.

Here in the US (not sure where you are), there are several paths, but that includes LPCs and LPC interns. The LPCs have been practicing longer, while the interns meet with a supervisor weekly as they acquire theire 3000ish hours of clinical practice. I am currently seeing an LPC intern who is younger than me, which i was skeptical about, but I really like her so far.

[growlycat]

Thanks for bringing up the lpc thing. My tentative new t is an lpc but he been practicing for seventeen years and is qualified to supervise junior lpcs. So far he talks the talk as much as any t I've ever had. He seems savvy

I see student psychiatrists at every level of their training. My psychiatrist is a teaching doctor, his office is at the hospital and medical school. I am always asked permission. I have always found it a positive experience. As the teacher and student will discuss things - and include me - about my case and I often find it to be both educational and beneficial. In addition I often participate in question and answer classes with small groups (6-10) of students. I get paid to participate.

I did not have such a great experience in the hospital however where I was assigned both a nursing student and several psychiatric residents. The doctors weren't so bad but I had to complain and ask to have the student nurse removed from my case. She followed me around like a lost puppy and questioned my every turn. I even had to explain to her that she didn't have to follow me to the bathroom door.

It would really depend on how much experience and training they had. For example when I was a trainee, I had two more years experience in another modality than my peers who were training and a lot more personal therapy hours. Although my peers were very good I felt they didn't have a good knowledge of the process or any clue about attachment issues. They didn't get erotic transference or had never experienced it with their therapists and so I wonder how they would handle this.
As for supervision it depends on we're you do your placement. Where I did my placement they controlled supervision and gave the trainees the worst supervisor which makes no sense. My first supervisor was useless and I had two clients that she refused to supervise and wanted me to terminate or refer, I refused and am still working with them under a new supervisor. So I would be very selective choosing a trainee now knowing what I know. I also wanted to add that they do get better as they go along so again it would depend on how long they have been training. Some trainees only do the bare minimum and do not participate in extra workshops or trainings so I would also ask about that, I did a lot of extra training to support me before I even started seeing clients, other trainees did nothing extra.

[Lauliza]

In the US a trainee in Counseling psychology grad program would still be a student - it's their internship. After graduation and receiving a masters, we then have to work another 3600 hours supervised until we can be licensed as an LMHC (or LPC in some states). So it would depend on which trainee you mean. The latter I would not have a problem with at all. I'd be ok with the former also, unless my issues are complex (such as with trauma and personality disorders).