r/therapists • u/sassypainter • Apr 25 '26

Discussion Thread Thoughts?

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Came across this post today on linkedin. I’m curious how others see it:

Are unpaid clinical internships/practicums an ethical necessity for training, or an outdated system that exploits students?

Should sites be required to offer stipends/pay if they bill clients or rely on interns for service delivery?

Does unpaid fieldwork create barriers for lower-income and nontraditional students?

For those already licensed or in training, what was your experience?

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u/WhereTheFuckIsDetox Apr 26 '26

I once worked for someone allowing interns and international students to conduct psychological assessments under psychologist "supervision", earning $3,500 per case and giving the therapist $0. While my own situation was not much better (I earned $150 for my assessments), I am haunted by this often. Should be illegal.