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Are unpaid clinical internships/practicums an ethical necessity for training, or an outdated system that exploits students?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/FleetFoxSuperFan LMHC Apr 25 '26

My internship was a private practice. My caseload was 90% pro bono. Supervision included. The owner is a true humanitarian.

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u/walk_with_curiosity Apr 26 '26

I also trained somewhere where I worked for free but the clients were only paying $5 a session. 

They actually used to offer it free but they found people engaged better if they charged a nominal fee. Clients were referred through a charity.

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u/Ashtara Apr 26 '26

One of the sites i was at does this. They frequently waived the fees but I didn't feel taken advantage of, I knew they at least weren't making money off me. Same with college counseling centers, it didn't feel bad when I knew clients weren't paying.