The Hidden Rules of Becoming a Licensed Therapist

Are you a pre-licensed therapist (MFT Associate, ASW, counseling intern, or AAMFT member) working in community mental health or at a private practice and wondering how to prepare for the career you actually want? You’re in the right place.

In this video, is for therapists in training who know private practice is the goal but feel stuck in the messy middle. Here, we talk about the real steps you can take now — like choosing supportive supervisors, understanding paperwork, building referral connections, and preparing for private practice before you’re licensed. I’m going to be sharing the 5 things I wish someone had told me when I was a pre-licensed therapist just starting out.

I’m covering everything from managing the financial realities of being a therapist in training to how I earned income while collecting my licensing hours, finding great supervision in Therapy Private Practice , learning how to market myself and fill my caseload, and navigating countertransference during supervision. Whether you're an MFT intern, social worker in training, or an associate counselor, these are the lessons that would have made my early career so much easier.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: What I Wish I Knew as a Therapist in Training
00:55 - Managing the Financial Realities of Being a Pre-Licensed Therapist
01:22 - How Much I Earned as a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (MFT Associate)
01:38 - Having a Side Hustle to Earn Income as a Pre-Licensed Therapist
02:09 - How I Completed My Licensing Hours as an MFT Associate in California
02:47 - How I Finished My Hours in Just a Year and a Half as a Therapist in Training
03:26 - How to Find a Great Supervisor as a Therapist in Private Practice
04:05 - Managing Countertransference During Supervision as a Pre-Licensed Therapist

If you're in the process of earning your clinical hours as an MFT Associate, Social Worker Associate, or counseling intern, I hope this video saves you some of the stress and confusion I went through.

🔔 Don't forget to subscribe for more tips on private practice, supervision, and life as a therapist in training!


RESOURCES
Set Yourself Up for Private Practice Success While Still Under Supervision:

Pre-Licensed in Practice

is the course I wish I’d had during those overwhelming, just-trying-to-survive years. Inside, I walk you through the things no one teaches us in grad school:

✨ How to write your first bio so clients actually connect with you
✨ How to prepare for referrals (and feel ready when they come!)
✨ How to set boundaries that protect your time and energy
✨ How private practice really works behind the scenes

This isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about preparing smarter, so that when you do get licensed, you’re ready to step into private practice with confidence and without burning out.

🧡 Learn more here: https://www.theprivatepracticepro.com...

🧡 Ready to start your private practice?
The Private Practice Roadmap walks you through everything from setting your fee to handling paperwork, scheduling, and welcoming your very first clients.
Learn More 👉🏼 https://www.theprivatepracticepro.com...

Already launched and looking to grow?
Marketing for Therapists will help you attract a steady stream of your ideal clients without burning out or feeling salesy.
Learn More 👉🏼 https://www.theprivatepracticepro.com...

You can explore all of my courses at http://www.theprivatepracticepro.com. I’ve got you.

Want to get a jump start on creating your therapy website? Dive into the essentials of crafting a therapy website that resonates with your ideal clients.

https://kelley-stevens.mykajabi.com/w...

Unlock the secrets to a thriving therapy practice with our free guide, "The Therapist's Networking Guide." Learn how to build valuable connections with actionable scripts and an easy-to-use tracking spreadsheet.

https://kelley-stevens.mykajabi.com/n...

If you’re even thinking about moving into private practice after pre-licensure, check out this free start up cost worksheet. Plus a Bonus: My Marketing Spreadsheet.

https://www.theprivatepracticepro.com...


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