- Haley Moore
- Nov 14
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 16
The Hidden Benefits of Seeing a Student Therapist
Why Working With A Student Therapist Might Be Exactly What You Need
Written By: Haley Moore
About the Author
Haley Moore, Clinic Director and Registered Social Worker (RSW)
With the cost of living on the rise, we all need to find ways to save a bit of money here and there. But is it okay to save when you’re seeking therapy?
Using insights from our own student therapists from previous years and helpful research-based information, we’re here to tell you that not only is it okay to see a student therapist, but that there are many surprising benefits that come with this decision too!
Who Counts as a Student Therapist?
Student therapists are any therapists that are currently in school working towards a degree in a counselling-related field. In Ontario, these programs are usually either a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) or a Master’s of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP). Student therapists are either working towards becoming a regulated therapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) or with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) as a Registered Psychotherapist. These students are supervised by a regulated professional (RSW or RP) with at least five years of clinical experience and specific training to provide supervision. Student therapists typically take courses and trainings that are geared towards building therapy skills and need to meet specific criteria to become registered upon their graduation. A practicum as a student therapist is required in order to graduate.
What Makes People Think Student Therapists Aren’t Qualified Enough?
Lots of people believe that student therapists ‘just don’t have enough experience’. This is often far from the truth. Student therapists are often required to not only take relevant courses within their masters-level university program, but also are often required to take additional trainings and workshops to be able to join their practicum sites or to be more competitive with their peers. Student therapists are also humans - they may have years of experience in a similar or related field, experience being the client in a therapy relationship, lived experience that is relevant to the population they serve, or all of the above. All of this also adds to their ability to show up in the therapy room.
Another common belief is that student therapists lack the skills that a ‘real’ therapist requires to be effective. The most important predictor of success in the therapy journey is the relationship that the client has with their therapist - not the therapist’s training, or years of experience, or modalities they use - the relationship itself. Student therapists naturally have empathetic skills and are taught how to be present and provide room for clients to feel safe within sessions, which is the most important foundation for effective therapy.
With competitive placement spots seldom available in private practices and high standards of admission into the masters-level university program in the first place, student therapists are often very qualified before they even begin the program. Student therapists often, however not always, are one of several highly skilled students selected for an interview for a practicum site. Interviews are often rigorous, testing the student’s knowledge prior to deciding whether or not it’s a good fit. Remember: Private practice owners are usually very emotionally and financially invested in their business, so they’re not willing to bring on just anyone!
The Obvious Benefit of Working With a Student Therapist
The one piece that everyone notices right away is the price. Student therapists often offer their services at a lower cost than registered therapists at the market rate. This provides a clear advantage for students to be able to see more clients due to the affordability, but also is an advantage for clients who can seek services at a lower cost and often receive more sessions because of this. For therapy practice owners, it also is a benefit to have a wider reach of providing services to clients that otherwise would not be able to afford therapy with their team.
Hidden Benefit #1: Two for the (Low) Price of One
Something that clients don’t often know is that student therapists are very closely supervised. Most supervisors will review footage of sessions that the student therapist engages in (with consent from clients of course!) either live or afterwards and will provide in-depth feedback about what the student therapist could do differently or better in the future. Student therapists talk with their supervisors about every single client they see, which allows for not only the student therapist’s perspective, but also the perspective of the supervisor (who remember has at least five years of post-graduate experience in therapy!).
Student therapists who work in a group practice often also have access to other team members via case conferences, team meetings, and one-on-one peer consultations. This allows for even more perspective to be brought into the same client’s case.
Hidden Benefit #2: Relatability
Student therapists choose to go to school for therapy specifically because they want to be a therapist. They usually come with a driving factor that pushed them towards pursuing a career in a helping profession, and come with natural empathy and care that goes beyond what clients see. Student therapists also have often had the experience of being a client in the therapy room as well, and they bring that experience to their role.
Student therapists are often in similar shoes to their clients, which makes them relatable. They aren’t yet an expert in their field, they’re learning, just like clients are trying to do by seeking out therapy in the first place. This can bring a fresh perspective and a real connection.
As our previous student therapist Carrin shared in a post last year, student therapists often find themselves in their clients and use this for their own growth too. Being a therapist is really vulnerable, and having your own fears, values, and challenges reflected back by your clients can be really valuable to being able to support those clients through their journey.
Hidden Benefit #3: Deeper Investment
Although all therapists have a deep investment in their clients’ well-being and progress, student therapists bring this desire to a whole new level. Student therapists want to succeed and learn and be able to become the best therapist they can be. They are eagerly soaking up information from school, their supervisor, their clients, and their peers. They have the ability to invest more time and energy into their clients than a regulated therapist due to their lesser caseload, which allows more time for research and preparation going into sessions. Student therapists are often also trying to set themselves up for a career in therapy (maybe even at their current practicum site!) and therefore are truly pushing themselves to be the best they can be. They may even be battling their own Imposter Syndrome which usually drives them to learn more to quell those anxieties.
The Caveat
Although the above showcases how student therapists can be so helpful and bring their own additional benefits compared to traditional therapy, there are a few reasons that it may not be appropriate to work with a student therapist:
You are in active crisis;
You have a diagnosis of Complex PTSD; and/or
Personal preferences or comfort level don’t line up.
If the above don’t sound like your situation, trust your gut. If you’re open to the experience, give it a try. You’re always encouraged to provide respectful feedback to your therapist no matter where they are at in their learning journey, and student therapists are no different.
Are You Ready?
If you feel like you’ve gotten enough information to jump in, we have two new students who joined our team in September that are eager to start working with clients. If you’d like to book your free 15-minute video consultation, find a time that works for you with Jorge or Glen below!
Our Affordable Therapy Program is running year long!
Our Affordable Therapy Program at Therapy Uninterrupted is very important to us. We want to be able to reach as many clients in need and be able to provide them with quality supports all year round!
That means that you can find a student therapist to support you beginning today. See below for more information about our current student therapists:
Jorge is undergoing a Master's of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. He offers support to individuals and couples in English and Spanish. He supports adults and young adults who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, ADHD, low self-esteem, and/or identity-related challenges. Many of his clients have spent years masking their struggles or feeling like they don’t fully belong, whether because of neurodivergence, cultural displacement, grief, or gender and sexual identity. If you feel like you're high-functioning on the outside, but internally you feel stuck, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted - you're not alone, and Jorge can help. You can learn more about Jorge here.
Glen is undergoing a Master's of Social Work at the University of Toronto. He offers support to individuals in English and Japanese. He supports people who are struggling to navigate their self-identity in relation to their culture, gender, neurodivergence, career, and mental health. He also helps first responders and healthcare workers who suffer from occupational burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Throughout our lives, we encounter numerous life phases where the various “labels” we once held are no longer consistent with who we truly are. Life transitions come quickly, and we can feel left behind. Through no fault of our own, we then begin solidifying maladaptive patterns to react to our rapidly changing environment. Over time, this results in us living a life that fails to accurately represent who we truly are inside. You can learn more about Glen here.
Please note that all students are closely supervised to ensure the standard of care is upheld. We hope to be able to support you through our Affordable Therapy program!
References
Adoma, C. (2025). What Clients Teach Us: Lessons from the Therapy Room as a Student Therapist. Find a Student Therapist. Retrieved from: https://findastudenttherapist.ca/what-clients-teach-us-lessons-from-the-therapy-room-as-a-student-therapist/
Fisher, J. (2017). Healing the fragmented selves of trauma survivors: Overcoming internal self-alienation. Routledge.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
