Clinical Experience

Clinical Experience

In the second year of the program, our students begin a 12-month internship providing therapy for families, intimate relationships, and individuals. They are at a clinical site 18 to 20 hours per week for in person or virtual client contact, supervision, and other onsite clinical work. Students must accrue 400 clinical hours, including 200 relational hours (seeing couples, families, and other relationship forms). Interns see brief and long-term clients to develop a range of skills to utilize after graduation. In addition to the onsite experience, interns participate in weekly three-hour faculty-led group supervision with an AAMFT approved supervisor. The program ensures supervisor sufficiency for you to receive quality feedback regarding their clinical services.

Our students take a year of classes before starting the clinical sequence.To demonstrate clinical readiness, our students must pass prerequisite classes and receive passing grades on clinical skills rubrics. Our AAMFT and state approved site supervisors report that our interns are well prepared to start seeing clients. Our pre-interns work directly with our clinical coordinator to find an internship that meets program requirements and matches particular interests. Required clinical orientations provide additional instruction and resources regarding site placement and clinical expectations (handbook provided). Since 2014, 100% of interns have completed clinical requirements either by the end of Clinical IV (77%) or Clinical Extension (23%).

Meet the Couples & Family Therapy Clinical Coordinator

LaDonna Smith

LaDonna Smith, MA, LMFT

Clinical Coordinator

cft@seattleu.edu


Information on AAMFT Approved Supervisor status.