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Guide-to-Thrive

Resources Pre-licensed Corner Guide-to-Thrive

	BUSINESS 101: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AS A PRE- LICENSED THERAPIST HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRAINEESHIP & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE MONEY MATERS: MANAGING FINANCES & LOAN REPAYMENT THE ROAD TO LICENSURE PREVIEW & WORKSHOP INFO

THE ROADMAP TO SUCCESS AS A PRE-LICENSED THERAPIST

3000 hours: a number that may feel like a roadblock to your future as a Licensed Therapist. Maybe your plan is to put your head down and grind as many hours out as possible. Or maybe you need to take a longer route to licensure because you have to work a full-time job while completing your internship. Wherever you are on your journey, CAMFT is here to help.

I remember my first CAMFT meeting as a trainee student, feeling inspired by the diversity of therapists present and the variety of paths we were all taking. If it weren't for my 8 years of membership in CAMFT, I would not have developed training beyond my Master's degree, I would not have the long-lasting friendships I made through my chapter, and I would not be getting referrals for my practice from colleagues and mentors I met along the way.

We have created this guide with you in mind. We know the power of community during this time in your career. We would love for you to become a pre-licensed member of CAMFT and receive exclusive benefits such as continued training, networking community, job opportunities, support, resources and more. We would love to connect with you.

BUSINESS 101: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AS A PRE-LICENSED THERAPIST

	KNOWING YOUR 'WHY' CAN GET YOU THROUGH ANY 'HOW' Know your 'why'. What called you to become a therapist? This will be the blueprint for your future career. Get experience. Create a vision of who your ideal client is and what your ideal work life looks like and use your traineeship and internship to learn about specialties in which you are interested.

RESUME & INTERVIEW SKILLS

Highlight your experience as a person: As therapists, every experience (whether a work experience or a life experience) can be an asset as a clinician. Don't be afraid to highlight skills from a previous career or personal life/volunteer experience and connect it to your work as a therapist.
Perspectives on interviewing:
- The interview should be seen as an information exchange rather than a one-way evaluation. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
- Prepare yourself by researching the organization, the populations they specialize in, etc.
- Ask essential questions such as:
  - How much time is allocated to paperwork vs. client face-to-face hours & supervision
  - How many hours can you expect to work per week?
  - Will you be responsible for finding clients?
  - Will you be able to continue to see clients once you're licensed?

THE POWER OF PERSONAL THERAPY

In any industry and job, the power of personal growth and development is a remarkable tool to excel personally and professionally. As a therapist, we are our greatest tool. The more self-aware we are, the more we are able to create a safe place for our clients.		For therapists, the power of personal therapy is a tool for growth as well as a way to experience the power of psychotherapy firsthand. Many programs require personal therapy or highly recommend it. Searching for a personal therapist who specializes in working with MFT students can be a good place to start.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRAINEESHIP & ASSOCIATESHIP EXPERIENCE

		HOW TO KNOW YOU'VE FOUND THE RIGHT FIT Interview your traineeship or associate placement thoroughly. Be sure to ask about: Therapeutic orientation of supervisor Financial compensation and breakdown (compare to best practice in industry.) Demographic info of clients and # of clinical hours you can expect to accrue
FINDING THE RIGHT SUPERVISOR What therapeutic orientation(s) do they specialize in? Is supervision individual or group? Assess if it's the right fit. Do you feel safe and comfortable talking to the supervisor in the interview? What are the financial expectations (if any)? What is the breakdown between clinical supervision and paperwork/review? (This will differ between agencies & private practices.) Ask for a copy of their license and check through the BBS website if it is up to date. Assess for their knowledge on legal & ethical issues.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, EMPOWER YOURSELF BY COLLABORATIVELY STRUCTURING INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION IN THE WAY THAT FEELS MOST COMFORTABLE AND BENEFICIAL FOR YOU.		GAINING DIVERSE EXPERIENCE Stay open to learning about working with diverse populations. It's okay to "not know". Get as much diverse experience as you can working with marginalized populations and people from various age, cultural and socieconomic backgrounds. This can help you build empathy. Be open to leadership opportunities outside of clinical work that can bolster career skills for your future

MINDFUL MONEY MATTERS: MANAGING FINANCES & LOAN REPAYMENT/FORGIVENESS
WAYS TO BUILD AWARENESS Download a money-tracking app to help build awareness around finances. Meet with a financial planner who understands student loans to learn and understand more about finances (it's not too soon, now is the best time!) Know your amount of student debt: Acceptance is key. Challenge your money mindset: view your student debt as an investment rather than as a "debt".		THE #1 THING YOU NEED TO DO AS A PRE-LICENSED THERAPIST REGARDING FINANCES IS TO STAY MINDFULLY AWARE!
Be aware of your relationship with money! In terms of attachment style (Hazen & Shaver, 1987) is your relationship with money: THE ROAD TO LICENSURE: 5 KEY STEPS TO LMFT
		Complete Grad Program & pre-degree hours as a trainee. Register as an "MFT Associate" with the BBS Take and pass the Law & Ethics Exam Finish 3,000 hours Take 2nd Clinical Exam Are you up-to-date on all the laws and regulations that impact you as a pre-licensed therapist? For more detailed information on EVERYTHING you need to know to navigate the road to licensure, check out our Pre-licensee Corner on CAMFT.org and become a member by clicking here.