Throughout my time as an MFT Trainee at Peace It Together (PIT), I feel that I have been equipped with the foundational skills/experiences needed in order to become a holistic, well-rounded therapist. From the diverse clientele to the supportive nature of the staff, these have all led towards beneficial moments that I consider fortunate as this is an environment all therapists-in-training should have as they reach their first clinical milestone. The agency truly takes into consideration what your goals and aspirations as a therapist are and helps you engage in the thoughts of unfolding what your therapeutic craft is. Trainees at PIT are given the opportunity to learn about the business model behind therapy (i.e. billing, insurance), encouraged to conceptualize cases through different lenses, able to facilitate a variety of therapeutic modalities, and gain exposure with client-centered advocacy. All experiences that have brought me a step closer towards developing my craft as a therapist.
~Nathan Shawn Thephavongsa, USF 2022
When I was looking at various practicum sites, what first set apart Peace-It-Together from the others was how I would be able to experience the business side of psychotherapy; from staying on top of billing with different insurance plans to discussing payment options with clients, I knew these would be invaluable skills to have if I was ever interested in setting up my own private practice or non-profit agency in the future. Another attribute of PIT that appealed to me was that I would be able to experience and serve a variety of clients — including children/adolescents/teens, adults, and couples — who either attended therapy on a voluntary or a court-mandated basis, which then allowed me to collaborate with parents, psychiatrists, and social workers. Although I was initially nervous to jump into sessions with clients, I felt incredibly supported by my supervisors and my fellow therapists in-training. It was during these supervision meetings that I not only received validation and support from my supervisors and colleagues but also the encouragement to further develop my own theoretical orientations and approaches, which in turn helped instill confidence in my abilities and clinical judgment. As I continue on my journey to become a Marriage and Family Therapist, I feel that I have a very solid foundation of skills, practices, and experience to build upon and will look back at my time at Peace-It-Together fondly.
~Sarah Nam, USF 2022
