Clinical Training

for practicum students and registered associates

Practicum Students and Registered Associates starting out at TRC begin in out year-long Foundational Training program. Foundational Training consists of 2.5 hours of weekly training and live practice that builds the theoretical ground for a relational approach to counseling. Our work is grounded in Relational Gestalt theory and heavily informed by Trauma Responsive Therapy and Community Organizing. Our model emphasizes collaboration, empathic skills, community, and accountability. We also work within the frameworks of cultural humility and harm reduction with an understanding that political and social factors and systems of oppression impact the wellbeing of our clients. 

In addition to the weekly trainings, we have two weekend intensives per calendar year. All of our trainings include opportunities for the following: 

  • Live-time, intensive, and focused supervision in the context of intimate small-group training cohorts 
  • Planned community activities specifically designed to provoke challenging and complex experience while simultaneously offering coaching and teaching to support expanded awareness and skills-building 
  • Deliberate exposure to the pressures of emotionally challenging work as well as to the demands associated with navigating a communal system 

 

We take a new training cohort every August. Because of the number of applications we receive, we regret that we may be unable to offer interviews to everyone who applies.  Our clinical training is offered with the following fee structure: 

  • 10 or more weekly sliding-scale client hours: $0/month 
  • 5-9 weekly sliding-scale client hours: $100/month 
  • Training only, with no client work: $200/month 

 

Advanced Training 

Graduates of our Foundational Training program may be invited to pursue advanced training. Our second year of training consists of applied topics (depression, working with intimate partners, etc.) and intensive live supervised practice. The third year of training consists of deeper dives into working with trauma, family systems, etc. 

 

Who Should Apply 

The Relational Center offers a three-year clinical training program that is ideal for MSW students and MFT trainees who need to complete their pre-degree practicum as well as registered MFT Interns and Associate Clinical Social Workers. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Bi-Lingual and Neurodivergent students are strongly encouraged to apply. 

If you are seeking post-masters clinical practice hours to submit to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, training and supervised experience at The Relational Center is eligible to be applied toward licensure. 

 

How It Works 

We offer a three-year comprehensive program of clinical training which supports students to provide trauma-responsive, social justice-informed counseling and group facilitation while applying their learning by providing services to members of our community wellness center, to gain hours of supervised experience required for graduation and/or licensure. 

 

What To Expect 

All foundation-year trainees attend weekly group supervision and a weekly mentor meeting (during the first six months) as well as the weekly training cohorts. While in Foundational Training you are expected to provide services in our Community Center (at least 5 direct counseling hours per week and a minimum of 3 hours per week of intake). Finally, all trainees are also required to attend two annual weekend intensives, generally held in the spring and fall.