Counseling West
4419 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 310
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

(818) 990-9898

Fax: 818 783 2243
Email: info@counselingwest.com
Your communication is private
and confidential.
Hours: Mon- Sat, 9am to 9pm

We are conveniently located in
Sherman Oaks, close to the 101
and 405 freeways.


Click for Larger Map

 

M.F.T. Program

M.F.T. Internship Training Program Introduction

Counseling West, a non-profit mental health center, was founded in 1976 to provide quality, affordable counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and families, and to provide a training program for mental health professionals of depth and value. Our program is designed to meet the needs of both those with no prior experience in the field and those who have acquired experience toward licensure. Interns and trainees begin to take on clients as quickly as readiness and previous experience allow and based on availability of new clients.

The agency's office is staffed by a carefully selected group of pre-licensed trainees and interns. Staff members are characterized by their compassion, personal maturity, warmth, degree of self-awareness, and commitment to the rigors of a life lived in the presence of the psyche. Staff members are encouraged to be in therapy and, although it is not mandatory, it is typical.

The agency believes strongly in facilitating a supportive, nurturing environment for trainees and interns as well as clients. We believe that staff members can benefit greatly from knowing each other and each other's work; therefore, supervision and training are conducted in groups. In this way, staff members have an opportunity to observe a variety of counseling approaches as well as developing deep bonds with others at the agency.

Counseling West staff members utilize a variety of orienting approaches in working with clients. Many cases involve family issues, and a systems approach is appropriate. For other clients, more in-depth therapeutic interventions utilizing psycho-dynamic, Jungian, and Humanistic-Existential approaches are used. In all cases, therapists use an orienting philosophy, which is tailored to meet the needs of the client.

In addition to opportunities for additional training offered during the year through guest speakers and clinical presentations, our staff is required to become involved in community outreach programs. These provide invaluable experience in acquiring additional skills in areas such as networking, public speaking, public relations, etc. that are necessary for successful practice after licensure. Some interns/trainees choose to offer groups in areas of specific interest to them, i.e. bereavement, adolescence, children of divorce.

Because of the diversity of our client population, we are able to provide interns and trainees with a broad base of experience with many kinds of presenting problems. We strongly encourage our interns/trainees develop various groups such as, parenting groups which we may then offer to the community.

Many interns who begin their training at Counseling West apply to stay on and complete their entire 3000 hours of experience. We are pleased with the environment we have created at Counseling West and we strive to constantly improve our services to both clients and staff.

Program Requirements

1. FIRST YEAR INTERNS AND TRAINEES: (Approximately 12-14 hrs/wk.)

• Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (This includes a 2-hour supervision group, 1-1/2 hour training group, monthly in-service presentations, staff meetings, etc.)
• Carry a client caseload of 6 sessions / week by the end of the first 6 months.
• Be present for training on the telephone intake procedures. Be available to answer intake calls for about 2 hours per week during business hours (Mon thru Fri.9-5).
• All trainees and interns are highly encouraged to be in personal therapy or analysis during their training.

2. SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT YEAR INTERNS: (14 - 20 hrs/week)

• Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. weekly, and monthly trainings from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m.
• Carry a client caseload of at least 8 client sessions / week through the remainder of your internship.
• Individual supervision provided when the intern has consistently carried a sufficient caseload.
• All trainees and interns are highly encouraged to be in personal therapy or analysis during their training.

3. Administration Fee: First month $150.00; each subsequent month $50.00, payable at the beginning of each month. This fee is waived for third and subsequent year interns. Upon hiring, you will be required to sign a supervision contract with your designated supervisor.

4. Provide proof of malpractice insurance before beginning to see clients, continually updating your file with current insurance documentation.

5. Have voice-mail on your home or cell phone, and a designated voice-mail # where your clients may leave messages. Your message to clients must include your position as an intern or trainee at CW.

6. Design and implement an annual 24-hour project of your choosing, as a service to CW, individually or with a team that may also be done as a monthly ongoing project. We will provide guidance, suggestions, and mentoring. The first year interns / trainees engage in 2 hours per week answering intake calls instead.

7. Interns are not paid for clients referred by CW. When interns bring clients to the agency by their own efforts (a "Direct Referral"), and the fee has a cash portion of $45.00 and above, interns will receive 50% of that fee. In addition, interns or trainees who do in excess of $1000 in revenue (minus direct referrals) in a month will receive 15% of that month's fees. Interns or trainees who do more than $1500 in revenue (minus direct referrals) will receive 20% of that month's fees. All clients except for direct referral clients are to remain with the agency upon the intern’s departure. For details, please refer to the therapist manual.

8. Maintain an acceptable level of attendance and participation in the internship program, notifying your supervisor when you are unable to attend supervision/training.

9. Agree to clear all vacations with your supervisor, and to notify the office and your supervisor of any out of town away time greater than a few days.

10. Satisfactorily pass bi-annual evaluations with your current supervisor.

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Staff

Martha Feng, M.A., M.F.T.

Executive Director / AAMFT Certified Clinical Supervisor
Over fifteen years of experience working with children, adolescents, families and adults. Specialties include domestic violence, trauma, addiction issues and supervision of MFT trainees, interns and licensed personnel. Graduated with an M.A. from Phillips Graduate Institute. In addition to clinical work, Martha was Adjunct Faculty and Clinical Coordinator at Pacifica Graduate Institute for the Counseling Psychology Department for three years. She is currently in a PhD candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Mathew Fishler, Ph.D.

Associate Director / Ph.D. Clinical Supervisor
Licensed psychologist with emphasis in both clinical and depth psychology.  PhD in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and degrees from Wesleyan University and UCLA.  Depth psychological practice incorporates Jungian analytic, psychoanalytic, and existential approaches.  Over 13 years experience as a psychotherapist, with specialization in working with identity issues and life and career transitions.  With background in both law and creative writing, also focus on work with lawyers and individuals engaged in the creative process.  Adjunct faculty at Pacifica Graduate Institute and Past President of the Board of Directors of Counseling West.  Worked as a mental health lawyer for ten years at Disability Rights California.

Jeanine Roose, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Clinical Supervisor
Director of Pre-Doctoral Psychology Internship Program
Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Certified Jungian Analyst; Past President and Past Director of Training, Los Angeles Jung Institute; Faculty, Teaching and Supervision of candidates at C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles; B.S. & M.S., Nursing, UCLA; Ph.D., Psychology, UCLA; Former Assistant Director, Nursing Service, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute; Associate Editor, Journal of Analytical Psychology; Over 28 years in private practice in analytical psychology/psychotherapy.

Patricia Absey, M.A., MFT

Director of Sandplay Studies / MFT Clinical Supervisor
Over seventeen years experience counseling individuals, families, and children. Fifteen years supervisory experience. Certified Sand Play Therapist; Member International Sand Play Association; Former Faculty at Calif. State University Northridge.

Stephen Kenneally, M.A., MFT

MFT Clinical Supervisor
Six years experience counseling individuals, families and children. Currently in analytic training at C G Jung Institute of Los Angeles. Certified Life Coach, experience in facilitating personal growth seminars. TA at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Advisory Board Member at Counseling West. Board member at Opus - The Archives at Pacifica.
www.stephenkenneally.com

Joni Lavick, M.A., MFT

MFT Clinical Supervisor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Graduate Loyola Marymount University. Twenty years experience as a psychotherapist, fifteen as a clinical supervisor. Specialized training in Mary Main's Adult Attachment Interview. Certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Recipient of TheBody.com National HIV Leadership Award and The Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapists Community Service Award. Board member of The Women's Association for Addiction Treatment.  

We will be accepting applications for the traineeship in January 2013.

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