Imagine seeing a job listing for a paid position that’s located close to home, involves working with the client population of your dreams, and offers excellent benefits. Excited to learn more, you begin to read over the job description. Upon reaching the “Qualifications” section, you see unfamiliar terminology. You start to question whether you meet the requirements for this position, and you wonder whether it’s worth applying for the position at all. Many of us have encountered this situation and struggled to make sense of MFT job listing lingo. Fortunately, this blog article can provide clarification on several terms that […]

Last week, I attended my first BBS board meeting. Up until that point, I had not been able to attend any of the meetings due to my work schedule; however, after publishing two blog articles about the BBS (Common Mistakes When Dealing with the BBS and An Open Letter to the Board of Behavioral Sciences), I decided to make attending the next meeting a top priority. This blog article offers an attendee’s guide to BBS board meetings while also sharing some of my personal experiences and observations of the BBS board meeting I attended. Before the Meeting I made sure […]

One of the most common questions I’m asked at presentations is, “What’s a good starting salary for an MFT internship?” Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut answer to this question. Starting salaries are determined by the work setting, funding source, geographical location, employer’s mindset, applicant’s skillset, and other variables. Work Setting There are many different types of work settings MFT registered interns can work in. Private practice settings generally offer a fee split. For example, if the set fee for a client is $150 per session, and the agreed upon split is 50/50, then the MFT registered intern will earn $75 for […]

(The letter and viewpoints expressed in this blog article are solely those of Robin Andersen, LMFT.) Last month, I wrote a blog article about common mistakes MFT registered interns, trainees, and students make when dealing with the BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences). I acknowledged that many prelicensed MFTs have negative experiences with the BBS, and it’s perfectly understandable that they would harbor negative feelings about the BBS. I also encouraged prelicensed MFTs to channel their feelings of frustration, resentment, and helplessness into advocacy for meaningful change within the BBS. On August 25, 2017, the BBS held a board meeting in Sacramento […]

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) tends to elicit negative responses from MFT registered interns, trainees, and students, and probably for good reason. The “horror stories” relating to therapists’ experiences with the BBS seem endless at times, and unfortunately, these stories can contribute to feelings of stress that are already being experienced by aspiring marriage and family therapists. Avoiding these five common mistakes can help reduce those feelings of stress when dealing with the BBS. Mistake #1: Not understanding the BBS’ role According to their website, “The Board of Behavioral Sciences is a California state regulatory agency responsible for licensing, examination, and […]

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of applications. Caldwell-Clark, a nonprofit I co-founded, regularly hires prelicensed MFTs for paid positions. We tend to get good interest in those openings when they happen. And in the years I spent as core faculty for a graduate program, I saw hundreds of applications from students eager to get in to that program. In both contexts, the application process can be nerve-wracking for applicants, and frustrating for people like me who are responsible for evaluating the applications. People who would likely be great students, great employees, and great therapists can easily be overlooked […]