You want to talk to someone, but the cost of therapy feels out of reach. Or maybe you have heard about free or low cost sessions with a student therapist and wondered if that is a real option. It is. This post explains what a student therapist is, how supervision works, the honest pros and limits, how students differ from other therapists and how to book a session with one of ours.
This post is general information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
What is a student therapist?
A student therapist is someone near the end of their training. At Transformation Counselling, our student therapists are completing master's degrees in counselling, social work or psychotherapy. As part of that degree, they do a placement where they see real clients.
That means a student therapist is not a beginner in the everyday sense. They have already done a lot of course work. Many also bring earlier work or volunteer experience in mental health settings. The placement is where they put that learning into practice with real people, with support behind them.
Our current student therapists are master of social work students. Each one is completing an advanced field placement with us.
How supervision works
A supervised student therapist does not work alone. Our student therapists receive close supervision from our experienced, licensed psychotherapists.
In plain words, supervision means an experienced clinician guides the student's work. The student talks through their sessions with their supervisor, gets feedback and plans next steps. This gives you the care and attention of the student, along with the experience of a licensed clinician behind the scenes.
If you have questions about how supervision works for your sessions, you are welcome to ask your student therapist directly. Asking questions is a normal part of starting therapy, and a good therapist will be glad you asked.
What sessions with a student therapist feel like
From your side of the room, a session with a student therapist looks a lot like any other therapy session. You talk about what brought you in, what you are hoping will change and what has been hard lately. Your student therapist listens, asks questions and helps you make sense of what is going on.
In the first session or two, you will likely spend time getting to know each other and setting goals together. Later sessions may focus on skills, patterns or feelings you want to work through, depending on your goals and the approaches your student therapist uses.
You are always allowed to share what is and is not working. If something feels off, saying so helps your student therapist adjust. It is your therapy, and your feedback matters.
Are student therapists good, and what are the limits?
This is one of the most common questions people have, and it is a fair one. The honest answer is that a student therapist can be a very good fit for many people, and there are also some limits to know about.
Some pros:
Cost. Sessions with a student therapist are free or low cost, which can make therapy possible when it otherwise would not be.
Time and care. Students often bring a lot of energy and attention to each session.
Fresh training. They are learning current approaches as part of their degree.
Support behind them. Their work is supervised by licensed psychotherapists.
Some limits:
Placements end. Our student therapists usually stay with us for 6 to 9 months, so your time with one student may be limited.
Not everyone qualifies. Universities set guidelines about who their students can work with, so a student therapist may not be the right match for every person or concern.
Some needs suit more experience. For some complex concerns, a more experienced clinician may be a better fit. Our admin team can help you think this through.
Research also suggests that one of the biggest parts of therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist. A review of decades of research found that common factors, like a strong working relationship, empathy and shared goals, matter across many kinds of therapy (Wampold, see Sources). A large analysis found that a stronger working relationship, called the alliance, was linked with better outcomes, even after other factors were taken into account (Flückiger and colleagues, see Sources).
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health puts it simply: rapport and trust are essential, and it is important to feel comfortable with your therapist (see Sources). A student therapist can offer that kind of relationship. What matters most is whether you feel heard and safe with the person you are working with.
Student, qualifying or fully registered: what is the difference?
You may see a few different titles when you look for a therapist. Here is a simple way to think about them:
Student therapist. A master's student who is still in school and is seeing clients as part of a supervised placement. They are not yet licensed.
RP (Qualifying). Someone who has finished their psychotherapy training and holds a qualifying registration while they work toward full registration.
Registered therapist. A fully registered clinician, such as a Registered Psychotherapist or a Registered Social Worker, who is licensed to practise on their own.
All three can offer real help. The main differences are the stage of training, the level of supervision and the cost.
How to book free therapy with a student therapist
Booking with a student therapist is simple. When you book, just say that you would like to see a student therapist. Our admin team can explain current options and help you find a good match.
If you live in Kitchener-Waterloo, student therapist sessions are available in person at our Kitchener-Waterloo offices. This can be a good option if you are looking for low cost counselling in Kitchener-Waterloo. If you live elsewhere, our student therapists also offer online counselling in Ontario, so you can join from home as long as you live in the province.
Our student therapists right now are:
Aidan Lahey, MSW Student Therapist
Shannon Arthey, MSW Student Therapist
Mia Pistore, MSW Student Therapist
Each profile shares more about their interests and the approaches they draw from. You can read them before you book to see who feels like a good fit.
If a student therapist is not the right match for you, that is okay. Our admin team can talk with you about our other therapists and help you find someone who fits.
A few questions you might ask when you book or in your first session:
How long will you be with the clinic?
What happens when your placement ends?
What approaches do you usually use?
Who supervises your work?
There are no wrong questions. Asking them can help you feel more settled as you start.
Cost, billing and your first step
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician.
Student therapist sessions range from $0 to $80.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs).
We can direct bill many insurers. Coverage depends on your plan, so check with your insurer before you start.
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. We can help you book with a student therapist, in person in Kitchener-Waterloo or online across Ontario.
If you're in crisis: if you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. If you're thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Wampold, B. E. "How important are the common factors in psychotherapy? An update." World Psychiatry. 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4592639/
Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wlodasch, D., Horvath, A. O., and colleagues. "Assessing the alliance-outcome association adjusted for patient characteristics and treatment processes: A meta-analytic summary of direct comparisons." Journal of Counseling Psychology. 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7529648/
National Institute of Mental Health. "Psychotherapies." https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies