Payton Merideth

As a graduate intern, I am currently in the final stages of my education. I am in a Master’s program and one of the requirements to graduate is to gain 600-700 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of an experienced Licensed Clinician. I meet weekly with both my University and On-Site Supervisors so it’s like you get a treatment team of clinicians reviewing the work we do together to make sure I am giving you the best quality care.

There are benefits of working with a graduate intern clinician that many do not consider. Graduate interns carry smaller caseloads and are energetic and excited as they are learning the most up-to-date training on evidence-based interventions. Graduate Interns are willing to ask questions for help and consultation, which is best practice but rare for even the most experienced clinician. Research shows that the bonds formed, and emotions experienced, along with insight and work done in session, leave many clients reporting a more positive experience with their graduate intern than with their previous experiences with more seasoned therapists.

As a graduate intern, I do not file with insurance. My cash pay rate is $45 per session. I have some reserved spots for sliding scale fees for clients who may need it due to financial hardship.

A session with me typically starts with conversation in the beginning about their week, life lately, etc., just to make you feel comfortable and remind you that I care about you as a person and that we don't have to jump straight to the heavy stuff. Then I will take a collaborative approach with you to determine which specific goals you want to work on or a specific situation you need to process that will take our focus for that session. I try to end every session positively and with a homework assignment, whether physical or just something for them to think about during the upcoming week.

My passion for becoming a therapist stems from my own journey with mental health. I experienced immense anxiety and insecurity in high school, wondering if the feelings would ever go away or if I was just wired differently. At the time, it felt like no one around me understood how debilitating my anxiety actually was. And mental health simply was not talked about. I have since begun therapy of my own and found coping skills that have greatly benefited my mental well-being, which then in turn has increased my overall quality of life. I want to aid people in finding that same peace. I have such a passion for mental health, because I know how much it affects every other part of a person's life - it can have a domino effect. The brain is such a powerful tool, and I feel that there should be as great of an emphasis on taking care of our minds as we put on taking care of our bodies.