A&S
Interning and Working with Art and Soul Art Therapy
If, after exploring what we have to offer, you feel like we might be a good fit, please complete our internship application here!
Art and Soul offers styles of therapies not commonly found in other practices, and rarely found together under one roof. Clients seek out our practice for the varied and unique experiences they can only get in combination through Art and Soul.
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Our offices navigate this high demand for our services by functioning as a teaching organization. There simply are not enough child therapists. Nor are there enough therapists who specialize in treating trauma. Nor are there enough therapists who specialize in neurodiversity. Nor are there enough creative arts therapists.
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In our offices, our interns learn all of these things and more. They learn about how the American healthcare system works, how insurance is billed, and how client ledgers are balanced.
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They learn to navigate the ever-changing landscape of legalities, personal and professional ethics, and insurance company policies. And they learn about the many ways in which these categories may not overlap, and may even be mutually exclusive. They also learn ways in which they can help to advocate for social justice and increased access of care.
Our interns learn to navigate complex cases such as custody battles and "serious diagnoses" as well as non-acute cases. The more serious the case, the closer our licensed clinicians work with them, ensuring that they are supported every step of the way.
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Our offices do not shy away from complex cases, but our students also learn when clients need a higher level of care than we can offer.
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One thing is certain. In our offices, interns will receive a wide variety of "rich internship experiences", and leave with an education and preparation that, alongside their degrees, will prepare them to navigate their chosen career in the exciting, sometimes challenging, field of mental health.
Our Philosophies on Learning
A chat with Briana, one of our licensed clinicians
I tell my students the same thing I tell my clients...​
"I have a lot of pieces of paper on the wall in my office. I have spent decades developing my expertise in the field of mental health care. But I am in no way an expert on YOU. You are the expert on you. And you bring with you a wealth of your own information and experience. I am looking forward to us combining our expertise and working alongside each other in a way that helps you overcome the challenges you face, and to help you grow into the happiest, healthiest person you can be. I cannot promise you the journey will be easy. But I can promise that I will walk with you in authenticity, and we will surely have some fun along the way.
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If there is ever something I do, say, or propose to do that does not sit well with you, I WANT you to let me know. I WANT to hear your concerns. I may still challenge you to stretch and grow, while offering as much support as you need. But I will never force you."​
​With our clinicians and students, I am even more candid...
"I will not be your therapist, and I will never expect you to be mine. But I will share with you some of my own challenges, how I have overcome them, and what I am still learning. The Work of self-development and growth never ends. I am not a perfect human. But I do aspire to be a good one. Likewise, if you stumble or struggle, I encourage you to share as much with me as you feel comfortable. At the very least it gives me insight and allows me to empathize. And there may also be some resources I can direct you to for additional support."
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What's better than just one supervisor? Two or more!
Ask five supervisors a question, and you may get five completely different answers. As my own supervisor, Fred Savinelli, told me in grad school "Therapy is like sauce. Everyone makes it a little different, but it all tastes good." Our other licensed clinicians, Valerie and Sarah welcome you to ask them questions; and Dan Mirandi of New Voyage Counseling has a wealth of supervisory experience (and often a very different opinion than his wife!) Getting feedback from more than one supervisor can allow you to have a more well-rounded perspective as you develop your own path, and whether it is within our office or outside of it, we encourage you to seek additional feedback!
Is Art and Soul a Fit For You?
Are you looking to grow both personally and professionally?
The students that partner well with our organization are those who are truly interested in growth, both professional and personal. We work with a lot of trauma in our office because it is the root cause of most mental health disorders. This often requires us to do our own personal work in our own therapy so that we are safe healers to those who seek us out. Even the most seasoned clinicians in our office will agree that personal and professional growth is a lifelong journey.​
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As a therapist, do you want to do more than just listen?
There are plenty of therapists who will sit and listen to a client (which is not to be undervalued!), but many of the clients coming through our doors are seeking solutions and answers as to why they are in pain, why life feels so hard. Or they may be children or adolescents, who have little interest in sitting and just talking for an hour.
Are you interested in working with children and teens- both during internship and afterwards?​
Working with minors can be a challenge because you also have to work with the systems (family, school, DCF etc) that support them (or.... not). This work can take some extra hours. It can be frustrating. However, we cannot be a nation that does not treat the mental health of our children. (Because too often, they grow up and go into positions of power in our country!) We take on interns with the expectation that they will utilize their skills not JUST for adults.
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Are you interested in treating trauma (the root cause of most mental health diagnoses)?
Our interns get free training in some very safe and effective trauma protocols, including BSOTR, and Authenticity Therapy (coming soon!). Although we do not mandate that our interns use these specific protocols, we do expect that they instead seek training (at the student's cost) in a modern trauma treatment protocol such as EMDR, ART, TF-CBT, DBT, or IFS.
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Are you able to recognize and communicate your personal and professional boundaries?
Some things we do in our office culture may be a little different. For example, our office sometimes communicates with a group text later in the evening. Some people kick off their shoes in the office and walk around barefoot. The culture of our office may feel good- like feeling you have at last found your place. Or it may feel very strange, even uncomfortable, compared to the structure of an agency. Check in with yourself when something doesn't feel right. Then check in with us. We are here to support you, and always want to hear your feedback. At the end of the day, the culture of our office is not a fit for everyone- and that's perfectly ok! We want you to feel comfortable, even if that comfortable fit ends up not being with us.
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Do you have commitment to be with your new clients for the long haul? During internship and beyond?
Our interns are always invited to stay on with Art and Soul as an affiliate clinician after graduating from their masters program. That means you will have your own private practice, and we will teach you how to be your own boss! You never HAVE to stay though. If you ever feel ready to leave, whether that's after your internship, or after many years of growing alongside us, we want you to take your clients with you whenever possible! Our client-centered philosophy recognizes that therapeutic rapport between client and therapist is the best determinant in whether therapy is successful. Therefore, it is very important to us (and even moreso to your clients) that you be willing to make accommodations to bring your client cases with you wherever your journey may lead you.
What is it like to grow with Art and Soul?
Clinicians, past and present share their perspectives...
I learned to find more patience and let the client have time to process, I learned that silence is okay to sit in, I learned that I can work alongside the client if it benefits them, I learned that harm’s touch doesn’t have to be physical, I learned how difficult countertransference and termination can be, and I learned that I need response art in order to benefit myself and my clients. Briana was an excellent site supervisor and I plan to come back for internships if she will have me!
My time at Art and Soul, first as an intern and then while working towards my license, was an amazing experience. From the time of my interview for my internship, I felt accepted, loved, and supported. Briana was an excellent supervisor, teaching me about being a therapist, which is something school definitely lacked in. In addition, I learned the business end of being a therapist which none of my fellow students did, and this information has been invaluable while opening my own private practice. I would not be the therapist I am today without my internship at Art and Soul.
During our time working together, Briana has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to both clients and colleagues. In our collaborative environment, Briana has proven to be an exceptional mentor, offering guidance and insight with a deep understanding of both therapeutic techniques and the nuances of fostering a positive work relationship. Throughout my time at Art and Soul, I have witnessed Briana’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of care for our clients. In addition she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to handle the demands of our field with grace, leading with both integrity and innovation. Her approach to therapy is not only grounded in best practices, but also deeply informed by a passion for creative expression, ground breaking technology and its transformative power in healing.
I have learned immensely under Briana's guidance and believe her to be a skilled, compassionate, and visionary leader.
Working at Art and Soul has shaped the therapist I am today. From the very first day, I was welcomed into a supportive community of professionals who shared a common goal: to help individuals navigate their challenges and foster personal growth. The collaborative environment allowed me to observe seasoned therapists in action, witness various therapeutic modalities, and share insights that deepened my understanding of mental health. Reflecting on my time with Art and Soul, I feel a deep gratitude for the opportunities I had to learn, grow, and connect with colleagues and clients.
Art & Soul was my first experience with working in a private practice setting, led by the passionate and dedicated Briana Benn-Mirandi. She took me on as an intern post-graduation and offered her insight, supervision, and guidance. My internship-turned-employment with Art & Soul from 2019-2022 was the positive and trauma-informed teaching environment that I needed to feel confident in starting my own private practice. She not only gives her all to her clients, but those who are seeking education and experiential learning in a safe environment to gain skills and proficiency in the world of psychotherapy and private practice.
Doing my internship with Art and Soul and continuing to work with them after graduation has been nothing but amazing. They truly invest in every single person they work with. They have provided training for many different types of therapy which has helped me to grow much quicker as a therapist and not be limited to just one style of therapy. Briana is always there for questions and wants everyone around her to grow into better people. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my career and I appreciate Art and Soul so much for everything they have done for me.
My experience as an intern was an incredibly positive and supportive experience. There were times in my practice that I was feeling unsure about what next steps to take, and it felt as though Briana was always just a phone call away. I never felt alone when “diving into the deep end” as someone who was still in grad school. I remember having a difficult phone call with a lawyer for one of my cases, and Briana helped me articulate my boundaries
as a therapist when I felt overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. We met up at supervision lunches where I felt fully able to express my opinions and thoughts in a collaborative manner. I’ve never been one to feel as though I “belong”, but being at Art and Soul has helped me feel such a strong sense of community that I personally have not felt in the past in a work environment.
Coming Soon
During my time of gaining licensure hours working with Art and Soul, Briana provided excellent supervision by providing probing questions, her voice of experience, and an alternative lens to view client’s challenges though. Which in turn provided clients with well-rounded counseling services that were backed by a team of care givers. Briana continues to provide staff with research on new therapeutic advances, and resources for different client needs, demonstrating her commitment to compassionate evidence- based care. Briana is so committed to the field of mental healthcare; she is a strong advocate and a healer.
Shalyn Moran,
MFTA
Art and Soul helped show me the importance of providing therapy in a space that feels inviting, safe, and ultimately full of care and support. This internship experience provided me with insight into therapeutic trauma-informed modalities for healing, and I was able to accrue a deep understanding of the vital importance of attending to the root of trauma when addressing the therapeutic needs of each client in my chair. Briana, my supervisor, helped me to see with a much broader scope how necessary healing is for overall quality of life. This healing can be achieved through many different routes of care: Arts Therapy, Internal Family Systems work, Inner Child Work, and through a genuinely co-constructed supportive and caring therapeutic alliance between client and clinician. Art and Soul is a unique environment for learning and providing care that envelops one with a sense of whimsy, warmth, and possibility.
During my time of gaining licensure hours working with Art and Soul, Briana provided excellent supervision by providing probing questions, her voice of experience, and an alternative lens to view client’s challenges though. Which in turn provided clients with well-rounded counseling services that were backed by a team of care givers. Briana continues to provide staff with research on new therapeutic advances, and resources for different client needs, demonstrating her commitment to compassionate evidence- based care. Briana is so committed to the field of mental healthcare; she is a strong advocate and a healer.