Tali Levine '25

Hello! My name is Tali Levine and I am a rising senior majoring in Psychology with minors in Anthropology and Child & Family Studies. This summer, I had the privilege to intern in the Child Psychology & Counseling department at the EBS Children’s Institute of West Chester. The EBS Children’s Institute of West Chester is a multidisciplinary clinic that provides psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy, and physical therapy to children. My main goal was to learn more about the therapeutic process when working with children, such as the development of a relationship with the child in a clinical context. As an intern in the Child Psychology and Counseling Department, my responsibilities were to observe and participate in sessions with clients ranging from 5 - 10 years old, and help determine objectives and plan activities for sessions. 

One of my main takeaways from this internship is the importance of not letting personal bias impact your treatment of the client as a therapist. Every therapist tries to do the best for their clients, but unconscious biases may influence how they interact with and treat them. I learned throughout the internship to leave my own preconceived notions at the door before a session, and fully embrace the views and experiences of the client. A strong therapist leans into their clients perspectives and experiences, and does a lot of self-reflection every day to keep their biases outside of their therapeutic sessions. 

Another lesson I learned is the importance of having a strong community as a therapist to uplift and support you. As a therapist, while trying to support your clients who are struggling, you can lose your own sense of self and deeply feel the hardships of your clients. Therapists care and empathize with their clients and try to do everything in their power to help. Sometimes this is not enough, and all therapists can do is rely on a support system of colleagues to brainstorm ideas and collaborate. I am deeply thankful to now have a greater understanding of the mental health field and the daily experiences of a therapist from this internship.