Sentio Counseling Center Two Year Letter
September 11, 2024
Dear Sentio Counseling Center Team,
I am writing to you today as we mark a significant milestone—September 1st was the two-year anniversary of our first cohort of counselors. In celebration of this occasion, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of our clinical data to assess the effectiveness of our interventions and the impact we are having on our community.
In our first two years of operation we have trained 31 counselors, 23 supervisors, served more than 670 clients, and held over 11,000 low-fee therapy sessions as a clinic. Clinical outcome data from client sessions highlight the tangible benefits our clients receive from their therapy at SCC. Despite many of our clients facing serious and long-standing mental health challenges, our clients experience not only improvements in mental health symptoms but also an enhanced personal growth, self-awareness, and quality of life.
Importantly, we serve a diverse range of low-income clients, with sessions starting at just $30. For many, Sentio Counseling Center is their only viable option for receiving treatment, highlighting the crucial role we play in the community.
One finding from our data stood out as a remarkable milestone: less than 2% of our clients experienced deterioration by the end of their treatment. While therapists don’t generally like to talk about deterioration much, it is a real problem, with researchers estimating that 5-10% of clients deteriorate across all therapy models and settings. Our remarkably low deterioration rate not only stands out in the field but is particularly notable given that our therapists are in the earliest stages of their clinical practice, often seeing their very first clients.
This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication that each of you, as therapists and supervisors, bring to your roles here at Sentio. It is clear evidence of the efficacy of our Deliberate Practice model, which emphasizes rigorous training, continuous feedback, and an openness to learning from every session.
Training at SCC demands more from our counselors and supervisors than most other practicum sites. The rigorous and intense nature of our Deliberate Practice model requires a significant commitment to personal and professional development. Our counselors engage in frequent, detailed reviews of their therapy videos, a process that demands not only technical skill but emotional resilience. This level of scrutiny and feedback is designed to accelerate proficiency but can also be more demanding and emotionally taxing than the norm. As one of our counselors put it, “Deliberate Practice is painful but worth it!”
Moreover, our supervisors undergo a particularly arduous and vulnerable training process, unique in its depth and intensity. They not only mentor new counselors but also engage deeply in their own reflective practices, often revisiting and critiquing their supervisory techniques. This dual focus—on their development and on guiding others—places them in a position of continuous learning and adaptation, which, while challenging, greatly enhances the quality of supervision and support available at SCC.
The vulnerability required by both counselors and supervisors at the SCC sets us apart. Continually viewing videos of one’s own clinical work and examining outcome data can be daunting. It exposes our therapeutic approaches to critique, requiring openness to growth and change. This reflective practice is integral to our training philosophy and is essential for developing effective therapeutic skills. It fosters a culture of transparency and continuous improvement, challenging our counselors to not only accept but embrace vulnerability as a tool for learning and connection with clients.
Our outcome data - your outcome data - is not just numbers; it's a reflection of the profound impact you are making in the lives of those we serve. It validates the extraordinary efforts and the sometimes uncomfortable but always rewarding journey of growth and improvement we embrace at the SCC.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our clients and to each other. Let's continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in therapy training and practice, backed by our shared values and commitment to hard and vulnerable work. I am so proud to be on this journey with you!
Yours,
Tony Rousmaniere
Executive Director