Introducing the New Graduate Interns at CFC Therapy Group
The team at CFC Therapy Group are very excited to introduce the two newest members to the clinical team, Mayra Iniguez and Dan Suffoletta. Mayra and Dan are second-year graduate student interns who are both pursuing their master’s degrees and are currently accepting new clients. You may have some questions about what it means to be a counseling intern and what it would mean for you as a client, so we’ve compiled some information and asked Mayra and Dan some questions to get to know them better.
While Mayra and Dan are both graduate students, they are pursuing different degrees. Mayra is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) that will allow her to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Illinois. Dan is pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) degree that will allow him to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois. While their degrees and eventual licenses differ, both paths will enable them to become thoughtful and effective clinicians. If you have any questions about the difference between LCSWs and LCPCs, do not hesitate to email or call.
As interns at CFC Therapy Group, there are components of their clinical work that differ from our full-time therapists. For one, Mayra and Dan will maintain limited client workload and hours and may operate with a restricted scope of services to allow them to balance graduate workloads and develop their proficiencies. Additionally, Mayra and Dan will both operate under direct supervision from CFC’s Clinical Training Director, Hillary Burr. While confidentiality is maintained between you and your therapist, as interns it is necessary to share non-identifiable elements of a client’s case with a supervisor in order to develop skills and evaluate performance.
One of the primary benefits of seeing a graduate intern is that we are able to offer their services at a reduced cost compared to our full-time team, which can be a low-cost option for clients that may be under- or uninsured. If you are interested in working with Mayra or Dan, please email SCHEDULING@CFCTHERAPY.COM
Get to Know the Interns
Mayra
Q:What do you want for your clients?
A: I would like to provide a space that feels safe, non judgemental, and comfortable for clients to share whatever they would like to share. I want my clients to feel heard, understood, and empowered to make the changes they would like to see in their lives.
Q: What led you to this work?
A: I have always been a service oriented person and have volunteered with various social agencies. This work inspired my desire to look at different ways to work with people and communities to motivate change when our current circumstances are not working for us. After receiving encouragement from a fellow social worker, I decided to pursue an MSW degree. I knew I chose the right path while completing my first level internship and my work at CFC has only cemented that this is the right path for me.
Q: What is a session like with you?
A: I hope my clients experience compassion and kindness from me. I create a space where the client is the expert in their lives and I provide the space for listening and understanding while cultivating motivation for change and growth.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I love to read and learn new things. I love spending time with my family and friends doing activities and exploring Chicago and beyond.
Dan
Q :What do you want for your clients?
A: I want my clients to feel safe and to feel heard and understood, allowing them to explore themselves and their relationship to the world in new and empowering ways. I want my clients to find a sense of compassion and awareness of self and to deepen their ability to build more meaningful connections with others.
Q: What led you to this work?
A: Before starting his graduate studies and joining the team at CFC Therapy Group, Dan spent over a decade working in strategy consulting where he honed his skills in relationship development and trust-building, complex problem solving, and comfort with ambiguity. As his career progressed, it became clear that Dan’s deepest passions were rooted in the relationships he fostered and the investment made in supporting his network through the trials and tribulations of life, and that it was time to pursue those passions professionally.
Q: What is a session like with you?
A: Dan’s style is client-centered, interactive, and integrative, allowing for collaboration and a tailored approach that matches the personality and goals of each client. Dan fosters a non-judgmental environment and injects humor and genuine empathy wherever possible. As the client, you are directing the time together while Dan acts as a therapeutic guide.
Q: Quote that sticks with you
A: Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. – James Baldwin
CFC Therapy Group is thrilled to expand our team to include Mayra and Dan! If you are interested in scheduling an appointment or consult call with our interns please feel free to contact scheduling@cfctherapy.com and we can help make this happen!
