Residency Program

Residency Toward Licensure Position Available (Nonpaying)

Metropolitan Counseling Services is a 501(c)(3) low cost psychotherapy and training center.  While meeting the need for quality, affordable, and often long-term counseling and psychotherapy for adults, MCS also provides one of the few settings in the Atlanta area that addresses the needs of therapists working toward licensure. A three-year period of intensive post-graduate, supervised, clinical experience is required to satisfy licensure requirements in Georgia. Selected MCS staff members serve as faculty who provide excellent clinical supervision plus additional clinical training beyond that required by licensure. The supervised, hands-on experience that residents gain at MCS not only satisfies their licensure requirement and preparation for private practice, it enables the services that MCS provides.

Requirements for Residency

  • Our residencies are unpaid, so other sources of income are necessary; however, we find that residents who must be employed full time outside MCS have a difficult time meeting their responsibilities and taking care of themselves. Thus we do not encourage full time employment. Most of our residents do work part-time while at MCS.
  • Completed Master’s or Doctoral degree in counseling, psychology, or social work
  • Previous experience with individual adult therapy in a hospital, agency, or practice setting
  • Able to provide both personal and professional references
  • An interest in the mission of MCS
  • One year contract with MCS, with the option to renew contract for up to three years
  • A commitment  of 18 – 20 hours per week, including:
  • A minimum of 10 – 12 client contact hours per week, which can be flexibly scheduled, and including one evening of appointments up to 7 or 8 pm
  • Record-keeping hours as necessary
  • Six (6) hours of marketing per month
  • One hour of weekly individual supervision
  • Mandatory monthly meetings on Wednesdays:
  • Administrative Meeting ( 1st Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:00)
  • Group Supervision (1st Wednesday, 1:10 – 2:50)
  • Marketing (2nd Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:00)
  • Inservice Training (3rd Wednesday, 12:00 – 2:00)
  • Case Presentation (4th Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:00)
  • MCS Luncheon on any 5th Wednesday of the month (12:00 – 1:00)
  • Telephone duty rotation (for inquiries and new appointments only; MCS is not a crisis or emergency service)

Benefits of MCS Residency

  • Weekly individual supervision by highly experienced and skilled licensed clinicians with broad areas of specialty practice (e.g., addictions, couples, trauma, attachment issues, personality disorders, gender issues)
  • Monthly group supervision with internationally renowned therapist specializing in complex trauma
  • Learn reflective integration of various theories and interventions that are tailored to the needs of the individual client
  • Learn both practical stabilization and depth psychotherapy skills
  • Strong focus on the person of the therapist
  • On- and off-site didactic training/workshops beyond requirements of licensure
  • A supportive, collaborative environment geared to helping new practitioners become licensed
  • Client load, office space and all office needs provided
  • No expenses to residents other than personal malpractice insurance
  • When fully licensed, graduates may take their clients into private practice
  • Ongoing free training opportunities and referrals to graduate residents

Application for Residency

MCS interviews potential new residents 2 – 3 times a year. Please note that residency positions are competitive, as many individuals apply. To apply for a residency, please send a cover letter stating why you would like to be a resident at MCS, and your vita by email or snail mail to:

Kathy Steele, MN, CS
Clinical Director
Metropolitan Counseling Services
2801 Buford Hwy, Suite 470
Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: 404-321-1794, ext. 305
Email: Ksteele@mcsatlanta.org