No Master's level Mental Health or Social Services Practitioner may go unpaid for any work. Even interns must be paid at least Minimum Wage plus 10-20% of the city's local median income, or double Minimum Wage.
Why is this important?
I'm a MA level counselor to-be, looking forward to starting my career. Yet I can't look forward to the long hours, low or no pay situations of most jobs in my state. I put together a 3 year degree complete with an already 700 hour practicum experience, offering free work for mental health facilities. Our profession may be the only one requiring such a challenging education, while expecting us to live and start careers without pay. How are we to survive and pay back school loans? Do we work 80 hours/week and still try to offer compassionate, competent care to our clients?
