Post-Degree Institute

 
 
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Heal others.
Hone your skills.


Gain full licensure.

Our Post-Degree Institute is an immersive supervised fellowship experience for aspiring Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC).

Our Post-Degree Institute (PDI) is designed for individuals who hold a master’s or doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, or a closely related field, and are seeking further training to obtain full licensure in South Carolina as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist or Licensed Professional Counselor.*

Supervised clinical training occurs with a diverse client population, presenting a wide range of family, couple, and individual challenges. Our program emphasizes evidence-based and culturally-sensitive approaches to therapy.

The PDI operates within our Spartanburg clinic and for 2023 we are piloting it within our Greenville clinic. Scroll down to learn about our program’s benefits, supervisors, requirements, and application process!

*We do not provide training for other mental health specialties, such as school counseling or social work.

Why choose EMERGE’s Post-Degree Institute?

  • All new fellows are provided with a full caseload - no need to worry about building your own!

  • You may begin seeing clients prior to taking the licensure exam, since we are a non-profit.

  • We have exceptional supervisors with a variety of credentials including LMFT-S, LPC-S, and RPT-S.

  • Your schedule is highly flexible - we let you establish your own schedule with your clients.

  • Free and low cost access to professional development opportunities, including attending - and providing - CEUs.

  • Free grant-writing assistance for those interested in pursuing niche interests.

  • Specialization in play therapy - EMERGE has RPT Supervisors on staff, play therapy courses and workshops, and even a dedicated sand tray room!

  • View our PDI overview for more benefits.

 
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PDI Testimonials

“EMERGE’s PDI program shaped me into the clinician I am today. Instead of spending my intern years juggling a huge caseload at an agency, I was able to continue doing the work that I wanted to do, under the supervision of remarkable teachers like Julie Dillon, who knew me and had guided me on the path to becoming a therapist. Because of my two years in the PDI, I was able to seamlessly transition into my own private practice with a nearly-full caseload, as many of my EMERGE clients were able to follow me to my private practice. I will be forever grateful for the ways in which the PDI prepared me for my career. “

-Sara Katherine Wade, 2020 PDI graduate

“The PDI has been a great scaffold to my growing career as a family therapist with a specialization in the use of hypnotherapeutic skills. It continues to be a supportive atmosphere where I can still get CEUs for workshops that are of interest and relevance to me.”

-Hitha Srivatsan, 2020 PDI graduate

Our PDI supervisors:

  • Julie Dillon, EdS, LMFTS, RPTS (PDI director)

  • Tommy Eubanks, LMFT

  • Lynn Ford, LMFTS, CAMS-III

  • Sarah Gervais, LMFT, RPT

  • Marty Height, LPCS, LAC

Head over to our supervisors page to learn more!

Interested? Here are your next steps:

 For a brief overview of the PDI’s timeline, requirements, and benefits:

To apply:

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We also offer:

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