The Wright Institute in Berkeley is a great place to receive affordable mental health services. It is a private graduate school of psychology specializing in educating clinicians and giving them real world experience before they become professional therapists. These students have done all the course work and need hours in the field of psychology before they get their licenses. I have a therapist I see once a week for part of their semester and it resolves in July. These students are educated and can help you through phase of life challenges. This is my second time receiving counseling and previously I received therapy 10 years ago. They charge on a sliding scale and offer some stability during challenging times. They also offer group therapy sessions and you may drop in whenever your schedule permits and the cost is $15 per session. Although I have not partaken in the group therapy sessions, I have heard many good things about them and considering joining a few. What I like a lot about the Wright Institue is I feel as though the students really try hard and seem to care very much with what you're going through and are very helpful to help you process what your priorities are and what you hope to gain from the therapy sessions. Finding a therapist in the real world is as challenging as finding your partner in life so it can take a while. That's why I feel that the Wright Institute is a great way to get started in therapy. They're located near UC Berkeley campus and the parking can be challenging. But there is affordable metered parking up and down Durant Street and the duration is for 2-4 hours. read more

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I completed the MA program and found that the professors were generally good, although some were significantly better than others. I appreciated the knowledge and dedication of several faculty members, and there were definitely professors who contributed positively to my education. Unfortunately, my experience with the administration was very different. I often felt that students were discouraged from expressing opinions that differed from the administration's perspective. There was a strong sense that speaking openly or disagreeing with certain views could have negative consequences, including feeling excluded or "blacklisted." This created an environment where I felt I had to be very careful about what I said rather than feeling comfortable engaging in honest, respectful dialogue. The experience could also feel extremely isolating. For a program that is supposed to prepare students for a profession centered on openness, empathy, and understanding different perspectives, I found this aspect particularly disappointing. Ultimately, while I had some very positive experiences with individual professors, the administrative culture significantly affected my overall experience. I would encourage prospective students to look beyond the quality of the professors and carefully consider the culture and relationship between students and administration before making a significant financial and personal investment in the program. read more

I can't give more than two stars for what is, unfortunately without a doubt, the biggest financial and temporal mistake of my life. But it is not all the WI fault, it is more the field. I'm writing this for the prospective student considering application. Please deeply consider your options. It's what you think you want until you get it, and let me tell you why. When you get out, which is not your whole journey, (you still have post doc work to do), there is not a plethora of opportunities. Again, it's not just the WI- the value of the education is vastly overpriced. If you don't get a job at Kaiser, you will be swallowed by them. Private practice, and the prices you will need to pay back your loan, CEUs, and live in this area, are virtually (figuratively and literally) a thing of the past. It is not possible to compete with the low rates a therapist from Kaiser charges, and the unethical practices (group therapy for individual presenting problems, HIPPA legally thrown out the window, etc) they get away with. Apps like Better Help will have you making just above what a Door Dasher makes as they saturate the field with the most minimum license above dog catcher to populate their therapist offerings. Because of the ethics of the field, you cannot effectively advertise, and getting clients from senior psychologists comes at the price of a referral fee. You're coming into a field that sees us as pawns. I don't agree with other reviews about it being white- centric. When I went applications to internships on them said "People of color STRONGLY encouraged to apply." Mm hm. If you cannot find whatever solace you need dead-center in the most liberal city in the most liberal field in the nation/world, may I recommend applying instead to a kindergarten program. I had some beautiful kind souls that taught me here, and one or two who were not a good fit. But some glaring gaps- it never taught me the DSM, and it didn't prepare me for licensure. I passed, but that was all on me; perhaps that is the final test to see if you are ready, but I would have preferred a smoother bridge to licensure. Please learn from my mistake: I was once you. read more

I gained a lot of knowledge and practical skills from my time as a student at The Wright Institute in the M.A. program. Almost all the professors I encountered were intelligent, experienced, compassionate, and professional. It would take me a long time to list all of the amazing professors I had at The Wright so I will not do that here but please know that there are many! The support staff are also fantastic as well. I greatly appreciated the field placement team, Stuart is very friendly and an excellent resource! I felt very prepared for my practicum/field placement and enjoyed the mentor I was assigned to during my first year. I also got to join a Trauma and Relationship Journal club during my second year which was extremely beneficial and helpful to me as a new therapist with an interest in doing trauma work. Above all, I was able to find a job very easily after graduating and I am also on track to becoming an associate MFT and PCC. I do feel that I received and excellent training and education to become a therapist. I am also grateful for the cohort I was a part of during my two years as a student. I now have a supportive network of my former classmates/colleagues/and friends. My cohort was by far one of the best experiences I had at The Wright Institute, it is a great way to make meaningful connections! Half star star removed for the most disappointing part of my experience at The Wright which was seeing the unprofessionalism and unhealthy power dynamics of the Assistant Director also holding a position as a professor of Professional Development class (all while being unlicensed in her discipline and not even a licensed MFT or PCC either.) This unlicensed professor was the only unlicensed professor I had my entire time at The Wright. Her lack of experience and professionalism was apparent by her inability to provide feedback in a constructive manner or manage her countertransference during my client presentation. I also removed half a star because I witnessed several of my classmates with disabilities struggle to receive adequate and proper accommodations during their time at The Wright. I want to emphasize that my experience at The Wright was overall above average. The cohort connections and awesome professors definitely made it worth while for me. I feel the biggest caveats are that the higher up administration could do a better job of truly supporting students in a compassionate way and lastly, the price tag of tuition at this school is very high. Finally, I will say that this program is great for those pursuing dual licensure (MFT/PCC) and those who need to work a full-time job during the first year. I write this review in hopes that it may be helpful to those wanting a thoughtful and honest review from a recent student (weekend cohort 2020-2022.) read more

Sam W's review of the MA Program is on point; I couldn't agree more. I'll add that the Wright's rhetoric about social justice, cultural diversity, and critical thinking is not meaningfully reflected in their current policies and practices. What I wish I'd known before deciding to enroll: * The curriculum is white-centric, not up-to-date, and not culturally responsive. A white savioristic mentality is modeled and rewarded in a number of classes. * Critical thinking is generally deprioritized, and in certain classes it's actively punished and pathologized. Students who exhibit independent thinking and question the savioristic mentality are labeled as problematic. * Certain adjunct instructors (who teach a significant portion of the classes) have a poor grasp of the material and/or underdeveloped teaching skills. A number of them are highly defensive, have poor boundaries, and enact their racial bias and cultural ignorance in the classroom. * Students who seek support regarding instructor misconduct (e.g. abusive behavior, culturally inappropriate teaching practices) are gaslighted and treated like children. * Students of color are vastly outnumbered and split up between cohorts, so you can imagine what this means for classroom discussions on race. Meanwhile, the school provides little in the way of mentoring, resources, or program support for students of color. We get crumbs of what we need. Any positives? Sure. Some instructors are competent and/or open to feedback; I've picked up some tools/knowledge in certain classes; the staff who facilitate the practicum application process are supportive. However, for me, these positives have been drowned out by a number of alienating and frankly absurd experiences that made me think hard about transferring. I wish I'd gone to a local state school instead, and I encourage future applicants to consider doing so. Of course no school is perfect; however, considering the Wright's $70K price tag, the lack of quality control here is ridiculous. And, obviously, cultural ignorance and gaslighting are never cool. At a school for therapists, of all places. smh. That said, I believe that institutions, like people, are capable of change. If I see improvements going forward, I might update my review. read more

I am a graduate of the MA program at the Wright Institute (2016) - I loved my experience there. One of the reasons I decided on the Wright was the cohort model; knowing that the profession can be isolating at times, I wanted a trusted group of folks to consult with and maintain a sense of community. I feel so grateful for the wonderful group of people I went through the program with, and I'm still in a consultation group with some of them to this day. Another reason I chose the Wright was the level of support provided in the program. Up until then I had attended state schools and had to really advocate to receive the information or guidance I needed. At the Wright, there was support at every turn - whether it was finding a practicum placement, navigating life challenges during a demanding program, or struggling with something else, when I turned to the staff or faculty I always felt that they were as invested in my success as I was. The social justice focus and training in multicultural awareness and sensitivity prepared me well for my practicum/internship and beyond. I not only felt better equipped in this area than some of my colleagues at my practicum site, but I was inspired to commit to the lifelong process of this personal work. The final reason I decided on this program over others I was considering was the general approach. I came into this program after many years in a completely unrelated field. I wanted to learn a little about everything to see where I felt naturally drawn. I came away with areas of clear interest that I've pursued additional training in since. I maintain a great relationship with the school and my fellow alumni - and I continue to be grateful that I launched my career in therapy from this program. I remember being pleasantly surprised at the number of people I encountered when applying for practicum/internship placements who highly regarded folks from the Wright Institute, and I continue to get these kinds of responses even now when I share with colleagues that I got my education here. If you're considering this program, I would 10/10 recommend! read more

This review is for the MA Program. I was so excited to be accepted to this school, because I had done my research and knew it had a great reputation. I cannot for the life of me, tell you why. Perhaps it is riding on the coattails of the Psy.D. Program. The MA program feels for all the world like a psychologically manipulative degree mill masquerading as a prestigious program. If you are willing to stay very small and very compliant, you don't have to do much to graduate from this program. By the second year, most of my class had stopped doing any pretense of the required reading, and some people practically slept through class. As long as you don't question anything they say, make them feel like good, brilliant teachers and keep giving them your tuition checks, you will get A's and have a degree in a couple of years. If you do question anything, however, be prepared to be quickly marked as a problem to be conquered. It was deeply disappointing to see critical thinking so unwelcome at an institute of higher learning. (They say they love critical thinking. Their actions consistently showed otherwise). Most of the staff have such a deep need to be "liked" and seen as wonderful, which leads to all sorts of problems. Worse still, they seem to have a need to use the tools of psychology to play out their unresolved issues with power and control all over their students. More than once I witnessed a teacher yelling at students to the point of making them cry. It was then framed by other teaching staff as a "for your own good" kind of moment. There is a deep surveillance culture, with some students asked to essentially spy on other students and report back (who is friends with that person who disagreed? What are they saying about the class?). Teachers also seem to have some of the worst boundaries I've encountered (for instance a core faculty member gossiping to students about the sex lives of visiting professors). The emotional toll of navigating all their issues was exhausting and energetically expensive. I watched as the brightest, most passionate students of my class lost their light, grew quiet, and became defeated. A third of my class was so burned out by the psychological toll of it all that by graduation, they were no longer sure they even wanted to go into the profession. If you don't mind being super compliant and kissing some ass, and you just want a masters degree, you can get one here in exchange for 60k and some hours spent in a seat. If you are a student who likes to critically engage with the material, or who isn't going to be comfortable with a culture of surveillance and control, look elsewhere. read more

I just graduated and regretted joining this school, no multicultural awareness, professors are generally not knowledgable, in house practicum also has no support to students at all, some professors can't even answer your questions, and you are now allowed to challenge their perspective, learned nothing, don't waste your money here, lousy experience read more

A very incompetent environment. Read any of the other reviews with 1 star ratings and you understand my experience. Staff/faculty are disengaged and poorly trained and not supportive. Students are extremely entitled and entrenched in their privilege, ignorance and racism. They don't act like graduate students, more so like college sophomores, if that. Don't waste your money here! read more

Contact two weeks ago to enquire about services and hopefully receiving one on one therapy at a reduced rate. Takes 7-10 business days for them to return a phone call and then proceeded to ask me to return the phone all to an answering machine. This was now 72 hours ago and haven't received a call back. So I don't think they actually offering the services the websites claims, nobody seems to be able to return calls in a timely fashion and that just might mean they have no availability and lack of staff. read more

I saw a therapist here a few years back. I felt like my experience here was wonderful from the beginning to the end. A gentleman called me to do my intake, was very kind and thorough, and I really got the feeling he was doing his best to place me with an appropriate match. I visited the location on Addison, which has a lovely indoor central area with enormous plants and benches for seating. It's SUCH a nice way to enter your sessions! From the second I met my therapist I knew she was it. I went through three therapists at Kaiser before they referred me out of Kaiser because I didn't agree that their system was going to work for me. I persevered and still thought someone was better suited to be there for me, and sure enough, the lady at the Wright Institute was it. There were times I saw her once per week, other times twice per week. She was flexible, present, never missed a session, and well, I could go on and on but I'm not sure how much of our interactions were her personality or her training. I'm sure everyone has a different experience with their therapist, but I will say this: I saw a lot of people in the waiting room meet with their therapists, and there seems to be a diverse selection of folks there to help. If I hadn't felt the lady I was paired with was a good fit, I would have reached out to see if anyone else was available. Honestly, I could understand if available therapists were limited- after all, it's not a business, right? It's a training program and you only get your person for a year. At the end, she asked me if I thought I would continue needing to see someone. I said I didn't think so. In retrospect I think I was so bloody confident feeling after time spent with her that I thought I'd be cool on my own. But I miss her now and having someone for a year changed my life, so don't doubt what kind of relationship and life changes can blossom in that time frame. I am forever grateful. read more

Echoing Sam and Verity's reviews below my experience in the masters program has been awful to the point where it's affected my physical health. The gaslighting here is real. There's a punishing and disturbing atmosphere and there is lots of truth to the fact that the professors and administration have control issues they've reframed as therapeutic skills. The savior complex, lack of boundaries, and manipulation creates a toxic situation. I came into this after having an important relationship with a therapist then I worked in the field for a long time. For those who haven't worked in healthcare or mental health it's hard to convey that experience. I couldn't move forward without a credential and I chose the school based on the financial viability of relocating to this area and based on the interview I did with Dr. Dempsey who is a great therapist from my perspective (Dr. Rubio who teaches here is also someone I think is a great therapist). I regret the decision now given all the bizarre and damaging experiences I've had. I've angsted about writing this and am having trouble writing it even now because of the culture of this place getting in my head. I also feel like detailing all the things that have happened would come back to me (writing this from a dummy account) because issues are dealt with through people pleasing or, like others have said, identifying people who speak out as problems to be solved. I find myself saying things I don't believe to fit in because I feel like I'm cornered as I'm dependent on the school for my livelihood given my circumstances. It's made me feel disconnected from my integrity completely. Reading the other reviews below has been extremely refreshing. Also, there is some eery racism here where people of color are tokenized or white people speak loudly about race issues because it gives them clout. It's especially insidious given what the school preaches. I've met some good people here but overall it's a disempowering place that I don't align with on a values level. I believe in owning your story and this place silences people by aggressively pushing that students don't self-disclose without reflecting on how they impact others which makes some sense if you're talking to someone as a therapist but with other students and everyone always? That's silencing. I'm stuck here but if I were you I'd look to another school if you're seeking to become a therapist. read more

This is a good school for young people with no psychology background and little desire to explore the subject. The thinking students and the ones who entered with advanced degrees or psych work experience were consistently shut down or put on probation for having a different point of view. By the time we graduated, at least a third of the class was on probation or threatened with it, and everyone was stressed from the police-state environment created by the administration. Aside from a very political and dogmatic agenda, the main problem was the extreme insecurity of the 2 women who run the Master's program: Godfredsen & Escherick. They were easily threatened and quick to punish - over nothing! It was surreal, and detrimental to learning. I have to say that after I graduated, I was embarrassed to have gone there. There were some good teachers in the program, and the courses are designed to specifically meet BBS requirements, which is efficient. But if you choose this program, be prepared to kiss a lot of ass and keep your thoughts to yourself if you want to get through it - it ain't about learning & growing. I am now licensed and very successful in what I'm doing, but it's pretty clear that it had nothing to do with the Wright. read more

I have been a part of a couple postgraduate programs and have loved this one the most. The Wright was just accredited for 7 years by the APA, so despite the fact that they may not prepare you well for the licensing exam, the APA recognizes that they are doing something right. But let's not ignore the fact that the licensing exam means absolutely nothing in terms of actually applied clinical skill. In other words, how one performs on the licensing exam has no bearing on their competency as a clinician. Nevertheless, the Wright recognizes that this is an issue they need to correct and are taking the steps to do so. I am quite biased towards the education and instruction I've received here but I have noticed that those like myself who love the place are open to new ideas, thoughts and ways of thinking and understanding the world and people. Generally speaking, those who seem to be most disinterested in the Wright tend to be closed, defensive personalities that aren't opened to learning. I have found it to be a friendly but tough environment - you'll grow a lot here as a person and clinician if you allow yourself to be impacted by the diversity of perspectives among the students and professors. read more

I am a current student at The Wright Institute, in the M.A. program. I can speak to being a student online through the pandemic since that is how I took classes during my first year. Even virtually, the classes were well organized and the program is structured in such a way that the content builds off what is previously learned. This makes for easier integration and a holistic learning experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a student so far and feel very well prepared as I enter into my first internship/practicum in the second year of schooling. I have gained a lot of knowledge from the classes which I have found are often didactic in nature but also involve role-play/collaborative conversation with fellow students in the cohort. I respect and speak highly of the professors, they are all highly skilled clinicians who are also very supportive and competent teachers as well. From reading reviews below and being involved in The Wright community, I understand that other students have not had as great of an experience in the M.A program. Please take reviews with a grain of salt, even mine because the truth is that this is just my experience. I am happy to be honest and will be frank, the Wright is not a perfect institution. The price tag of the school is quite large and this of course creates barriers for entry, especially to those of lower SES. That being said, The Wright does offer scholarships and programs like the (WIPAD), Wright Institute Pipeline to Advanced Degrees which are available to underrepresented students. I take a star off for a couple reasons, will explain further below. There is what I would call a sanctimonious culture at the school. By this I mean that the school promotes itself on being diverse and social justice oriented, yet misses the mark in some areas of being true to that effort. It seems as though the school can and should be doing more to meet the needs of students of color and student with disabilities. The faculty and staff do seem to be aware of this and working toward doing more for the diverse needs of students but their endeavors have not been adequate, at least not in this past year. Aside from these caveats, I highly recommend the M.A. program for people looking for an intensive and relatively quick path to becoming an LMFT or LPCC. Lastly, the program offers a weekend format, a great option for people trying to work and go to school at the same time. My favorite part about The Wright is the type of students that attend and the community at large, you will have the opportunity to build close relationships and meet genuine people. Thanks for reading and hope this review may provide some honest insight into the program or school. read more

The Wright Institute is an incredible community of thoughtful and culturally competent therapists. I am grateful to have obtained my PsyD degree from there and their curriculum and training thoroughly prepared me for my life as a licensed psychologist. There are wonderful professors and the environment here exudes warmth and integrity. They have remained APA-accredited over the years and are constantly creating new relationships with local mental health agencies to allow for more practicum training opportunities for students. read more

You can get great one on one or couples counseling with pH.d students for 9 months at a very reasonably price. I hadn't been seeing anyone regularly for several years, and it really does help. I definitely appreciate this service, and they're located on university ave right next to Comcast. read more

I had an intake interview with a guy who seemed genuinely competent and skilled in therapeutic skill. Today I had a joke first (and last) appointment with a very young person who was so obvously unqualified to provide me with the help I very much need. It is a basic therapy practice to actually listen to what patients say. This chucklehead seemed to have four four questions to ask and he kept asking them over and over. When I pointed out to him that I had already answered his question, he would repeat yet another repeated question. Clearly he wasn't listening to me at all. And he gave a lot of power to my ten years ago attempt at suicide. He was almost jittery and stammering each time he asked about that. It' was ten years ago pal. Let the past go. What kind of a therapist lives in the past. read more

Wonderful community of people. Some of the reviews below speak to The Wright Institute's low-fee community clinics (staffed by student interns), which I'm unfamiliar with. However the Institute as a graduate school in psychology is a wonderful organization known throughout Berkeley and the general Bay Area. If you're interested, I encourage you to reach out or visit and learn more for yourself before putting too much weight on the opinions of a disgruntled few. read more

For me, This is/was an incredible program run by hardworking dynamic and extremely bright people who take their graduates' success seriously. I graduated from the masters program and have been sailing with a full private practice since the start of my internship. I passed my exams thanks to the Wrights intense comprehensive exams required for graduation (and about 6 more months of exam prep after that) and I continue to draw from a good base of knowledge provided by the Wright. I did have to further my training after graduating but I think most will have to do this to gain mastery in a certain area. Practically speaking, it was very difficult to get through the masters program and live a full adult/parent life, though I continue to feel so rewarded by the rigorous and progressive nature of their program. read more

i go to school here so i'm a bit biased, but i've grown a lot from the program.

Had some work performed by a student under a supervisors watch and was highly dissappointed by the results. Not only was the student condescending and introduced personal bias into the work (personality conflict from the start), he lacked transparency and inaccurately construed data. This was a highly dissappointing experience. read more