Meet Thao Fiore, DBT IOP Intern at Ryther!
- Ryther Staff
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
At Ryther, interns are active members of the clinical team, supporting youth and families in meaningful, skill-building work every day. As a DBT Intensive Outpatient Program intern, Thao Fiore brings compassion, curiosity, and a deep commitment to equity into each group and session.
In DBT IOP, she works directly with youth and families as they build skills to manage big emotions, strengthen relationships, and move through distress in healthier ways. She chose Ryther for hands-on clinical experience in a setting that values cultural humility and whole-person care.
Each day, she learns alongside experienced clinicians while making a real impact with the youth and families we serve. Thao embodies what our internship program is designed to do: develop thoughtful, skilled clinicians who are ready to strengthen communities. With graduation just around the corner, we asked her to reflect on her time at Ryther and what this experience has meant for her growth as a clinician.
What has been the most meaningful part of your experience here?
“The most meaningful part of my experience at Ryther has been working directly with clients and their families. For most of my career, I worked on the systems side of healthcare, where people were largely represented through data and outcomes. So being able to actually sit with clients, hear how interventions feel, what's working, and what needs to change has been incredibly grounding.
Additionally, working alongside the clinicians and staff at Ryther has added another layer to my growth. Seeing how they navigate complex systems to support youth and families has strengthened my clinical skillset, and given me tools and perspectives I know I'll carry throughout my career.”
What have you learned from working with the youth and families we serve?
“Every client brings a different combination of experiences, identities, and circumstances, and that has taught me to slow down and lean into listening. What I've come to appreciate is that our clients are navigating incredibly complex and unique challenges, and yet they show up with so many strengths. Learning to recognize and build on those strengths has become one of the most important parts of how I show up for them.”
What are your plans after graduating with your MSW this August?
“My prior experience showed me how systems shape access, outcomes, and equity. My time at Ryther has given me a more personal understanding of how those systems are actually experienced on an individual level. Going forward, I would love to find a role where I can hold both of those perspectives, balancing direct clinical work with the opportunity to drive change at a larger scale through program development, policy, or community partnerships.”
Interns like Thao strengthen our programs in real time while preparing to lead the future of behavioral health. Through hands-on training, thoughtful supervision, and meaningful client work, Ryther’s Center for Learning and Vocational Development invests in both today’s youth and tomorrow’s clinicians.
If you are a graduate student seeking transformative clinical experience and believe in growing the next generation of mental health professionals, we invite you to learn more about how this work makes a difference.
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