BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The newest batch of future therapists are just about to take their very first clients.

Brace Bacon is a marriage and family therapist trainee. He is one of 30 new interns at the Maple Counseling Center. They each need thousands of clinical hours before they can get their licenses.

Bacon saw his mom deal with depression, and heal, thanks largely to therapy.

“I find the tool of therapy to be very powerful. It helps one handle with trauma and transcendence,” said Bacon.

The Maple Counseling Center is a low-cost clinic. People pay based off what they make. The average session costs $27.

Price keeps a lot of people from getting help.

“There just aren’t the resources out there for certain communities,” said clinical and program director Susanna De Mari.

De Mari said over the summer, the center’s waitlist stretched to more than 100 people, so this new class is starting at a good time.

While they are interns, Bacon and his colleagues work under supervision and record all their sessions for feedback later.

“It’s very exciting because they are so happy to be here,” said De Mari.

It’ll probably be at least two years until Bacon has enough hours to take the exam to become a licensed clinician.

“I feel like there’s a bit of excitement and buzz in the room, and we’re all gearing up to start seeing clients in a couple weeks,” said Bacon.