How do I find a site?
Students apply for and interview at sites, similar to a job search. We do not place you, but we have many established relationships around Washington. You can view the internship google site and Supervision Assist to begin generating a list of sites that you are interested in. We recommend making yourself a spreadsheet of each site’s application deadlines, interview cycles, and application process. Most interns are able to secure a site with one to two quarters of lead time, but you do not want to miss a site that only enrolls once per year because you didn’t see that their applications for fall were due in spring. At the internship orientation meeting (COUN 5980 Internship Preparation, which you register for), we will discuss how to get to know a site and decide if it is right for you. The sooner you start looking, the more likely you are to find a site that you feel good about, on the timeline that you want.
What makes a site eligible?
Not every counseling organization is a good fit for an internship. Please use the checklist here to determine whether or not your site will be able to meet minimum criteria.
In addition to minimum criteria, you should consider the quality of the supervision, opportunities for training and learning, and a work environment that feels welcoming to you. You may surprise yourself that the best site for you is a clinic type that you were not initially considering, such as community mental health or a youth-serving organization.
What if I want to move out of Washington?
The process for an out-of-state internship is very similar to that of in-state sites. One notable difference is that we are unlikely to have an affiliation agreement with your site if they are outside of Washington. As such, you will want to initiate this process at least one full quarter ahead. Because laws can differ state to state, the affiliation agreement may need to be negotiated back and forth and certain arrangements may need to be made. Don’t delay on getting this started. You will also need to be mindful of learning state laws, internship rules, and licensing expectations in your new state.
Can I start internship without all of my prerequisites completed?
You are strongly encouraged to have your prerequisite coursework fully completed. The core curriculum in blocks one and two are meant to give you the foundation for a successful internship experience. In certain uncommon circumstances, such as when a student was unable to take one prerequisite course due to waitlists, an advisor can approve that one required course be taken as a co-requisite during internship. Note that you must take the course at the first availability and pass, so notify your site that this class needs priority in your schedule. You will not be able to defer the class.
Can I get paid?
Yes, you can get paid, but we have some words of caution for you. An internship with a stipend is different from being an employee. We strongly encourage keeping your status as “intern” in the eyes of the site and the law. As an intern, the experience is primarily for your benefit, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor. If you become an employee, you may become beholden to the needs of the organization, to the detriment of your own learning. You want your internship to be a space where you are primarily a learner and your tasks on site are specific to counseling, supervision, case consultation, and training.
What should I do if I have concerns about my site?
If you are struggling with any element of your site, we ask that your first point of contact be your site supervisor. Being able to advocate for your needs, have direct dialogues with your supervisor, and listen to feedback from your supervisor are important skills. Most of the time, issues can be resolved with open communication. You are also encouraged to update your case consultation instructor, who is a first point of contact if you need help navigating conversations with your site. We ask that you be open to hearing alternative perspectives, learning new ways of doing things, and giving your site some time to problem solve with you.
If you have concerns about the safety of your site, ethical practices, or other more urgent needs, please talk to your case consultation instructor immediately. The two of you can decide if you need to include the Director of Clinical Training.
What do I do if I’m not getting enough clients?
Please talk to your site supervisor. Remember that it takes some time to build a caseload and that if you ultimately end up with 8-10 clients a week, it will typically balance out a few months of 4-5 clients. Sometimes interns start to worry and want to add a second site. Although this is possible, we encourage you to think carefully about whether or not this is really necessary, because it can be difficult to juggle. Before adding or switching sites, we encourage exhausting your options at your site. Creative solutions could include starting a group, co-counseling opportunities, longer sessions with appropriate clients, seeing clients twice weekly as needed, offering between session check-ins, or offering psychoeducation workshops. You may also want to ask your supervisor if they are advertising for you, or if there are ways to do so.
Can I start seeing clients before my case consultation class starts?
No. You may complete non-client related tasks at your site such as orientation, setting up your office, or attending staff meetings. You should not meet or interact with any clients until the first day of your first quarter in case consultation. Day one of class is when you are considered an official intern.
Can I leave my site early if I am done with my hours?
Generally, no. Honoring your commitment to your site is important to your clients, the workflow of your site, and the relationship between your site and the University. If you break your word, you may decrease the chances that your site will want to take another Antioch student after you. This is perceived in our field as lack of professionalism. If you notice that you are going to go significantly over your hours and don’t want to overwork, talk to your site about decreasing your intakes and slowing down so that you reach the end of quarter four closer to 300 hours of direct time.