Clinical Externships

Our externship program is designed to provide experience, supervision, and training in psychotherapy. This program is intended for recent graduates who have need for experience and supervision in order to become state licensed as a Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor. Externs gain the experience of working in an agency and conducting an agency practice.

The Extern Program is open to professionals who have graduated from accredited graduate schools. All individuals are required to apply, be interviewed, and be accepted into the program. Priority will be given to Family Services interns who have graduated with their master's degree. Former status as a Family Services intern does not guarantee admission to the Extern Program. If there are unfilled slots in the program, Family Services will open them up to the community and require the same application process as for our own interns. The application form should be completed as part of the application process. It is the policy of the agency to attract, train, and retain the best qualified people available, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by state, federal, or local law.

Externship informational meetings

This is an opportunity to learn more about the externship program. A program manager/branch director and a current or past extern will present information and be available to answer questions about the program. Contact us at 206-524-9055 to reserve your space.

Upcoming meetings dates are posted on the top right of this page.

Location

Family Services Northgate Branch 9714 3rd Avenue N.E., Suite #130 Seattle, WA. 98115

Program background

State licensure has become more and more important to practicing clinicians over the last several years. Insurance companies recognize state licensure as a requirement for vendorship or third party reimbursement. As a result, agencies have needed to hire candidates that are licensed. This trend leaves many recent graduates, and in some cases experienced graduates, in the dilemma of being unable to get a job until they are licensed and unable to be licensed until they get a job. In addition, another group of individuals has been working in the field for some time, but without the required supervision of a licensed clinician, and therefore they do not qualify for licensure.

Concurrently, a segment of our community` has been closed out of quality psychotherapy services due to the cost/high fees for services. This population is typically a working group with incomes at or slightly above poverty levels. Our experience shows us that if we can afford to offer fees that are reduced enough, these people will seek out our services.

The Extern Program addresses both of these issues. It affords unlicensed clinicians the opportunity to provide therapy services while receiving training and supervision that will allow them to become state licensed. The Extern Program also contributes to Family Services ability to provide services to a low-income population at a significantly lower fee.

Time commitment

We offer both half-time and full-time externships. Half time externships will require an availability of a minimum of 16 hours per week with a maximum of 20 hours. In addition, externs may be required to attend staff meetings and/or case consultation meetings. Externs will receive an hour per week of individual supervision.

Externs are required to commit to a three-year externship. Externs must receive a favorable first-year review in order to continue in the second and third years of the program. Individuals will not be allowed to continue beyond this time period.

Wages

Externs will be paid $10 per hour and are classified as hourly employees of Family Services. Full time externships include full benefits.

Hours

Each location will negotiate individual schedules with externs. Externs will be asked to schedule some evening hours (4:00 p.m. or later). Scheduled hours will be based on space availability and client demand at each location. The number of hours worked will be contingent on direct service hours provided. There is no guarantee of hours. (At our MultiCultural Counseling Services Program/Northgate branch some hours may be available to provide phone intakes and scheduling).

Supervision

Supervision will be conducted by a State Licensed Clinician employed by Family Services. We will make every attempt to provide supervisors representing different types of licensure (Social Worker and Mental Health Counselor). However, Family Services cannot guarantee that each type of supervisor will be available during each admission period.

Interested clinicians should complete an application and return it to:

Family Services Human Resources 615 Second Avenue, #150 Seattle, WA 98104