Master's Level Internships

Because Family Services employs a large professional staff we have a particular interest and ability to offer a variety of professionally supervised internships and practica for students in appropriate graduate schools.

We believe an internship should be a full experience and encompass all aspects of agency work. The program provides an intensive experiential base for development of the clinical, administrative and family support skills interns will use in their professional lives. Full assimilation of interns into the Agency staff provides a professional socialization base. While interns function semi-autonomously in their clinical work, there are many opportunities for regular contact with other program staff and with agency staff.

An internship at Family Services provides an in-depth clinical experience. Interns are placed in one of several counseling branches of Family Services. Our counseling services provide affordable, professional help with individual and family problems, including specialized counseling for children.

Interns placed with the MultiCultural Counseling Services program will have some exposure to working collaboratively with other service providers including agency case managers who provide services to prevent homelessness.

Each intern develops an individual learning agreement and training plan that assures both breadth and depth of experience and takes into account special training needs and interests.

Interns function as professional staff, maintain a clinical caseload, and participate in staff meetings, work committees, and training activities. Each intern receives a minimum of 1 hour per week of individual supervision, attends a 1 1/2 hour group case consultation meeting, and may receive training specific to their branch.

Intern candidates are selected with two goals in mind: Ensuring good clinical experiences for Family Services clients and providing excellent professional development experiences for new clinicians.

We believe interested students need to have as thorough an understanding of our program and our agency as possible as they prepare to take the next step in their professional development. Internship Informational Meetings are held at our Northgate branch. The meetings are neither a prerequisite to receiving a placement, nor a guarantee of an interview.

Internship informational meetings

This is an opportunity to learn more about the internship program. A program manager/branch director and a current or past intern 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 Thirds Avenue NE, Suite #130 Seattle, WA 98115

Applicant requirements

1. Enrolled in graduate program in counseling, social work, psychology, or related field.
2. Coursework or demonstrated knowledge in:
   • Human/Child Development
   • Fundamentals of counseling/therapy
   • Abnormal Psychology/psycho-pathology
   • Basic clinical skills
3. Group process skills.
4. Ability to work with volunteers.
5. Flexibility; open to mutual exchange of ideas.
6. Willingness and ability to be self-directed.
7. Knowledge of professional standards and practices, e.g.. confidentiality, CPS, etc.
8. Willingness to learn, understand and apply agency clinical policies and procedures in individual work with clients, i.e., fee schedule, case presentations, and professional skills.

Internship requirements

1. Meet school and agency requirements for caseload size.
2. Length of internships:
   • Ten months required-12 months recommended. Interns are expected to work with their supervisor and Branch Director to establish a specific schedule and minimum number of hours that will be spent on-site, regardless of scheduled client hours. Evening hours will be required. No more than two weeks off during internships.
3. Participation in regular weekly supervision meetings and branch staff meetings. If, upon completion of the internship an intern is still seeing clients, attendance at staff meetings is at the Branch Director's discretion.
4. The internship may involve participation in a variety of agency programs and services. The specific mix of your internship will be determined by your supervisor and discussed at the branch interview.
5. Completion of Washington State Patrol check for history of violence against children or adults.
6. Signed Family Services' confidentiality statement.
7. Washington State Registration as a Counselor.

Application procedures

1. The majority of internships begin in September or January. However, depending on availability of internship placement opportunities, it is possible to begin internships at other times of the year.
2. Applications can be obtained from graduate schools, or by calling 206-524-9055. Please leave a voice mail message requesting an application if you do not reach someone directly. Be sure to leave your mailing address.
3. Applicants will be screened/interviewed by the branch manager or onsite intern supervisor.
4. The number of applicants accepted is determined by the number of openings available in the agency.