Internship Training

The Counseling Center provides a variety of services and resources, which promote the enhancing of mental, emotional, psychological, and developmental well-being of students in the attainment of achieving goals. The services offered are short-term individual counseling, couples counseling, workshops, support groups, Let’s Talk, crisis resources, consultations, and referrals.

The core of our training program consists of staff who are dedicated to providing opportunities for master’s level graduate students in counseling and social work. Below is a summary of the training and service opportunities available during the internship experience, including instructions for applying and/or inquiring about the program. We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2024.

Typical Week

Weekly Schedules will vary upon the hour requirements of the trainee’s academic program. Other factors such as office space, trainees outside commitments, and supervisor’s availability will also play a role in determining the trainee’s schedule. Students typically work at the office 20 hours a week to meet their programs face-to-face contact hour requirement. Here is a typical sample weekly schedule:

Individual Counseling

• Intakes, 1-2 hours per week
• Individual clients, 10-12 hours per week
• Organizational/Preparation Time (notes, outreach, etc.), 2-3 hours

Supervision/Training

• Individual, 1 hour
• Group, 1 hour (day/time-TBD)
• Clinical meeting/case conference, 1 hour (day/time-TBD)

Outreach

• Presentation/Workshops, up to two per semester
• Preparation, up to 3-6 hours

Group Process Counseling

• 1-2 hours per week

Length of internship (in months): 9 months

Start Date: September (Orientation date end of August) or January (First week of school)

How many hours/weeks are expected of intern: 20 hours per week is typically necessary to make the required face-to-face contact hours of the program. Less hours (16 hours per week) is possible, but keep in mind that the face-to-face contact hours may not be met.

Interns must be present on site: Mondays for training and meetings (This may change depending on the semester) 

Specialty tracks: No specific tracks, but will have exposure to workshops on varying themes, and experience co-facilitating groups depending on their schedule, center needs, and interests (Wellness Wednesdays, LGBTQIA+ Group, Survivors Group, etc.).

Number of interns to be accepted for 2023-24: 1-2

Minimum level of readiness: Prior clinical experience preferred (at least one Practicum experience seeing clients other than classmates/prior experience in the field).

Do you provide a stipend? If so, how much: Any grant money that is available will be discussed during the interview.

Intake

Practicum students participate in initial intake assessments of students. The intake session offers the practicum student a range of training experiences, including assessing student risk, conducting bio-psycho-social assessments, and creating diagnostic impressions of a student’s concerns.

Individual Counseling

The Counseling Center offers students the opportunity to handle counseling with a variety of undergraduate students. Student issues cover a variety of concerns (e.g., depression, college pressures, anxiety, stress, etc.). Individual counseling consists of 6 short-term sessions, with the possibility of extending this longer if the center does not have a waitlist or based on clinical need. Students will predictably meet with 10 to 12 individual clients weekly with the possibility of seeing at least one client the entire semester (14 weeks).

Group Therapy

Students are provided the opportunity to co-facilitate group counseling sessions. A co-facilitator will have the option to collaborate with another staff member, counselor, or intern at the center in implementing strategies and leading group sessions. As a co-facilitator, you will develop the counseling skills that are significant to group therapy and share the responsibility of creating a safe, supportive environment with another member at the center. Students are also encouraged to present ideas for implementation of groups based on needs that arise throughout the semester.

Outreach

We encourage students to become involved or assist us in multiple aspects of our outreach programming. The Counseling Center provides planned presentations, training sessions, tabling, and/or event support as a collaborative effort with other departments/campus community. We also encourage practicum students to assist us in event planning and suggest ideas beneficial to outreach efforts.

Crisis Intervention (Let’s Talk)

Let’s Talk provides students with informal, one-on-one confidential 25-minute sessions. These one-time, 25-minute sessions are not meant to be a substitute for psychotherapy, but rather a meeting with a counselor that is goal oriented.

Students will have the opportunity of working with students who are dealing with personal issues deemed as tense, traumatic, or a situation that is a crisis. Internship students will be able to provide a confidential 25-minute sessions to aid students with specific personal concerns (e.g., relationship conflicts, advice regarding disagreement with a roommate, stress management skills, academic struggles).

Consultation

At times, students have an opportunity to consult with various members of the campus community regarding situations concerning students’ mental health.

Supervision

Each student receives one to two hours of individual supervision weekly and one hour of group supervision weekly (case conference), which will alternate with training   on a variety of topics.

Supervision focuses on supervisee’s goals and growth areas (e.g., note writing, assessment interpretation). Supervision also aims to enhance multiple aspects of counseling work (e.g., conceptualization and treatment planning) and professional development. Supervisors will provide evaluations as needed by the respective program.

Evaluation Procedures

All staff involved in training will give feedback designed to both support and challenge the trainee’s development. Clinical Supervisor(s) will complete evaluations as required by the program. 

Training

Staff members will provide training based on their area of interest and expertise. The training areas that will be covered throughout the time at the center include case conceptualizations, assessments, crisis/suicide intervention, sexual assault counseling, multicultural counseling, trauma-informed counseling, and group therapy techniques to name a few. Throughout the year university departments and community agencies will provide training in areas that address the needs of university students.

Internship Application

We prefer individuals who can make the commitment to do a full academic year of training. This would include your internship divided over two semesters and you could have a summer start date. Our center allows for a strong clinical experience with a wide range of issues. This is an unpaid opportunity, unless otherwise noted, but training and supervision are provided.

Interviews

When do you expect to begin interviews?
Interviews will be held on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants will be notified of an interview within two weeks of applying.

Interview process: Interviews are individual, not group. All interviews are held via zoom. The interview process is approximately 1 hour long and consists of the following parts (in no particular order):

• Individual interview with the Director/clinical supervisor.
• Case presentations are not a part of the interview, but candidates will be asked to respond to hypothetical case situations.
• Informal meeting with current practicum students (depending on availability).

Apply

To apply, email the following as an attachment to Danielle Bachant, Director of the Counseling Center:

1. Letter of Interest, which outlines your professional goals, as well as describing why you are seeking to work at the Counseling Center with a university population. 
2. Resume or CV
3. Three references (Names and Contact Information)

Email: dbachant@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3165 or 201-200-3517
Fax: 201-200-2558

Counseling Center
Gilligan Student Union, Room 308