School-Based Social Work/Counseling Intern

Job Description

Internship/Practicum: School-Based Social Work/Counseling Services

Opportunity Summary

This internship provides hands-on experience in school-based services, aligning your work hours with the typical school day. While primarily focused on supporting students during school hours, flexibility is key for occasional evening family sessions.

• Work Hours: Primarily correspond to school hours, ranging from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM, depending on primary or secondary school placement.
• Evening Hours: Occasionally held to accommodate family therapy sessions.
• Internship Time Frame: Predominantly runs from September through April, with potential for summertime or extended internship opportunities.
• Weekly Hours: Dependent on the specific field placement requirements of your academic institution.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for this invaluable internship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a current student enrolled in an accredited Masters of Social Work (MSW) or Masters of Counseling program.
• Applicants can be at either the Masters or Doctoral level.
• Your academic institution must have an existing contractual agreement with Sheppard Pratt.
• Applicants should possess a strong foundational understanding in the following areas:
  • Child/Adolescent mental health theory and related theoretical frameworks.
  • Clinical reasoning and problem-solving.
  • Foundations of evidence-based practice (EBP).
  • Group theory and its practical application.
  • Teaching/learning concepts applicable to staff, client, and caregiver education.

Learning Model & Supervision

Our comprehensive learning model is designed to provide robust support and guidance throughout your internship experience:

• Individual Supervision: Weekly 1:1 supervision is provided by a Licensed Certified Social Worker, Clinical (LCSW-C) or a Licensed Certified Professional Counselor (LCPC).
• Task Supervision: Daily task supervision at offsite placements will be provided by an on-site licensed masters-level social worker or counselor.
• Group Supervision: Bi-monthly group supervision sessions foster peer learning and shared experiences.
• Training Opportunities: Regular bi-monthly training opportunities are provided to enhance your clinical skills and knowledge base.

Student Expectations

We seek interns who are proactive and dedicated to their professional growth. Successful students will demonstrate:

• Self-directed Learning: Proactively seeking out learning opportunities and consistently requesting feedback.
• Flexible Thinking & Adaptability: The ability to adjust to evolving situations and new challenges.
• Readiness to Learn: An open mindset to gain insights from all experiences, both successes and challenges.
• Patience and Compassion: Essential qualities when working with a challenging patient population.

Key Responsibilities & Learning Opportunities

Students will engage in a diverse range of clinical and collaborative tasks, working with diverse populations within the PG County School System:

• Therapeutic Interventions:
  • Provide individual therapy to a caseload of at minimum 4-6 students.
  • Co-lead and lead group therapy sessions.
  • Conduct family therapy sessions.
• Crisis Intervention: Gain practical experience in responding to and managing student crises.
• School Collaboration:
  • Collaborate closely with school staff to support student well-being.
  • Opportunity to attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.
  • Assist with behavioral modification strategies within the school setting.
  • Work with school counselors on needs assessments to help determine appropriate services for the school program.