My internship story
As an intern, I struggled for many awkward months after graduation trying to find the right internship for me. I excelled as a student in school, but I lacked the preparation and contacts I needed to easily and smoothly transition into internship. It was a scary time for me.
I’m happy to report that all ended well. I eventually established an internship that worked for me and finished my hours without a problem.
But, I know that there are other interns and students out there facing the same confusing and sometimes scary post-graduate landscape. I still remember what that feels like.
You can have an ideal internship
With all of those feelings and experiences in mind, I created a workshop in the spring of 2011 called Building Your Ideal Internship to share my knowledge and experience and mistakes with other students and interns. In this workshop, we talked about things like:
-how to define your biggest priorities for internship, so you know how to pick a good one
-a timeline from coursework to graduation, through the licensing process and internship
-ways to capitalize on your strengths and uniqueness so you stand out from other interns
-tips on matching yourself with an excellent supervisor
–mistakes to avoid when preparing for internship (many of these made by yours truly)
-a well-developed sense of agencies and practices that are a good fit with your interests
I hosted the workshop once a month. It was a one-shot deal where I crammed all the information I could into three hours. It was a very full three hours, let me tell you. (Sound good? You can sign up for the next one here.)
And, we had all sorts of people there. We had people who had already graduated and could share about their experiences with various practicum sites and the license application process. We had people who were two semesters into the program and wanting to get a head start on things. Many were preparing for practicum and wanted guidance. Most folks were a few months shy of graduation and wanted to get a game plan for post-graduate life.
Finding leads, sharing leads
While developing the workshop, I polled over one hundred agencies and practices in the Austin area to determine if they are currently recruiting LPC interns and LMFT associates. At the moment, I have established contacts with 32 private practices and 91 agencies that are currently recruiting in Austin, and more are being added as I continue to develop and refine these listings. I compiled all this information into resource guides and made them available exclusively to workshop participants. Many told me that those resource guides alone were worth the price of admission.
The biggest complaint I had about these workshops was that we did not have enough time for discussion and that people wanted more.
So, based upon that request, I am continually offering new workshops and continuing education opportunities to pick up where your graduate program curriculum left off.
If you’re someone who prefers to learn in a one-on-one setting, I offer private consultations so that we can develop a customized plan for your internship. You may also sign up with a friend or two for a single hour consultation at a discounted rate.
Here’s what we have lined up next.
The Building Your Ideal Internship workshop
Worried about finding a suitable internship or practicum site?
Have you thought about what you want to get out of your internship?
Are you curious about ways to distinguish yourself from other students and interns?
Unsure about how to select a supervisor?
This is the workshop that started it all– a three-hour, crash course that will help you get excited about internship. From offering logistical tips to big picture goal-setting to practical help, this talk will give you a big advantage when it’s time to find a practicum or internship site.
“I’m only in my first or second semester of school– isn’t it a bit early to be thinking about this?”
No! It may feel far off, but graduation will come much sooner than you think! The earlier you come in to a workshop to plan, the better prepared you will be.
Ready for the nitty gritty details?
Date: TBD! — contact me to be added to the interest list for the next Building Your Ideal Internship workshop!
Tuition: $80
What’s in it for me?
If you attend, you’ll get lots of help:
You’ll receive the latest edition of the resource guides (fresh leads for placements in agencies and practices in Austin).
You’ll leave with a big picture plan about your top three priorities for internship.
You’ll know how to prepare for the NCE and the steps involved with applying for your LPC intern license.
You’ll understand the difference in salary and operating costs if you intern at an agency versus a private practice.
You’ll have a better idea of how to market yourself inexpensively and effectively.
You’ll get ideas about how to pick a supervisor who matches well with your interests.
You’ll have a renewed sense of confidence in yourself and in the internship process.
Still not sure it’s worth the investment? You don’t have to take my word for it—past participants can vouch that it was a worthwhile use of time and money to attend my other workshops. You can find some of their feedback here.