Washburn Center's Master’s level Interns gain professional development and a solid foundation of clinical knowledge as they build careers in mental health therapy. Our unique program offers collaborative and direct field placements to graduate students exploring careers in children’s community mental health.
Use your internship to actively improve the lives of MN kids
Regardless of where Interns are placed, each student will get first-hand experience working with children accessing mental health services, and will support families alongside both peers and independently licensed Therapists and Case Managers.
Our field placements offer hands-on training in individual, family and/or group therapy, as well as case management, and Interns will focus in on center-based, home-based or school-based therapy. While most placements stem out of Washburn Center’s Minneapolis office, majority of interns will spend much of their time in the community.
Gain knowledge you'll use for the rest of your career
In addition to case consultations and in-service workshops, learning opportunities for master’s level internships include: diagnostic assessments, case management, development of treatment plans, progress notes and discharge summaries. Internships are typically a nine month experience from Aug/Sept to May.
Pathways Fellowship for BIPOC Interns:
Washburn Center for Children’s Pathways Fellowship aims to support people of color pursuing a career in the mental health field by reducing social, economic and racial barriers. Pathways builds upon Washburn Center’s clinical internship program and its long-time commitment to training professionals in children’s mental health. This fellowship supports the pathway to independent licensure for interns pursuing their Masters degree in Social Work, Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy and Psychology.
Fellows receive:
• mentoring with an experienced clinician of color
• a cohort experience to build comradery and support with other Pathways Fellows (twice monthly, 90 minute meetings)
• a fellowship grant in the amount of $7500 to assist with expenses while pursuing graduate education or licensure
BIPOC Interns who are hired as interns for the 2025/2026 co-hort can apply for a Pathways Fellowship during the Pathways Interview Process in Summer 2025.
**This internship is only available for the 2025/2026 academic year.
The School-Based Program at Washburn Center for Children supports children, teens, and their families by offering individual therapy to help with a wide range of concerns, including school adjustment problems, depression, anxiety, difficulty dealing with loss or family changes, abuse, traumatic events, attention problems, parent-child conflicts, and acting-out behaviors. Our counseling focuses on building on a child’s strengths and supporting them in gaining skills to be successful at home, in school, and in the community.
The School-Based Program intern will provide mental health assessment, treatment, and prevention services to children and their families as well as consultation to school staff. Their primary role includes individual and family therapy to a caseload within a school setting. This placement provides opportunities for learning outpatient therapy skills, including diagnostic assessments, treatment plans, and treatment strategies. The intern will develop collaborative relationships within the school setting and participate in school meetings where appropriate to help students succeed.
Responsibilities
Clinical Treatment - Clinicians will provide a combination of the following school-based services within the school, clients’ homes, and across the community, as agreed upon with the school staff and the Washburn Center supervisor, including:
· Conduct diagnostic assessments
· Develop and implement a treatment plan with the family based on the client’s diagnosis
· Provide individual and family therapy
· Participate in IEP meetings
· Care coordination, including collaboration with psychiatrists and other professionals working with the child
· Create a discharge plan
Ancillary Services - Clinicians will also provide ancillary services as agreed upon with the school staff and the Washburn Center supervisor, including:
· Provide care coordination, including collaboration with parents, school staff, and other agencies
· Participate in classroom observations
· Provide teacher consultation and training
· Attend collaboration and planning meetings with school staff, program directors, and grant coordinators to review the status of the program and manage referrals in order to facilitate program development and the coordination of the program at the school
Documentation – All interns are to ensure Minnesota and HIPAA data privacy requirements are followed. Interns will gain experience with and be expected to maintain documentation as specified in our Clinical Policy Manual, including:
· Diagnostic assessments
· Treatment plans
· Session progress notes
· Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument (CASII) and other outcome or assessment measures as needed
· Documentation of all case activities
· Discharge or transfer summaries
· Timely record keeping of all clinical activities and grant-related services as defined
· Timely communication with the supervisor and program support team
Supervision and Professional Development - Interns are expected to:
· Attend weekly supervision to support clinical and professional skills development, monitoring of client progress and treatment needs, reflect on the therapeutic process and factors that contribute to progress or barriers, and ensure documentation is completed and timely
· Attend case consultation; identify questions for consultation and present case information; provide and receive support from other team members
· Interns are welcome to participate in Agency trainings and in-services as their schedule permits
· Attend team consultation held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Requirements
· Must be enrolled in a Master's program in Counseling Psychology, Professional Psychology, or Marriage & Family Therapy
· Must be earning academic credit for an internship placement
· Applicants should be empathetic, self-reflective, and have the ability to stay regulated in difficult situations
· Knowledge of trauma informed practice is desired
· Demonstrated knowledge of cultural diversity and the role of culture in the therapeutic process