MSW/MFT Clinical Internship: Intensive In-Home Therapy

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.

Intensive in-home therapy is available for families whose children, ages 5 to 17, are experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties and need more intensive services to increase stability across settings and help prevent out of home placement.

The intern would collaborate with parents in the client's home setting to improve family functioning and help children develop strategies that will enable them to live successfully at home and in the community. During this 9 to 12-month intensive therapy, the intern would also consult with school staff and other agencies involved with the family to coordinate care and identify additional resources.

Interns will have the opportunity to act as both primary therapist and co-therapist during the course of their internship and also participate in group consultation. As an Intensive In-Home Intern you will learn assessment, safety planning, individual and family therapy, and parent support with a focus on using trauma-informed practice. This is a great opportunity to expand on skills and strategies for students who are interested in family work and in-home therapy.

Responsibilities

Clinical Treatment - The Intern will learn how to educate, support, and empower families to self-advocate and navigate various systems with more confidence and skill, as well as provide specialized direct services to children and their families in their homes, schools, and communities. interns will be trained on:

· Conducting diagnostic assessments

· Developing and implementing treatment plans, safety plans, and goal setting based on the client’s diagnosis and needs of the family

· Providing individual and family therapy designed to improve the child’s functioning across settings

· Providing consultation with school, recreation, and other community programs to encourage the child’s successful participation

· Providing therapy and teaching families and others within the treatment team about trauma-informed practices

· Creating a discharge plan

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 meetings and consultation

Requirements

· Must be enrolled in a Master of Social Work Program, Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Program or Master of Psychology Program

· Must be earning academic credit for an internship placement

· Applicants should be flexible, resourceful, and demonstrate knowledge of cultural diversity and the role of culture in the therapeutic process

· Applicants should be curious about family systems, as well as have an openness to learning different therapeutic approaches

· Must be available at least two nights a week for home visits

· Must have a vehicle in operating condition, a valid driver’s license, and car insurance