Masters of Social Work Clinical Internship

The information provided below serves to provide general information about the masters level (ML) clinical training opportunities at the Counseling Center. Applicants from a Masters of Social Work program with clinical focus entering their second year field placement are invited to contact Liz Toner, LCSW  for additional information and instructions on how to apply.

Professional Values

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values which are very clearly enumerated in the Code of Ethics of our national organization, National Association of Social Work (NASW):

  • integrity
  • social justice
  • dignity and worth of the person
  • human relationships
  • competence
  • service

The primary aim of our Internship is to prepare interns who are capable of and committed to providing ethical, professional, and socially-just psychological services. To achieve this goal we support the interns’ personal and professional development in the various roles they will be required to fulfill. Fundamental to each of these roles are the intra- and interpersonal skills required in psychotherapy, crisis intervention, group facilitation, outreach, consultation and other professional activities. All facets of a social worker’s training in this setting aim to incorporate and demonstrate these values in practice. While each intern will present with unique learning goals, we are committed to supporting our interns through their development to recognize:

  • The interdependence between the individual and the environment,
  • The therapeutic value of the client-therapist relationship,
  • The complexity of the human condition,
  • Appreciation and respect for differences between people,
  • Understanding of the impact of racism, trauma and how socially created systems are directly related to the quality of our lives.

Training Model and Objectives

The Counseling Center Staff is highly committed to the concept of excellence in a training experience within an active service-oriented and interdisciplinary environment. While broad exposure to a variety of professional activities and delivery systems is advocated, a genuine commitment to quality supervision and to the furthering of the trainee’s personal and professional growth exists as the foundation of our program.

The four primary objectives of the Masters Level (ML) Internship training program are:

  • To facilitate clinical competencies
  • To foster the development of professional and personal functioning
  • To promote sensitivity to cultural diversity and foster intercultural effectiveness
  • To provide opportunities to enhance specific areas of interest such as skill building & further development of therapeutic intervention skills, outreach, education & prevention, group work, etc.

Activities and Responsibilities

The social work internship program includes the following:

1. Service Activities

  • Individual Therapy
  • Intake Assessment
  • Risk Assessment & Crisis Stabilization
  • Consultation
  • Outreach, Education & Prevention

2. Training Activities

  • Individual Supervision with Primary Supervisor (minimum 1 hours per week)
  • Multidisciplinary Case Conference/Diversity Discussion Group (1 hour per week)
  • Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (1.5 hours per week)

3. Administrative/Professional Development Activities

  • Professional Development Presentations
  • Outreach, Education & Prevention Training
  • Record Keeping

Selection

ML interns are recruited by reaching out to students in graduate training programs in Social Work. Interested students are encouraged to apply during the spring semester in order to be a part of next fall’s class. Applicants submit a cover letter, two reference letters, and a current vita. The candidate is typically interviewed by the ML Coordinator, another staff member, and a current intern and is chosen based on criteria including clinical experience and potential, interpersonal skills, and professionalism.

Clinical Service Requirements

ML Interns provide clinical services to the UMaine community, including Individual Therapy and Intakes (including Initial Consultation and Urgent Care response as needed). They typically provide 10 hours per week of clinical services, with a total of 20 hours per week on-site for the internship.

Supervision

ML interns receive 1 hours of individual supervision per week.  In addition, supervision will also be provided in the format of Multidisciplinary Case Conference/Diversity Discussion Group, 1 hour per week.

Evaluation

Masters Level Intern Clinicians are unpaid trainees of the University of Maine Counseling Center and provide professional services to the students and staff of the University. The services they provide and overall performance in the placement are subject to evaluation by Counseling Center staff, primarily the intern’s individual supervisor. Their performance is also evaluated by their program’s or school’s adviser/supervisor utilizing input from Counseling Center staff. In most situations, concerns involving a trainee’s work performance will be addressed and resolved through the regular evaluation process and communication with the involved supervisor or through review by the Training Committee and the intern’s field supervisor.

Application Process

Social work students who are interested in field placement at The University of Maine’s Counseling Center for their specialized year field practicum of their MSW program are encouraged to apply. Applicants who have already completed a clinically oriented first year internship are preferred. To be considered for internship at this placement, interested candidates must complete and electronically submit all of the following:

  • MSW Intern Application
  • An updated curriculum vitae
  • Two letters of reference (emailed directly from your references)

The basic criteria for selection will be the goodness of fit with the objectives of the training program and the indicated potential of the candidate to contribute to and benefit from the internship experience at the Counseling Center.

In order to minimize the impact of potential dual roles, current or previous Counseling Center  therapy clients are not eligible to apply for the internship training program.

All application materials should be sent electronically to Liz Toner, LCSW

Anticipated Timeline

We will begin accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year on January 16, 2024. We will schedule and conduct interviews throughout the Spring of 2024 semester until all intern positions are filled.

The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies:  Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME  04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).