Eastern Illinois University Counseling Clinic Internship
The Eastern Illinois Counseling Clinic Services offers a 9-month Graduate Internship Training Program beginning in August and ending in May. This internship is designed for graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited master’s level clinical counseling, clinical psychology, or social work program. Prior counseling experience is strongly preferred.
Master’s level interns/trainees are an important part of the Counseling Clinic staff. Interns are treated as emerging clinical professionals, and under the supervision of a licensed clinical counselor, interns are given the opportunity to engage in various activities/tasks and take on various responsibilities. Interns at the Counseling Clinic will engage in a variety of clinical-related services, including both direct and indirect services.
Clinical Experience
The Counseling Clinic takes a developmental approach with interns and works on tailoring the internship training and experience to the unique needs and acquired skills possessed by each individual intern. Because interns progress differently throughout the course of the placement, there will be ongoing evaluation and feedback by supervisors and clinical staff throughout the placement.
Individual Counseling: Interns will provide bi-weekly individual counseling services to a diverse population of EIU students. It is expected that interns will meet with 6-12 clients for individual counseling weekly.
Group Counseling: Interns will co-facilitate at least 1 weekly counseling group per semester. Dependent upon growth and development, interns may be able and/or expected to co-lead a group with another intern during the second semester.
Crisis Assessment / Counseling: Interns will have the opportunity to shadow crisis assessment and crisis counseling appointments (with client consent) during their first semester. In the second semester, dependent upon growth and development, interns may be scheduled for on-call crisis appointments with a senior counselor available for consultation.
Consultation: Interns will be trained to conduct consultation appointments. Consultation appointments entail assessing presenting concerns, risk, and level of care and making a referral to an appropriate service, whether internal or external to the Counseling Clinic.
Supervision and Training
Clinical Supervision: Interns will meet with their assigned supervisor weekly for 1 hour. Depending on availability and need, interns may receive triadic supervision.
Group Supervision and Training: Interns will meet as a group with at least one clinical counselor bi-weekly for 1-hour, alternating weeks with clinical supervision. Several clinical counselors will attend group supervision with interns throughout the year to discuss different clinical topics/approaches, providing interns with a variety of supervision styles and feedback. In addition to trainings on various topics, group supervision will also include intern case presentations.
Clinical Staff Meeting: Bi-weekly, clinical staff, including interns, meet for 1 hour to discuss complex cases and information relevant to serving clients.
Business Meeting: Bi-weekly, there is a full staff meeting for 1 hour to discuss clinic and departmental updates. Interns are strongly encouraged to attend, schedule permitting.
Outreach Programming
Interns are encouraged to participate in outreach programing throughout the year. This can look like the intern creating an outreach presentation, outreach materials, tabling events, or assisting senior staff with scheduled campus presentations.
Sample Time Allocation
Interns spend, on average, between 18-25 hours per week in activities related to internship. The time commitment will vary depending on case load, intern availability, intern interest and skill level, and needs of the Clinic.
Application Process
The following submissions are required:
- Cover letter explaining interest and goals for the Internship program;
- Current vita or resume;
- Two (2) professional or academic references; and
- Written approval from the student’s Department Internship Supervisor. Approval may be submitted via email directly from the supervisor to the Internship Coordinator and Associate Director OR on departmental letterhead.
The application and search process for the 2024/2025 school year has been completed. The search for 2025/2026 school year will begin in the spring 2025 semester. More information will be posted closer to that time.
Internship questions can also be directed to Corey Cunningham or Jessica Cobert via email or phone at (217) 581-3143.
If you are a current intern of the Counseling Clinic and are needing to make a change to your schedule, please complete this machform.
