Counseling Internship
We are no longer accepting applications for our 2024 – 2025 academic school year internship. Applications for the 2025 – 2026 academic school year will open in Fall 2024.
Overview: Highline College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,000 annual students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. It is also the state’s most racially diverse college with an enrollment of 68% students of color. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, and weekend classes.
Highline College is seeking applications for its 2024 – 2025 internship. The pre-master Internship year with Highline College will include a combination of orientation, clinical seminar training, supervision (2-3 hours per week), weekly case conferences, weekly staff meetings, and the provision of individual psychotherapy. The opportunity exists for Interns to engage in conducting group therapy, workshops related to campus mental health concerns, educating the campus community about wellness-related tips and quick interventions for students, and consultation with faculty about student behavior in the classroom or appropriate referrals. Interns will join us in conducting campus outreach and wellness events that may include mental health screenings and educational programming.
Training Description: The year will commence with a department kick-off retreat, and orientation to the counseling center staff, procedures, and protocols. Attendance is highly encouraged at the Opening Week orientation and workshop sessions for all faculty and staff which lasts 4 days, right before school starts in, the fall quarter, of 2023. Attention will be given to psychological emergencies, including responding to suicide and suicidal behaviors on our campus. Discussion of the appropriate responses to and limited confidentiality of minors in our state will be clarified and detailed. Since our campus also provides academic accommodations to students with disabilities, training in the diagnosis and universal design for learning concepts will be provided. Topics for training throughout the year will vary, but usually include state laws and ethics, cross-cultural counseling, referral sources for physical and mental health issues, and campus resources. Student Services, as a division, usually has one training meeting each quarter focused on student concerns, and the counseling center attends those meetings. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to take part in the departmental assessment of the therapy we provide for accreditation purposes.
Socialization into the profession will continue by connecting our Intern to state organizations such as the Washington State Psychological Association, Western Psychological Association, Washington State Community and Technical College Counselors Association, and the American Psychological Association. Local workshops and training will also be suggested, as well as our own state Licensing Board’s free continuing education offerings. Recent readings, articles, and websites will be provided to keep our interns current with evolving trends and practices.
During the year, there will be ample opportunities to observe other counselors, and counseling staff in case conferences, and at regional conferences. Our staff consults daily when emergencies occur, and interns are exposed to that problem-solving and teamwork among the staff. Supervision includes viewing supervisee video or audio tapes, role-playing, mentoring, and as much vicarious learning as possible. Interns may sit in on or co-counsel clients, and co-lead groups if desired.
Training Goals and Expectations – The goals of the Internship are to:
- Give exposure to a variety of clients with diverse diagnoses and problem types,
- Develop several treatment and intervention strategies for these concerns,
- Increase the ability of the intern to self-monitor and know when to consult or refer,
- Appreciate the impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on a student’s mental health,
- Gain knowledge about student development theory, application, and the skills to practice in a higher education setting, especially a community college
- Learn how to work effectively as a clinician within a campus community, and build partnerships with key stakeholders, while honing clinical skills
- Become capable of independent practice as a psychologist or counselor.
The quality of the Intern’s work by the end of the internship should be at the master’s level. Master’s level interns are expected to work a 20-hour week (depending on the quarter) and total at least 600 hours during the internship year.
APPLICATION PROCESS – Applications, which should consist of a cover letter and current vita are due by February 9th, 2024. They should be sent to counseling@highline.edu. Interviews will be conducted with the finalists in February and selection will occur by late February. For further information please contact Joshua Magallanes, a faculty counselor at jmagallanes@highline.edu.
Contact us at Highline College Building 6
2400 S. S40th St, Des Moines, WA 98198
Tel: 206-592-3353 Fax: 206-870-3772
Email: counseling@highline.edu