Mental Health Intern in 2025

Opal: Food Body Wisdom is looking for mental health counselor and marriage relationship therapist students for our internship program. Our internship provides excellent supervision and training in the treatment of eating disorders and co-occurring disorders (such as OCD) in a partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient setting from a health at every size perspective. Opal's theoretical orientation is eclectic with an emphasis on radically open dialectical behavior therapy and exposure and response prevention for OCD.  Opal specializes in the treatment of athletes and has a stellar exercise and movement program. Interns will receive training in group, relationship and individual therapy for clients in short-term higher level of care.  Interns must be in graduate school and actively enrolled in a practicum/internship course.

Opal typically begins accepting applications for internship the fall prior to the beginning of placements.  Group interviews for internships are usually scheduled for February with final placement offers extended by the end of March.  Internships at Opal are one year, 20 hours/week and start and end at the end of Sept each year. 

Opal: Food Body Wisdom, a locally and clinician owned, eating disorder treatment facility in the University District of Seattle, Washington, offering Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient programs. We are looking for skilled individuals who want to join our team to provide quality treatment and work alongside a passionate and caring staff.

Job Title: Mental Health Intern 

Responsibilities: 

• Provide short-term individual, relationship and group therapy for partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program clients
• Facilitate group therapy sessions in higher level of care programming
• Maintain clinical documentation and other administrative tasks required for competent care
• Work closely with the Training Director to complete all required clinical hours and supervision required by your graduate program within your internship 
• Collaboration with other members of a multidisciplinary treatment team
• Lead a multidisciplinary team lead for each client, including case management and communication with client’s support systems and treatment team
• Work regular shifts in the milieu, helping in the kitchen, supporting clients at therapeutic meals and between groups
• Attend weekly individual and group supervision meetings, and weekly staff consult group and training  (every Wed 2:15-5)

Educational/Credential Requirements: 

• Must be a current graduate student in counseling, psychology, or marriage and family therapy.
• Excitement for receiving specialized training in the treatment of eating disorders strongly desired

Skill Requirements Opal Values Alignment: 

• Collaborative system approach desired – strong team work skills needed
• Practice therapy and live personally in a way that reflects a non-diet, weight-inclusive relationship with food and body
• Approachable and compassionate, with an emotional awareness of client’s needs and one’s relationship with the client 

• A high degree of confidentiality and personal boundary setting
• Adaptable and flexible
• High value of collaboration with multidisciplinary treatment teams and colleagues
• Alignment with Opal values – view our website to learn more about our approach

Hours:

• 20 hours/week within Opal's business hours of M-F, 8am-6pm
  
• Required Meeting Attendance (subject to change):
  • All Staff Meeting and Learning: Wednesdays 2:15pm- 5pm
  • Therapist Group Supervision: Tuesdays 12pm - 1pm
  • Individual Supervision: TBD based on intern and supervisor availability
    
  • Intern Group Supervision: TBD based on intern and supervisor availability

Vaccines:  All staff, including interns, are required to be vaccinated for influenza and COVID-19 per Center for Disease Control recommendations. Staff can request a religious or medical exemption from Opal's mandatory vaccination policy.