Master's Level Internship or Predoctoral Practicum Placement: Outpatient Program (Minneapolis)

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.

The Outpatient Program supports children, teens and families by providing clinic-based diagnostic assessment and individual and family therapy to help with a wide range of concerns, including school adjustment problems, depression, anxiety, difficulty dealing with loss or family changes, traumatic events, attention problems, parent-child conflicts, and behavioral difficulties. Outpatient services are provided at one of our three clinic locations (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Edina). Clinicians and families collaborate on treatment goals together, based on feedback from the diagnostic assessment. Therapy services focus on building a child’s strengths and gaining skills to be successful at home, in school, and in the community. Interns typically are on-site 16-20 hours/week, and see a caseload of 6-10 clients.

Responsibilities

Clinical Treatment - Interns will have the opportunity to:

· Conduct diagnostics assessments

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

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

· Provide care coordination, such as collaborating with a teacher, primary care physician, psychiatrist, case manager, and/or other professionals working with the child

· Create 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

· Collaborate with the billing department to maintain current, timely authorizations, for all therapeutic services from required insurance policies

· 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 inservices as their schedule permits

· Attend team consultation held on the first Tuesday of every month from 9:00am – 10:30am.

Requirements

· Must be enrolled in a Master's program in Counseling Psychology, Professional Psychology, or related program that leads to LPCC licensure; a Doctoral program in Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or School Psychology that leads to LP licensure; a Master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy that leads to MFT licensure.

· Must be earning academic credit for a MA-level internship or predoctoral therapy or advanced practicum placement

· Applicants should be empathetic, self-reflective, and have the ability to stay regulated in difficult situations

· Knowledge of trauma-informed practice is desired

· Demonstrated knowledge of cultural diversity and the role of culture in the therapeutic process