Clinical Internships
Pillars Community Health has a long, well-known commitment to clinical student training. We currently only offer internships in Behavioral Health Services.
All of our clinical internships require that the applicant be enrolled in an educational program that aligns with the internship. If you are interested in and qualified for any of these internships, we encourage you to apply. Please read the information below in full; if you have questions that are not answered here, email ajesberger@pchcares.org (we ask that you do NOT call or inquire in person with internship questions).
Undergraduate Internship
For students enrolled in an undergraduate Social Sciences program
Application window
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters. We do not have a summer internship program at this time.
Opportunities
Our undergraduate internship program is offered through our childhood bereavement program, Buddy's Place.
Schedule
Pillars Community Health can collaborate with the intern to set a schedule. However, due to the nature of the bereavement groups, the internship would occur in the fall and spring semesters. (i.e. August-December or January-May). Students can also commit to a yearly placement through Buddy’s Place if interested.
Placement and location
The Fillmore Center in Berwyn
To apply:
Please email ajesberger@pchcares.org and include: a) a cover letter describing your interest in the position and Pillars Community Health, and b) a resume or CV.c) please write- Buddy’s Place Internship Application in the subject header.
Community Support Internship
Ideally for second-year students enrolled in a Masters-level Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy program. The position would require consistent access to a vehicle and valid drivers license as the position is primarily community-based. In this internship, students will learn how to provide skills-based intervention and psychoeducation to clients with the goal of increasing functioning in the community.
Application window
Applicants can begin sending their applications as early as January 1st each calendar year. Interviews and offers are extended on a rolling basis. Positions usually fill up by March or April each year.
Opportunities
Our undergraduate internship program is offered through our childhood bereavement program, Buddy's Place.
Schedule
For first-year students, this internship requires 16 hours per week, September - May. Schedule is flexible based on student and supervisory ability. Friday meetings are mandatory.
Placement and location
This position is primarily community-based, however, weekly Friday morning meetings occur each week at 6918 Windsor Avenue in Berwyn. All applicants must be able to attend mandatory trainings on Friday mornings each week at our Berwyn office location.
To apply:
Please email ajesberger@pchcares.org and include: a) a cover letter describing your interest in the position and Pillars Community Health, and b) a resume or CV. c) a writing sample of 1-2 pages to give us a sense of your writing abilities on a topic you're interested in; d) graduate transcripts (unofficial are fine); and one (1) letter of recommendation from either your professional or academic experience, e) please write Community Support Internship Application in the subject header.
Advanced Masters-Level Internship
Ideally for second-year students enrolled in a Masters-level Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy program. In this position, interns are treated as the client’s primary therapist and have opportunities to provide individual, family, group and skills-based mental health services.
Application window
Applicants can begin sending their applications as early as January 1st each calendar year. Interviews and offers are extended on a rolling basis. Positions usually fill up by March or April each year.
Outpatient opportunities
Individual, family, group, or couples therapy; assessments and treatment planning; home-based or community-based treatment
Schedule
Requires 24 hours per week, July-May.
Placement and location
Depends on the service provided and availability at each site. All applicants must be able to attend mandatory trainings on Fridays mornings each week at 6918 Windsor Avenue in Berwyn.
To apply:
Please email ajesberger@pchcares.org and include: a) a cover letter describing your interest in the position; b) a resume or CV; c) a writing sample of 1-2 pages to give us a sense of your writing abilities on a topic you’re interested in; d) graduate transcripts (unofficial are fine); and one (1) letter of recommendation from either your professional or academic experience.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Internship
The Summary / Objective:
Pillars Community Health masters-level counseling interns will have the opportunity to observe the programs of the agency and gain experience in trauma-focused counseling with survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence. At Pillars Community Health, it is our mission to improve the health of our communities and empower individuals through compassionate, whole-person care. We’re looking for someone who finds joy in the purpose of helping survivors while being part of a team. The intern will work with survivors of sexual and domestic violence and must be ready to work with intense trauma daily.
Essential Functions:
- Participate in 40-hour domestic or sexual violence training, as required by ICADV or ICASA
• Provide individual and group therapy, advocacy, support, crisis intervention, and psychoeducation to clients who are survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence. This includes co-facilitating a group throughout the duration of the internship.
• Keep accurate and timely documentation in accordance with policies and procedures
• Document contacts with clients and keep necessary statistical information.
• Attend required meetings and training. This includes one hour of individual clinical supervision, one hour of DV/SA group consultation, and two hours of group supervision and training with all agency interns.
• Keep updated on developments in the agency’s areas of services and expertise.
• Provide 1-2 case presentations/consultations on an individual client during group consultation.
• Participate in counselor rotation to provide screening for new clients - Respond to all emails and voicemails in a timely manner.
Required Hours:
• 2-3 days per week (one evening required)
• Required to be available at least 24 hours per week.
• Tuesday afternoon and Friday mornings from 10-12 for case consultation and didactic learning series required
Other Functions:
• Participate in outreach/awareness activities
• Other duties as assigned by intern supervisor or as required by the university supervisor
Competencies:
- Must be in a master’s program working toward a social work or counseling degree
- Multicultural awareness
• Confidentiality (specifically related to DV/SA)
• Ethical conduct
• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Stress management
•Solution oriented
Work environment: Hybrid virtual/in-person
Due to current restrictions on capacity, this internship contains in-person and virtual hours. Students are required to have reliable internet services and technology that is compatible with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Carelogic. This internship operates in an extremely busy professional office environment.
Classification: Intern/unpaid
Date Time/Range: July 2023-June 1, 2024
Reports to: DV/SA Clinical Supervisor
Contact: Tahani Hammad, MSW
thammad@pchcares.org
Other Internships
If you are seeking an internship that does not fit the criteria for the above options and wish to inquire about the possibility of doing that internship at Pillars Community Health, please email ajesberger@pchcares.org and specify the type of school/degree/certification program you are in (for example, “I am working on my CADC”), possible time commitment (for example, “16 hours per week for the Fall Semester”), and any supervision or training requirements you may have (for example, “1 hour per week of individual supervision with an LCSW”). We will do our best to let you know if such a position may be feasible, but please note we may not be able to respond to all inquiries.