
What was a typical week like in your internship position?
A typical week in my internship includes arriving to work 5-15 minutes early. To start each week, I meet with my supervisor to have a private meeting that is called "supervision". In this meeting we discuss the details of the lives of my assigned clients, I can ask questions regarding each of my clients, and the office/staff operations. For the rest of the week, I meet with my caseload of three clients on different days each week depending on when my client and I agreed to meet. During the meeting time with my clients, we check in and I offer my clients this time as an opportunity to ask for help and disclose any struggles, successes, or tasks that are on their plates. Often, I meet with clients to focus on a small goal that has been set in the previous week(s) to assess progress or focus on a more immediate concern. I also assist clients with monitoring medication consumption. During medication monitoring, I will read the names and dosage of each medication for the specific client and mark their consumption, refusal, miss, or discontinuation of the medication (as directed by their prescribers). Some days I monitor medication in the office, and other days I go into the community where the clients live.
Though I have a caseload of three clients that I manage closely, I also work with every client that is in our program even if they do not see me face to face. I communicate with every client in the office to assess their mental state and aid them in any endeavors they may need help with. I also spend time building rapport with each client I see so that I can better understand their background and their outlook on life. Some other tasks I have not mentioned include composing and replying to emails concerning the clients medications (errors, refills, clarification), transporting clients to and from appointments, logging each interaction with each client for insurance purposes, and creating and following customized treatment plans for my caseload.
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
The most enjoyable thing about my position at Cornerstone Montgomery is the clients. I love to interact with the clients and learn about their lives. It is very rewarding to hear about how they enjoy spending their time and seeing the direct impact that managing their mental illness can have on creating a more enjoyable life for themselves. It is also very special to hear their stories and learn that even though struggling with serious mental illness, they have intricate life stories to tell!
How did your coursework help you in your internship?
Specifically PSYC433: Basic Helping Skills, has helped me to be a better counselor for my clients. I have learned to listen and reflect as a way to learn more about each client's experience.
How did you locate your internship position?
I found this internship through a hiring event held by the psychology department. It was a Zoom event where a few staff from the HR department at Cornerstone Montgomery came to speak about the available opportunities. I sent my resume to the hosts of the meeting and they followed up shortly after. The next step was the hiring process.
Learn more about Cornerstone Montgomery from previous event notes.
Advice for students:
The advice I have for students who are seeking an internship experience is to just go for it! I wish I would have gotten started with an internship site way sooner than I did (during my senior spring). The experience I’ve had so far has taught me that its not about absolutely loving your position or your work, but about getting to know what you DO and DO NOT like about the work, the culture, the environment, the pay, etc. It is a great way to explore what you are looking for in a future career without really any serious commitment or consequences. Just take the chance.
Anything else you want to share with students about your experience?
I would recommend finding some place that pays (if you can). We are college students and we deserve to be paid for our work- whether it's an internship or job! We are bringing something to the table for the company we choose to intern with. Another thing I’d like to emphasize is to be transparent with your internship supervisor. Your willingness to be transparent and ask for help from your coworkers and supervisor is going to be the difference between a line on your resume and a meaningful learning experience with a network of connections! People love to help people who want to be helped!