Trauma Services Intern - unpaid position

Trauma Services Intern 

Journey Center for Safety and Healing

Agency Summary: 

Journey Center for Safety and Healing (formerly known as Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center) is a non-profit organization that fosters safety and healing for those affected by domestic violence and child abuse; who aim to prevent abuse through education; advocacy and systemic change

Brief overview of the program:   

Journey Center for Safety and Healing (Journey) offers short- and long-term trauma therapy services (individual and group) to individuals beginning at age 4 through adulthood, who have experienced and/or witnessed domestic violence and/or child abuse. The focus of trauma therapy services is to assist survivors in reducing the impact trauma has had on their functioning through the development of healthy coping skills, increased understanding about trauma, as well as processing traumatic experiences. Therapists are skilled and trained in trauma focused therapy models including: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior therapy (TF-CBT). Services provided include individual and group therapy for both children and adults. 

Journey’s Trauma Services is funded entirely by various grants and private foundations which enable us to offer therapy services free of charge to the individual. However, this also results in a lengthy waitlist for services. Journey employs licensed and independently licensed social workers and counselors, in addition to social workers and counselors with a supervision designation. This allows Journey to provide supervision to social work and counseling students and those seeking independent licensure.    

To be considered for field placement within Journey’s Trauma Services department an individual MUST:  

1. Be a 2^nd year Masters level social work or counseling student who is currently enrolled in a CACREP and/or CSWE accredited institution. We do not accept counseling students applying for practicum; we only accept counseling students completing their internship. Social Work students should only apply when they are looking for placement for the concentration portion of their field placement. We do not accept students enrolled in other programs like psychology, human services, etc. 

2. Be willing to commit to a full year and commit to least 10 to 20 hours a week.  Individuals applying for an internship under 200 hours or less than 1 semester may be approved at discretion of the supervisor. 

3. Have actual or scholastic experience delivering individual therapy services and completing mental health assessments. Experience delivering group therapy services is preferred but not required.  

4. Have knowledge of the mental health field and trauma informed care and/or experience working with individuals with a mental health disorder in a trauma informed atmosphere. 

5. Have willingness to learn and work in an electronic health record.  

6. Be willing to work from Journey’s administrative offices located on Payne Ave. (or satellite sites, as needed) and will be able to complete their expected internship hours Monday-Thursday 9a-7p and Friday 10a-5p. Journey currently does not have weekend hours of operation. 

The following is an overview of the Trauma Services department internship. 

1. Interns will deepen their knowledge of trauma informed, evidence based therapeutic work with individuals who have experienced a trauma within the realm of domestic violence and/or child abuse. 

a. Development of a knowledge around domestic violence and child abuse will be accomplished through readings, online trainings, consultation with trauma services department staff and supervisor, staff trainings and observation of other agency programs. 

2. Engage children, adolescents and adults in trauma informed individual and group behavioral health therapy. 

3. Learn to identify necessary outside supports and resources for clients engaged in therapy services, including but not limited to: psychiatric services, support groups, case management, legal advocacy, etc. 

4. Develop strong skills surrounding appropriate and ethical record keeping. 

5. Interns will be exposed to various therapeutic modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Seeking Safety.  

6. Interns will have the opportunity to attend department meetings, agency meetings, trainings, and interact with other professionals.