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Undergraduate Internships

Intership Description

The Michigan State University Couple and Family Therapy Clinic (CFTC) was established to provide training opportunities for students in the doctoral specialization in Couple and Family Therapy in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. CFTC student therapists provide direct services to couples, families, individuals, and groups, and collaborates with other community agencies utilizing a family systems perspective. We believe no person exists in a vacuum and recognize that a person’s environment has an influence on their functioning, and vice versa. We value the research and clinical experiences that point to the fact that inclusion of partners and family members in treatment yields greater results than when only one member is seen in therapy. 

The CFTC is a student run (faculty supported) initiative, which means we rely heavily on support from our undergraduate interns for our day-to-day clinic functioning.

Interns are often the first line of contact for our clients and are a constant representation of our clinic. It is because of our interns that we can be as successful as we are. Our interns are responsible for completing new client intakes, scheduling client appointments, supporting daily clinic operations, and attending practicum. Part of our commitment to improving relationship-based treatment is developing an intentional focus for undergraduate clinic interns. This internship will provide an opportunity to develop skills through conducting initial client intakes and learning about the process of therapy. 

General Summary: The CFTC seeks undergraduate interns for a clinic specific position focused on maintaining daily clinic operations, completing new client intakes, scheduling client appointments, and attending group practice. The internship typically spans 2 semesters (usually fall and spring of the same academic year) at 10 hours per week or 1 semester (typically summer) at 20 hours per week. Interns work under the guidance of the CFTC Coordinator and the CFTC Director. Interns must be enrolled in a social science discipline internship course, and available one evening per week to participate in practicum. 

Learning Objectives of the Internship 

  • To familiarize students with the responsibilities of the helping profession. This includes completing initial client intake assessments, scheduling client appointments, daily management of clinic space, and professional verbal and written communication.
  • To learn how to complete an initial client intake assessment asking about presenting problems, family history, substance use, and intimate partner violence.
  • To familiarize students with the therapeutic process. This will involve participating in group practicum, watching live therapy sessions, and developing their own case conceptualization.

How to Apply

This internship is open to MSU students of all majors and academic standings; however, priority will be given to students with high academic standing (e.g. junior, senior). The internship includes 20 hours per week for Summer 2025 or 10 hours per week for both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. In order to complete an internship at the Couple and Family Therapy Clinic, the student must be enrolled in an internship course at MSU. The application deadline is March 14th at 11:59pm. Please feel free to apply anytime during the year; however, we will not check applications until after March 14th, 2025. All offers are contingent upon successfully completing and passing a background check.

For questions regarding the internship and the application process please contact Tanner Hickman (Clinic Coordinator) at hickma62@msu.edu

In addition to adding your information to the form below, you will be asked to upload the following materials to support your application (note - incomplete applications will not be reviewed):

  1. A brief, one page statement about your interests in the internship. This statement should aim to answer the following questions:
    1. Why are you interested in pursuing this specific internship?
    2. How do your personal attributes, interests, and experiences fit with this internship?
    3. How does this internship align with your future career goals and how will it contribute to your professional development?
  2. A copy of your Resume/CV.
     
  3. Two reference persons (a professional reference, ideally a professor or academic advisor) and their contact information (phone number and/or email address) for the clinic director and the clinic coordinator to reach out to and learn why the student would be a good fit for the internship position. 

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