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Social Work & Counselor Internships

Sheppard Pratt employs social workers and counselors in every setting imaginable. They are a critical part of an effective treatment team and sustainable path to recovery for our patients. To prepare the next generation of caregivers, we offer social work and counseling internships in diverse environments.

Internship Setting: Sheppard Pratt School & Residential Treatment Center (RTC)

Sheppard Pratt School & RTC is a 46-bed licensed residential treatment center located on our historic campus in Towson, Maryland. We serve youth ages 12-18 with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities who need a specialized educational and therapeutic environment and benefit from structured community and recreational activities. Interns will be part of a multidisciplinary team providing high-quality care.

Eligibility Requirements for Sheppard Pratt School & RTC social work and counseling internships:
  • Be a current student at an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
  • Be enrolled in an academic institution with an existing contract with Sheppard Pratt
  • Have a foundation and interest in child and adolescent mental health
  • Be taking or have taken coursework in behavioral health, family therapy, and social work practice (recommended)
  • Students should have an understanding of how youth and family structure are impacted by complex trauma
Interns can expect to:
  • Work on-site (days and times to be determined by supervisor)
  • Perform psychosocial evaluations
  • Complete progress notes
  • Provide individual and family psychosocial education
  • Create individualized treatment plans
  • Participate in discharge planning
  • Provide individual and group therapy
  • Receive individual and group supervision from the clinical director weekly
  • Perform self-reflection and self-evaluation on a regular basis
Apply for a Sheppard Pratt School & RTC Internship

Internship Setting: Outpatient Mental Health Centers

Sheppard Pratt’s Community Treatment service line encompasses our outpatient mental health centers, offsite counseling (in home or school), and addictions services in our substance use clinics. Our dedicated staff are comprised of an interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, and professional counselors. Our internship program offers training opportunities that mirror employee training as we consider our interns to be an integral part of our treatment team.

Eligibility requirements:
  • Master's level candidates, fall & spring semesters required
  • Students must be enrolled in a master's degree counseling or social work program from accredited universities and have completed one year of study
Locations:
  • Frederick
  • Hagerstown
  • Timonium
  • Baltimore
  • Gaithersburg
  • Westminster
  • Columbia
Interns can expect to:
  • Serve children, adolescents, and adults that present with the entire spectrum of mental health disorders in the DSM-V
  • Shadow advanced clinicians
  • Receive individual and group supervision
  • Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy
Outpatient Mental Health Center Internship Openings

Internship Setting: Addiction Services

Sheppard Pratt’s Community Treatment service line encompasses our outpatient mental health centers, offsite counseling (in home or school), and addictions services in our substance use clinics. Our dedicated staff are comprised of an interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, and professional counselors. Our internship program offers training opportunities that mirror employee training as we consider our interns to be an integral part of our treatment team. Internships last either one semester or a full academic year, depending on the opportunity. 

Eligibility Requirements:
  • Students must be enrolled in a master's degree counseling or social work program from accredited universities and have completed one year of study
Locations:
  • Towson
  • Baltimore
Interns can expect to:
  • Co-lead substance abuse groups and provide individual addictions counseling
  • Provide group and individual treatment to a variety of clients with very intensive needs
  • Use case management skills to secure additional, wrap-around assistance for clients
Addiction Services Internship Opportunities

Internship Setting: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Sheppard Pratt Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based practice model that provides treatment, rehabilitation and support to individuals who are diagnosed with a severe mental illness and whose needs have not been well met by more traditional mental health service. The ACT team is part of Sheppard Pratt’s Rehab & Recovery division and provides services directly to an individual that are tailored to meet client specific needs. The Sheppard Pratt ACT team serves adults ages 18 years and older.

Eligibility Requirements:
  • Be a current student at an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
  • Be enrolled in an academic Institution with an existing contract with Sheppard Pratt
  • Have an interest in community-based mental health care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges
  • Be pursuing your Bachelor’s in Social Work
Interns can expect to:
  • Complete psychosocial, progress notes
  • Provide individual and family psychosocial education
  • Create individualized treatment plans
  • Engage in case management and discharge planning
  • Observe therapy sessions
  • Receive supervision on a weekly basis from the clinical director
ACT internships are offered at the following locations:
  • Columbia
  • Baltimore City
ACT Internship Opportunities

Internship Setting: Schools

Opportunities are available in Sheppard Pratt's special education schools and Montgomery County and Prince George's County public school systems.

Sheppard Pratt Special Education Schools

Interns will provide counseling services for Sheppard Pratt School in Rockville, a nonpublic special education school serving students in grade 1- 12 with emotional disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. Students receive regular individual, group, and/or family counseling as well as informal counseling as needed throughout the school day. A multidisciplinary team that includes teachers, clinicians, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, and behaviors specialists works together to meet the needs of our diverse population.

Interns will co-lead group therapy sessions with a licensed social work or professional counselor as well as provide individual counseling to an assigned caseload. Interns will have the opportunity to provide support and practice de-escalation skills "in the moment" with students. Weekly clinical supervision is provided by on-site LCSW-C.

Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis. Internships typically run September-April or May - December but are flexible based on school requirements. We require a commitment of 3 days per week for an internship, typically 9-3. Practicum students typically complete two 5 hours days per week. Internships are unpaid.

Eligibility Requirements:
  • Advanced year Master’s of Social Work students or Master's of Mental Health Counseling students
Interns can expect to:
  • Co-lead group therapy sessions
  • Conduct individual therapy sessions
  • Provide therapeutic support to students throughout the day as needed
  • Complete clinical documentation

School-Based Mental Health Services in Montgomery County

Interns can expect to:
  • Provide individual, group and family therapy
  • Get experience in crisis intervention and collaboration with school staff
  • Work with diverse populations within the Montgomery County Public School System/Prince George's County School System
  • Be assigned a minimum caseload of 4-6 students
  • All interns will receive weekly clinical supervision as well as trainings that employed clinicians receive to enhance learning experience

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Be a current student of an accredited masters of social work or masters of counseling program
  • Be a masters or doctoral level student
  • Be enrolled at an academic Institution that has an existing contract with Sheppard Pratt.
  • Have a strong foundation in child/adolescent mental health theory and related theory and practice, clinical reasoning, foundations of evidence-based practice, group theory and application, and teaching/learning concepts and applications related to staff, client, and caregiver education
  • Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) skills are preferred but not required
School Internship Opportunities

Internship Setting: Families and Communities

Montgomery Country Crisis Based Services

Interns can expect to:
  • Provide crisis intervention and home stabilization services to clients referred from the Montgomery County Crisis Center
  • Work with diverse populations providing services in the community, in the home, and in schools.
  • Work as part of a team to provide clinical and case management services
  • Advanced students with experience are required due to the intensity of cases; Caseload varies depending on the severity of the cases

Domestic Violence Shelter

Interns can expect to:
  • Conduct psychosocial evaluations and intakes
  • Participate in individual, group and family therapy
  • Work with women and children that have experienced intimate partner violence and get experience in crisis intervention within the shelter environment
  • Provide clinical case management services and collaborate with other Montgomery County services

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Be a current student of an accredited masters of social work or masters of counseling program
  • Be a masters or doctoral level student
  • Be enrolled at an academic Institution that has an existing contract with Sheppard Pratt.
  • Have a strong foundation in child/adolescent mental health theory and related theory and practice, clinical reasoning, foundations of evidence-based practice, group theory and application, and teaching/learning concepts and applications related to staff, client, and caregiver education
  • Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) skills are preferred but not required
Family and Community Services Internship Opportunities

I’ve built great relationships with the clinicians and staff and was given the opportunity to work with a diverse population which allowed me to grow and develop as a clinician. I’ve really valued my time here and feel much more confident in myself and my abilities as a therapist.