Masters Internship
The UNC Counseling Center provides 1-2 Master's level counseling practicum/internship positions each academic year. This position is designed to assist counselors to develop and hone their skills in clinical interventions commonly used in a University Counseling Center or similar mental health settings.
Be sure to check out the Training Page to learn more about our site, philosophy, culture, and UNC.
Training Model
The model of training that we have adopted at the Counseling Center is best described as a "developmental apprenticeship" approach. We believe that becoming a competent professional counselor is a developmental process requiring graduated experiences and a combination of experiential and didactic training with close supervision and mentorship.
Professional training will focus on the development and refinement of clinical skills and will include providing:
- Individual, couples and group therapy
- Developing diagnostic case conceptualization
- Conducting initial consultations
- Treatment planning
- Case management
- Documenting psychotherapy in ethical, concise, and timely manner
- Providing outreach presentations & consultation
- Collaborating as part of a treatment team
- Developing multicultural awareness and skills
- Translating ethical and legal issues into professional behavior
Master's level training largely consists of experiential learning supplemented by didactic information and close supervision and mentorship. As part of our developmental model, the staff encourages interns to assess their professional strengths and limitations and assists them in developing appropriate learning experiences to guide their growth within the parameters of the training opportunities offered here.
Over the course of the internship, as we see competence and confidence levels increase for the intern, we are committed to creating opportunities across all skill areas that will foster greater autonomy and independent functioning.
Average Week
- 8-10 individual clients
- 2 intake sessions
- 1-2 hours (minimum) of individual supervision
- Opportunity to co-facilitate an Interpersonal Process Group
- Participate in clinical weekly meeting
- Opportunities for outreach and consultation (as needed)
- Paperwork
- Participation in Group Seminar (if leading a therapy group)
Requirements
- We only accept candidates from CACREP programs
- Internship must be completed across 2 consecutive semesters
- 600 total hours required, 300 must be direct service
- Must commit to attending orientation (dates TBA)
- Commit to at least 20 hours a week (some will need to devote 25-28 hours a week to compensate for lighter clinical loads at slower student traffic times in order to complete the 600 hours requirement)
- Attend weekly clinical staff meeting (Tuesday morning, 9:00-11:00am)
- Participate in supervision of group therapy (if applicable) and in various trainings and seminars throughout the year.
- Please be aware that students who have received counseling services through the UNC Counseling Center will not be eligible for this position.
How to Apply
Please submit the following materials via email to our Training Director, Dr. Renee Gilkey at Renee.Gilkey@unco.edu.
- Letter of interest describing your experience and interest working in a university counseling center setting
- Curriculum vitae
- 3 Letters of reference (at least 2 of who are familiar with your clinical work)
- Please email materials as a single PDF document
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. If selected for an interview, you will join us for a 1-hour in-person interview.
If you have questions about our training opportunities or the application and interview process, please email Dr. Renee Gilkey or call 970-351-2496.
