Graduate Counseling Intern: Greenville, MI

Focus on the Family•Greenville, MI

About The Position

Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored (FOTF HR) Marriage Intensive program provides intensive therapy to couples in 2 primary ways—group therapy or a one-couple therapy experience. The therapy is provided at FOTF retreat centers and is guided by Focus Marital Therapy (FMT) delivered in a multi-hour, multi-day format. FMT is a faith-based, integrative approach to treating couples. The environment is all-inclusive providing lodging, meals, and therapy to the couples. Sites include: Branson, MO; Rome, GA; Greenville, MI; Cave Creek, AZ; Wimberley, TX. General Purpose/Summary Statement: The Graduate Intern/Practicum Student position is an unpaid, training and learning opportunity based on a student’s level of training/experience and school requirements, as well as the needs of FOTF HR. This role exists to support graduate students in experiencing direct and/or indirect services in therapy with couples as part of their becoming professionals. Direct services may include providing co-therapy in one-couple Intensives to married couples in distress. This position also provides non-direct services including observations, training, attending meetings, involvement in ministry projects and/or other learning opportunities. FOTF HR will make every attempt to meet the student and graduate school needs for the required training. Time Commitment: To be determined by the specific needs of the intern applicant and FOTF HR specific site.  The goal is to reach a mutually rewarding time agreement for both the intern and FOTF HR site.   Supervision: FOTF HR Site Clinical Director or designated supervisor

Requirements

Agrees to the Focus on the Family Statement of Faith
Aligns with FOF core values
Strong Christian faith expressed in daily behaviors
Punctual, dependable, responsible
Mature and responsive
Warm, kind, helpful, sensitive, and firm or directive presence as appropriate
Willingness to work in a co-therapy setting
Has strong if imperfect relationships
Teachable/open to critical feedback
Intent to pursue career in therapy
Willingness to self-disclose when appropriate
Earning a Master’s or Doctorate degree
Some understanding of the integrative process as it relates to faith and practice
General grasp of scripture as it relates to counseling
Relevant life experience
Able to engage in basic rapport building with clients
Demonstrates aptitude for understanding and applying theoretical knowledge to clients and the therapeutic situation
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
Counseling skills integrated with Biblical values
Willing to self-exam, learn, and grow

Responsibilities

Observe at minimum 1 group Intensive
Engage in one-couple Intensives as co-therapist trainee
Participate as 3rd “chair” trainee in group Intensive
Review relevant files in preparation for Intensives
Complete appropriate progress and other notes
Join in therapeutic processing with therapist(s)
Participate in weekly supervision with onsite supervisor
Attend monthly clinical team meetings and didactics
Read or view relevant training materials (books, articles, videos, etc.)
Complete training workshops to learn and teach the Focus Marital Therapy model
Complete training workshops related to providing therapy to couples in an intensive format
Learn, grow, and apply theory and therapeutic strategies
Gain experience in co-therapy
Use various assessments and other relevant information to form diagnostic impressions
Generate treatment plans
Engage in therapeutic rationale and strategy discussions
Jointly participate in planning and pacing therapeutic intervention
Challenge personal beliefs and theory
Apply confidentiality standards
Integrate Christian faith and professional practice
Learn the theory, principles, and tools of FMT