Internships are where it all begins in our journey as school counselors. Along with the start of a new internship comes a whirlwind of emotions, anticipation, and excitement for both supervisors and interns. In a "typical" school year, this first significant step to becoming a school counselor can put pressure on both parties. But how have COVID-19 and virtual learning changed the school counseling internship experience? In this post, I share my best tips, tricks, and ideas for preparing the internship experience and relationship for success.
Tips for School Counseling Interns
Go in with a positive attitude
Even if it wasn't your first choice!
It's natural to have expectations and preferences for your internship site and supervisor. However, being open-minded and adaptable to whatever placement you are assigned is a key to a successful experience.
While you may have a dream location in mind, remember that meaningful learning experiences can be found in unexpected places. No matter the site or supervisor, approach your internship with a positive attitude and a readiness to embrace new opportunities.
Communicate with your Supervisor
Clearly express your expectations, needs, and program requirements to your supervisor. Although your supervisor is your mentor, you must ensure that you meet all your university and licensure requirements for your internship.
Take some time during your first week on-site to review your program requirements (i.e., the total number of hours, formal supervision sessions, assignments, indirect vs. direct counseling experiences) with your supervisor so that you can develop a plan together to meet these expectations. When you and your supervisor start your internship on the same page, you can avoid any stress, pressure, or uncertainty.
Learn about your site's school counseling program
Set goals for how you can contribute to it.
Spend the first week or two of the internship learning as much as possible about your site.
- How many students are at your school, and what's the makeup of students?
- Did your supervisor conduct a needs assessment that you can review together?
- What are the different roles that your supervisor plays, and how do they manage their time?
- Which small groups are they currently running, which classroom lessons are they teaching, and which special events are coming up?
Once you understand where your site's school counseling program currently stands, set goals for how you can contribute to its future.
Keep in mind that, unfortunately, many counselors are assigned non-counseling duties. If your supervisor asks you to assist with these responsibilities, graciously ask for the tasks you need to experience and offer to help others as time allows.
Remember that you are new and accept imperfection
While setting goals and high expectations is healthy and wonderful, school counseling interns must remember that they are new to this field. When something is new, we will make mistakes, ask many questions, and feel unsure. All of this is expected and okay! Make sure that the expectations that you set for yourself are realistic, and give yourself grace in this learning process.
Be willing to take risks and leave your comfort zone
Experienced school counselors can seamlessly transition between 504 paperwork, supporting a student in crisis, explaining a bullying incident to parents, planning a Career Day, and teaching a classroom lesson - all within the same hour or two! This fast-paced and ever-changing environment can bring interns out of their comfort zone. But, the only way to learn is by jumping in with both feet.
School counselors never know what their day will look like or what issues students, teachers, and administrators will throw their way. Similarly, interns must roll with the punches and go with the flow.
If your supervisor asks you to meet with a student, speak with a parent, or help plan a special event - whatever it may be, try it! Remember that you are not expected to be perfect; showing up for the task will go a long way.
Seek out regular feedback and be open to constructive criticism
Take full advantage of having an experienced, trained professional there to support and guide you in your internship experience. Have a positive and open mind towards any feedback your supervisor offers, and remember that they are there to mold you into the counselor you will become. By observing your practice and offering tips, advice, and feedback, your supervisor will help you refine your practice and hone your skills.
If your supervisor does not offer consistent or thorough enough feedback, let them know! Although school counselors are very busy and thrown in many different directions, they have a responsibility to help you grow and learn each day of your internship.
Let your supervisor know when you feel ready to take on new responsibilities
Every intern is unique, and the experience, skills, abilities, and confidence level they bring with them vary greatly. Some interns want to jump into the work, while others like to shadow and observe.
Discuss your readiness and comfort level with your supervisor regarding each aspect of your role so that they can challenge and encourage you while respecting your feelings and wishes.
Let your supervisor know if you have observed a few classroom lessons and feel ready to co-teach or teach independently! Also, if you would like to create the plan for a small group session and co-facilitate it with your supervisor, let them know!
Make sure that you and your supervisor mutually understand your comfort level and readiness so that you can continue to grow into an independent and confident counselor-in-training.
Laugh, love, learn, and have FUN!
You're only an intern for a short while. Make the most of it! Love the children. Cherish their stories. Laugh at the hilarious and adorable things they say. Enjoy the warm, welcoming, family-oriented school environment. Build relationships with teachers and your supervisor. Take full advantage of having a supervisor to bounce ideas off of, learn from, and collaborate with you.
And most importantly, have FUN!
Tips for School Counseling Supervisors
Understand the university expectations and requirements for internship
Although completing the internship is ultimately the intern's responsibility, the intern and supervisor must be on the same page regarding the university and state licensure requirements. Interns and supervisors should take time to review the university internship requirements and create a plan together to meet them.
Knowing the number of hours required, how formal supervision works, the role expectations, evaluation systems, etc., on the front end can help avoid stress and uncertainty in the future. If you have any questions about the internship experience, check in with your university-level supervisor.
Provide your intern with a comfortable work space
Space can be very limited in schools, but it is essential for your intern to feel welcome, comfortable, and organized while at your site. Simply providing an extra table or desk in your office can make your intern feel like they're part of your team and allow you to supervise and observe their work.
In addition to a physical space, if you feel comfortable doing so and your district allows, provide your intern access to student information systems. Even if it means sitting with you and going through Schoology or Infinite Campus, familiarize your intern with school-level systems to ensure their practice is data-driven.
Assess your intern's comfort level, strengths, interests, and skill set
On your intern's first day at your site, set aside an hour or two to discuss and assess their comfort level, interests, strengths, and skill set. Try to get a feel for your intern's personality, abilities, and experience so that you can meet them where they are, but also gently push and challenge them to try new things.
Does your intern love event planning but not feel as comfortable leading groups? Do they enjoy delivering classroom lessons but not feel as ready to plan them?
Learning as much as possible about your intern from the start can help you assign them meaningful roles and maximize the benefit to your site and your intern's growth.
Teach your intern about your school and program. Then set goals together
After getting to know your intern, teach them as much as possible about your program.
- Familiarize them with the population of students you serve and review the results of your needs assessment.
- Share your calendar and information about upcoming special events, classroom lesson topics, small group needs, and "frequent flyer" students.
- Explain your role in 504 coordination and formal intervention team meetings.
- Think about services that your students have needed and that you can now provide with this extra set of hands.
Although it can be tempting to assign paperwork or "easier" tasks to interns (i.e., lunch duty, recess duty), only give them appropriate counseling duties to focus on. Once your intern has a solid grasp of your program and role, create mutually beneficial goals to benefit your program and prepare your counselor-in-training for their first job.
Based on their comfort level, ease your intern into Their new role
As mentioned, interns vary significantly in their comfort level, confidence, and experience. Try to balance helping your intern feel safe and ready and ensuring they are challenged and have new learning experiences daily. A general guideline may be to spend weeks one to two shadowing/observing as many aspects of your role as possible. Then, in week three, independent counseling opportunities with supervision will be offered.
Once your intern feels ready to lead counseling sessions and classroom lessons, allow them to do so, but remain present to observe and supervise.
Offer as many varied learning opportunities as possible
Try to give your intern a taste of the different (appropriate) roles that school counselors play in a comprehensive school counseling program. Internships should be hands-on, immersive experiences that offer interns an active role in individual counseling, small group counseling, classroom lesson planning and delivery, event planning, collaborative meetings with parents and teachers, 504 coordination, etc.
By having various learning experiences, interns can develop their skills and get a feel for their preferences, strengths, and abilities as counselors.
Provide consistent feedback - both formal and informal
Offering meaningful, consistent, and practical feedback in formal and informal supervision sessions is one of the most critical roles of the supervisor. Familiarize yourself with the university supervision expectations and schedule your formal supervision sessions in advance. Use them to discuss progress towards goals, upcoming events, student needs, the intern's comfort level, and willingness to take on new or different responsibilities. Encourage an open dialogue so the intern and supervisor can support each other.
After every service your intern delivers, offer informal feedback at the end of each day. Take a minute or two to process the experience, answer questions, discuss what went well/didn't go well, and brainstorm ideas for future sessions. Giving your intern these brief moments of your time shows that you are invested in their growth.
Laugh, love, learn, and have FUN!
Take full advantage of this extra set of hands and fresh mind to brainstorm with. Celebrate this opportunity to teach and mentor someone about the field that you love. Share your passion for the work that you do. Be the supervisor that you wish you had as an intern years ago. Enjoy your time together, for it won't last forever.
Do you still want to learn more about school counseling internships? Here are some recommended resources:
- How has COVID-19 Changed School Counseling Internships?
- Considering Taking a School Counseling Intern? by Confident Counselors
- The School Counselor's Guide to Surviving the First Year: Internship Through Professional Development
- Must-Have Resources for New School Counselors by Confident Counselors
What is your best advice for a successful internship, as a counselor or an intern? We'd love to hear from you!
