Graduate Student Internships

Family Services of the North Shore (FSNS) is committed to sustaining a quality learning environment and comprehensive graduate student internship program for master’s level counselling and social work students who need to complete their practicum and professional registration requirements. Student internships or practicums provide individuals with an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience within a community based counselling agency and enables FSNS to continue its tradition of providing in-depth, affordable counselling services to North Shore residents. During the internship year individuals are involved in all aspects of the counselling process from initial contact to client follow-up. Interns may work with individuals, couples, families or groups, children and adults, within a variety of contexts.

We are currently looking to fill the following internship positions:

• Stopping the Violence - Counselling Intern (#1)

• Stopping the Violence and Children Living in the Midst of Abuse - Counselling Intern (#2)

• Family Therapy - Counselling Intern (#3)

• Family Therapy - Counselling Intern (#4)

• Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse - Counselling Intern (#5)

In addition to seeing clients in the primary program(s) above, each intern will also be able to see clients in our Family Counselling Program as well as co-facilitate one or more of the groups we offer throughout the year. These groups include:

• Adult Grief and Loss Group

• Couples Therapy Group

• Men's Group

• Sexual Abuse Survivors Group

• Stage 1 - Women and Relationship Abuse

• Stage 2 - Moving On

The following is an overview of what our agency is committed to providing as part of our internship program as well as what we expect from individuals who are accepted into the program

Requirements	Time Commitment
1. Clinical Counselling	5 hours per week - minimum
2. Group Supervision	2 hours per week
3. Individual Supervision	1 hour per week
4. Training Seminar	1 hour per week
5. Paperwork	1-2 hours per week
6. Video/Audiotape Sessions	All client sessions

 

The internship program begins September 10, 2010 and we ask for a 1 year firm commitment. We require that all interns have Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon open for Group Supervision, Process Group Training, but can be flexible most other hours in order to fit into everyone's personal schedules.

If you are interested in applying for an internship at our agency, please send a cover letter and cirriculum vitae by March 31, 2010 to:

Karen White ,
Intern Coordinator
Family Services of the North Shore
#101 - 255 West 1st Street
North Vancouver, BC V7M 3G8

Tel:604-988-5281
Email: kwhite@familyservices.bc.ca

In your cover letter, we would like for you to include information about any past counselling or related experience, specific intern position you are interested in (see above), and any other information that you would like for us to know.

Each year we receive a large number of applications for a limited number of spaces in our program. Consequently, many suitable applicants are not selected for admission. Only candidates who are prepared to spend a minimum of 12 months with the agency will be considered. Inteviews take place April 2010 and all candidates are advised within a few days of their acceptance into the program.

Accepted applicants will be required to provide a recent criminal check prior to starting their practicum. If applicants have additional questions not covered in this information, please contact Karen White at 604-988-5281 or email kwhite@familyservices.bc.ca

 

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Workshops

Family Services offers a variety of professional workshop to other professionals. Some of the trainings offered include:

Trauma Intervention with Women in Same-Sex Relationships Session I & II

Trauma intervention for women who have experienced violence in lesbian relationships need to take into account specific issues inherent in same-sex (sometimes referred to as same-gender) relationships. Language and diversity will be explored to assist service providers and therapists in doing this work as well as the impacts on therapists working with the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) populations. Understanding the complex dynamics that impact trauma recovery is essential for crisis intervention and longer-term therapy. Identifying the differences in heterosexual domestic violence and same-sex violence is essential for addressing the unique characteristics of traumatic stress for women who identify in this diverse population.

Working with Children’s Disclosures of Abuse

Working clinically with child abuse disclosures can be a challenging process for many clinical counselling and social work professionals. Interviewing a suspected child abuse victim in a clinical counselling setting carries the additional responsibility of knowing that the information obtained for assessment or treatment may result in child protection or legal proceedings. This workshop focuses on assisting clinicians gaining the essential understanding of their role and responsibilities, interviewing techniques, treatment issues, child development and the legal issues when working with this clinical issue.

For more information on these or other trainings available please call Julia Staub-French at 604.988.5281 local 222.

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