Internship Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in interning at The Refuge Center for Counseling.  It is our goal to ensure that every intern gets as much as possible out of their experience at The Refuge Center for Counseling—both personally and professionally. Our interns make connections, gain experience, participate in continuing education, receive supervision and support and do meaningful work!

We are currently accepting applications for FALL 2023 & SPRING 2024 practicums/internships. We have a three-step, pre-interview application process.  To submit your application and begin the process, please email your resume (or CV), along with the pre-interview questionnaire (available below) to Tina Taylor Goode, LPC-MHSP, Director of Intern Program, at tina.goode@therefugecenter.org

Click Here to begin your Intern Pre-Interview Application

Check out what some of our current and former interns have to say about their experience.

  • My experience as a Master’s-level Intern at The Refuge Center was the most valuable part of my Master’s degree training. The staff was professional, resourceful, and created an environment of open exchange that truly benefited the intern population. The office is highly organized with excellent training programs, additional educational resources, and easy to use forms and documentation necessary to build effective client files.

    I had the opportunity to work with clients suffering from a wide range of issues including; anxiety and depression, personality disorders, relationship issues, trauma recovery, and attachment disorders. Given the high volume of clients who receive services from The Refuge Center, I was able to complete over 700 hours of practicum and internship time in only 2 semesters. In addition to a case load of 10-12 clients, I was also given the opportunity to co-lead multiple psycho-educational and process groups—an invaluable experience.

    The supervision I received encouraged and supported me while opening my eyes to new treatment modalities and theoretical approaches. My experience at The Refuge Center was both professionally and personally edifying and I highly recommend them as a practicum/internship site.

    Sara Cook, MA

  • I have been a Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy Intern since January 2013 and could not imagine completing my internship elsewhere. In my time at Refuge, I have experienced learning, support and both personal and professional growth as I could never have imagined. The Refuge Center has and continues to provide me with an environment of support, understanding and encouragement as I walk my journey as a therapist in training. The opportunities such as working with a diverse cliental, specialized trainings, supervision and an open door policy for question asking have enabled me to acquire understanding and knowledge far beyond what I could have imagined having before even beginning my career. No matter where the road of life takes me in my journey as a Marriage and Family Therapist, The Refuge Center for Counseling has played a vital role in enabling me to feel prepared to step out on my own and has nurtured my desire to provide the highest quality services, with empathy, hope and respect to all those I come in contact with.

    Jen Rainey, M.T.S

  • My experience as an intern was excellent. The Refuge Center was very professional, and the training was above and beyond. The Refuge Center afforded me the opportunity to get as much training as I put into it. The Refuge Center set into place so many tools I use on a daily basis such as EMDR. If I did it all over again, I would go straight back to The Refuge Center.

    James Trone

  • My practicum and internship experience with The Refuge Center was just that: a refuge. I was welcomed with open arms by both the talented staff and outstanding interns in a way that I believe is unique to Refuge. I was encouraged to challenge myself professionally and personally; learning more and more each day. The Refuge Center is a gift both to the community it serves and to those who serve it.

    Mary Liza Bartholomew

  • I came to The Refuge Center to complete my practicum experience from Trevecca Nazarene University. I knew in my heart this was the site I wanted before all others. I favored their vision, goals and the services they not only provided to their clients but to the interns as well. I wanted a place that would allow me to grow as a therapist through extensive continuing education outside of my university education, personal growth work, mentoring, and exposure to a diverse population that would allow me to experience and choose what is best for me as a therapist. At the start of my journey with them, I was given a population to work with that I vowed I would never work with due to my past personal experiences, but with the immense support from my supervisors at The Refuge Center, I was able to realize that I enjoyed working with the population and learned more than I ever thought I would learn about therapy and myself. I am so very thankful for my year at The Refuge Center and the continuous support I still maintain from them. I am truly thankful for all that they gave me professionally and personally. The Refuge Center has made me the therapist I am today and taught me to continually work at being better.

    Sheila Marczak, MMFT

Intern/Practicum Pre-Interview Questionnaire

    First and Last Name

    Email Address

    Where are you enrolled in school?

    Are? Were you involved in any extra-curricular activities?

    How did you get along with your classmates and teachers / professors?

    Are you currently employed?

    If yes, where at and what kind of work?

    Do you enjoy your present work situation?

    YesNo

    Do you have any special Job skills or training

    How well do you get along with your boss / supervisor?

    How well do you get along with your co-workers?

    Do you have any problems with being late or absent to work?

    Have you ever been fired from a job before?

    Previous Related Jobs or volunteer experience

    Have you ever received services from The Refuge Center before?

    What relationships have the greatest influence in your life right now?

    Has there been an event in your life (either positive or negative) which was so intense that it permanently affected your outlook on life? (If yes, please describe briefly)

    What beliefs or values have been most important in guiding your life?

    What feelings or emotions do you have when you think of God; is there any particular image that comes to mind?

    Is your faith / spirituality helpful to you?

    Is there anything you do to help nurture or maintain your faith / spirituality?

    What role(s) did you play in your family of origin?

    Talk about your primary and secondary responses to feedback: fight, flight or embrace?

    How do you inspire trust from the people you are serving?

    How would you define compassionate care?

    Provide examples of times you demonstrated diligence, compassion, courage, commitment, and perseverance.

    Please answer the following questions in 1-3 sentences.

    How did you hear about The Refuge Center and what interested you about our agency?

    How would you define clinical excellence?

    What Types of therapy are you most interested in?

    What population do you see yourself working most with?

    What is your experience with that population?

    What is your schedule availability / flexibility?

    What types of continuing education opportunities do you engage in?

    Review the following case examples and write a treatment plan outline that you would follow based on the client presentation.

    Case Example 1:

    A 35 year old female comes to the initial session complaining of physical aches and pains the doctors cannot explain. She states that her doctor recommended she come to a therapist. She explains that she has had several instances of shortness of breath and feeling like she was going to die. She also complains of having difficulty sleeping. She has been married for 10 years to the same man and has 3 children. Throughout the session she glances toward the door frequently and is easily startled by noises coming from the hallway. Her symptoms checklist also includes persistent worry, guilt, fatigue, and nightmares. When you ask the client if it is okay to contact her at home, she immediately tightens in the chair and asks if no one contact her but if it is okay for her to contact the agency as needed.

    Case Example 2:

    A mother calls for her 8 year old son who is having behavior problems at school. The boy has had a decline in his grades over the last several months and is constantly getting in trouble in the classroom for small disruptions like talking when he is not supposed too, getting out of his seat, and disturbing those around him with noises in class. The mother states he has been showing some aggression at home with his siblings, and has been refusing to follow directions and do his chores. The mother states that the client’s father is not involved in the child’s life. She was married a year ago to a man with whom she has a 4 year old. The mother states that her husband is the only father the 8 year old has ever known. The mother mentioned that her and her husband differ on discipline and argue often when it comes to the 8 year olds behavior.

    ×