Master's Level Counseling / Social Work Intern

Lutheran Social Services of WI & Upper MI is looking for a Master's Level Counseling / Social Work Intern to work with children, adults and families in community settings. We meet with children, adults and families in community settings, including the home, school, or office to literally and figuratively meet the client where they are at. This position will primarily provide psycho-therapy and psycho-education using counseling skills and treatment practices to help clients overcome barriers related to substance abuse in addition to mental health disorders.

Internship hours are flexible based on school scheduling and do include occasional evening and weekend hours. LSS can be flexible to accommodate your schools practicum/internship requirements. The timeline for this internship is expected to be January 2026.

The Counseling Intern is a Limited Term Opportunity for students through structured intern programs at an accredited college/university and follows the guidelines of an agreement or learning plan. Under supervision, the Counseling Intern maintains a safe and therapeutic environment, while performing work involving the care and treatment of clients and other duties as required.

Essential Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide individual, couples, family, group and substance abuse psychotherapy services to clients, as guided by the Clinical Supervisor.
• Provides psychoeducation, skill building, wellness and/or therapeutic mentoring to children and adults
• Conduct formal assessment of client needs using clinical interview, objective diagnostic tools, and input from collateral contacts.
• Develop treatment plans collaboratively with clients and provide agreed upon and necessary therapeutic services in keeping with strength-based, evidence-based best practice standards.
• Maintain detailed clinical records and make recommendations concerning case disposition.
• Complete agency-required and billing-related phone calls, email, and paperwork work in a professional and timely manner.
• Adhere to high ethical, professional, and legal standards such as WI State Statutes, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Counsel on Accreditation, American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and National Association of Social Workers.
• Actively participate in clinical supervision meetings as required to meet best practice and licensure standards.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in training and quality improvement activities as required.
• Work a flexible weekly schedule that includes some evening and/or weekend hours for client appointments. The Counseling Intern works directly with Program Supervisor or Manager and Clinical Supervisor to set expectations for scheduling clients. The Counseling Intern determines own schedule based on client need.
• May serve as a representative of the agency to interested individuals, professionals, and community groups.
• May administer specialized programs within a community or the agency.
• May participate in program, business unit, or agency marketing efforts.
• May participate in speaking engagements of behalf of program, business unit, or agency.
• Travel to various locations for meetings, trainings, or to perform clinical responsibilities as needed. Travel will vary depending on case load.
• Performs other duties as required

Perks:

• Clinical Supervision and Consultation




• We offer a free, robust clinical supervision experience for any type of licensure that focuses not only on client needs, but employee development.




• Training




• LSS is focused on the continued growth of our employees and ensuring we provide high quality services.
• LSS employees are eligible for receiving internal as well as financial support for external trainings to support your growth and required Continuing Education (CEU) credits.




• Flexibility




• LSS is a family/employee-focused agency which values work-life balance.
• Employees can adjust their schedules to accommodate personal commitments by flexing their schedule or utilizing time off.
• Some programs have the option of working remotely.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Must have bachelor's degree in human services related field.

LSS approved examples of human service degrees include, but are not limited to the following:

• Child Development/Family Relations
• Community Mental Health
• Substance Use
• Counseling/Guidance
• Criminal Justice
• Marriage and Family
• Occupational Therapy
• Psychology
• Recreational Therapy
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• Social Worker
• Sociology
• Special Education
• Vocational Counseling
• Active enrollment in a Master's degree program in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or Marriage and Family Therapy is required. A written internship agreement between the educational institution and LSS is required. In addition:
• Ability to complete and display competency in all required trainings
• Knowledge of behavioral health diagnosis and evidence-based treatments.
• Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of selected mental health and behavioral conditions.
• Ability to respond to brief patient contacts, including via telephone and teleconferencing.
• Ability to design effective psycho-education and group curricula and lead effective classes and groups, under supervision of the Clinical Supervisor.
• Ability to work effectively in a team, interfacing with clients, primary care providers, collaterals, and colleagues, as well as administrative and support staff.
• Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations, making decisions, and to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
• Ability to effectively represent company interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among colleagues, public, private, and professional groups.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.
• High level of comfort in working with primary care medical providers using a consultative style.
• Have the ability to use patience, self-control and flexibility when required; have the ability to accept and follow through with direction; and possess the ability to recognize boundaries.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

The incumbent of this position must have a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation to perform the essential duties of the role; a motor vehicle check (MVR) with a satisfactory driving record per the LSS Driver Safety Procedure is required, and ability to meet LSS auto insurance requirements.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, write, analyze, and interpret written and verbal communication in order to successfully complete all required intervention and goal process documentation by established timeframes. Must write progress reports and clearly communicate to external customers the effectiveness of services. Ability to document in neat, legible, accurate, and objective manner and consistently reflect the services provided. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, employees, directors, and top management.

REASONING ABILITY:

This position will interact with all stakeholders of the Agency, both internal and external. This position will need to make decisions independently and with guidance, based on information provided. Reading, writing, math skills, problem solving, ability to accept/flow through with direction, recognize boundaries, creative team member who can suggest and implement strategies to enhance the service, patience, self-control and flexibility.

TECHNOLOGY:

Working knowledge of computers to allow employee to access computer systems and applications to complete timecards, read and respond to email, and complete required on-line training.

Able to use technology that is necessary to perform job responsibilities; use available technology effectively (voicemail, computer, printer, photocopier, fax and telephone, and various types of audio visual equipment).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes. Vision adequate to read correspondence, computer screen, forms, etc. Good manual dexterity. Mobility sufficient to access workplace. It may be necessary to climb stairs to access client homes.

The employee must react appropriately in times of crisis, which may include verbal and physical aggression from the people served and recognizing and taking appropriate action if signs of child or dependent adult abuse are present. Understands and is able to evaluate the potential for medical or behavioral emergency.

The employee of this position may provide therapy in client homes. The employee may be exposed to unsanitary household conditions and allergens. The incumbent will also be exposed to outdoor weather conditions when traveling on company business.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

TRAVEL: Ability to travel to and from locations in the area as required up to 25-50%, depending on program needs.

LSS is an Equal Opportunity employer (EOE).