Should Therapy Interns Complete a Double Internship?

When to Consider a Dual Clinical Internship (Yes, a Double Therapy Internship with 2 Placements at Once!): A Guide for Counselor and Therapist Interns

A therapist's or counselor's internship is a crucial component of their career path since it provides them with practical experience, exposure to a range of clientele, and the ability to put their academic knowledge to use in authentic settings. Still, as an intern, you might be wondering if your current placement is giving you the breadth and depth of experience you will need to succeed in your career. This article will help you take stock of your situation and decide if it might be time to seek a double (or second), concurrent therapy internship.

Evaluating Your Current Internship Experience

To decide whether to go for a second internship, you must first assess your existing experience objectively and carefully. The primary question is, are you gaining the knowledge and abilities that will advance your career?

Assessing Learning Opportunities: 

An internship's main goal is to close the knowledge gap between academic study and real-world application. You can figure out whether this goal is being met by your present internship by considering the following questions: Do you actively participate in treatment planning, case management, and providing direct client care? Are you picking up new therapies and therapeutic approaches? It may be time to look for other options that offer practical experience if your internship is more observational than hands-on.

Clinical Exposure Opportunities: 

The kind of clinical exposure your current internship provides is another important consideration. At this point in your career, a wide range of clinical experience is extremely valuable. Your adaptability as a clinician is improved by working in a variety of venues, such as community centers, hospitals, or outpatient clinics, and with a range of demographics, including adults, children, and families. Your progress may be restricted if your current internship has a limited scope, such as working only with a certain population or employing a single therapy technique. You might get the variety you need to develop a well-rounded skill set via a second internship.

Supervision and Mentorship: 

You must have excellent supervision if you want to advance as a clinician. Good supervisors support you in navigating challenging cases, give constructive criticism, and help you develop your clinical decision-making abilities in addition to monitoring your performance. A second internship with a different supervising style might be helpful if you believe that your current supervision is shallow or does not foster your professional development. As important to your long-term career as internships is mentoring, which frequently lasts longer. A mentor who makes an investment in your growth can provide direction and networking opportunities that will have a big impact on your future profession.

Signs You Might Need a Second Internship

If your current internship isn’t fully meeting your needs, it may be time to think about adding a second one. Here are some signs that a second internship could be beneficial to you:

Limited Clinical Hours: 

To complete their degree or obtain the necessary clinical hours for licensure, interns frequently look for a second placement. You run the danger of delaying the attainment of your professional credentials if your present internship is not offering enough hours. In certain situations, a second internship can assist you in more effectively fulfilling these criteria and ensuring that you graduate and obtain your license on time.

Narrow Focus or Specialization: 

Gaining a wide variety of experiences early in your career is just as vital as honing in on a certain area of expertise. If the focus of your current internship is quite narrow, such as on teenagers or a certain therapeutic technique like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), you may be missing out on opportunities to learn that could help you become a more flexible and adaptive clinician. By exposing you to various client populations, environments, and treatment modalities during a second internship, you can improve your clinical practice and your employability in the future.

Stalled Professional Growth: 

Even in a well-run internship, you may occasionally feel as though your career progress has stopped. This can occur if you are not being exposed to novel cases or if you are not picking up new skills. If you discover that your development has stopped, taking on a second internship could provide you with new challenges and educational chances to rekindle your passion and improve your abilities.

Networking and Career Opportunities: 

Building professional networks and getting experience are two other benefits of internships. Various internships broaden your network and provide you access to a variety of professions, which may lead to future employment prospects. A second internship could expand your professional contacts and lead to future job offers, collaborations, mentorship, or other opportunities if your current internship does not provide much in the way of networking opportunities or if the network is restricted to a certain field.

How to Choose the Right Second Internship

If you decide that a second internship is the right move for you, it’s important to choose one that enhances your current experience, and not one that replaces or duplicates it.

Complementary Experience: 

Look for an internship that provides fresh possibilities for learning. Consider applying for an internship at a hospital or community mental health center, for instance, if you presently work in an outpatient setting. Seek out options including group therapy, family counseling, or crisis intervention if your current focus is on individual therapy. Diversifying your experiences is an intentional strategic move to help you become a clinician with a wide range of skills and a well-rounded background, and improve the trajectory of your career.

Aligning with Long-Term Goals: 

Examine how a second internship would fit into your long-term professional objectives. Select an internship that offers appropriate experience if you want to specialize in a certain field, such as trauma-informed care or substance use disorder treatment. Acquiring proficiency in your preferred niche now can enhance your prospects of landing specialized jobs later on.

Quality of Supervision: 

Your second internship's supervision should be at a minimum of the same caliber as your first internship. Find out how prospective supervisors mentor interns during the interview process. Will they be giving you feedback on a regular basis? Do they aid in the advancement of your career? Your internship experience and professional path may be greatly impacted by a supervisor who is interested in your development.

Conclusion

Making the significant choice to accept a second internship might have a large impact on your career trajectory. You can make a wise choice that advances your career by closely assessing your present internship experience and identifying any warning indications that you might require more opportunities. Remember that the goal is to gain a variety of experiences that will fulfill your short-term requirements as well as your long-term goals of becoming a counselor or therapist. Your internships can provide a solid basis for a successful and satisfying career as a therapy clinician if these internship experiences are planned carefully and strategically.