Clinical internship faqS

All internships at Maria Droste span 10 months, starting in August and ending in May of the following year. We are unable to accommodate internships with shorter durations or different start and end dates.

Interns are expected to commit to 20 hours per week.

The size of our intern cohort varies each year depending on the needs of our programs. For the 2025-2026 cohort, we accepted about 12 interns.

Maria Droste is an approved field placement site for several graduate programs. If your program is not listed, you may still apply, but it must be cleared with our Clinical Director. Please email us at recruitment@mariadroste.org with your program’s anti-discrimination statement, an overview of your academic and clinical training, and a contact person from your program for consideration.

No, this is an unpaid internship; however, we provide stipends to all interns. Maria Droste Counseling Center is also an off-campus site eligible for Federal Work-Study funding. We are actively exploring additional compensation options for our graduate-level providers.

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program
• Commit to 20 hours per week
• Complete a 10-month internship (mid-August to June)
• Attend weekly individual supervision
• Be able to work independently
• Be mission-aligned and committed to personal growth
• Have completed a minimum of 6 counseling sessions (if applicable)
• Attend weekly training on Friday mornings from 8:30 am to noon
• Be available to schedule clients at least one evening per week (4–7 pm)
• Be able to respond to client emergencies as needed
• Complete all required clinical and agency paperwork, including billing
• Submit a minimum of two audio/video recordings

Internships at Maria Droste offer intensive, hands-on training in a real-world setting. Interns take on the role of therapists, working directly with clients, billing sessions, and completing documentation in accordance with Medicaid standards. These internships closely mirror actual therapy jobs and provide invaluable preparation for a career in mental health. Employers consistently express high satisfaction with Maria Droste interns, noting their extensive experience and strong foundational knowledge.

Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are currently closed. Please check back for future application dates or contact our Clinical Training team with questions about upcoming opportunities.

Our Clinical Internship Program is open to master’s- and doctoral-level students in counseling, social work, psychology, and related behavioral health programs, including students completing practicum or internship-level training.

MDCC office, telehealth, and community-based placements such as schools/community sites.

Weekly individual/group supervision, trainings, case consultation, etc.

Application → review → interview → offer/placement.