Join Our Intern Team

Accent Counseling is currently at capacity through June 2027.
Applications will start in January 2027.

Please note the application submission timelines in relation to your anticipated start date and apply within the application window.

Apply Jan 1-15, 2027 for a practicum/internship starting in July-October 2027

At Accent Counseling, we are committed to developing the next generation of compassionate, skilled mental health professionals. Our Clinical Internship Program offers graduate-level counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work students the opportunity to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in an outpatient private practice setting.

We believe internship should be more than collecting hours. It’s a time to develop your clinical identity, put what you’ve learned into practice, and build confidence in yourself as a therapist. Our program balances autonomy with support, giving interns space to grow while providing the guidance, mentorship, and community that come with being part of a group practice.

Throughout the internship experience, our goal is to help students bridge the gap between graduate education and professional practice and leave with a strong foundation for whatever comes next in their careers.

Please check out our FAQ’s below for more information.

Internship Program FAQs

We welcome applications from graduate students enrolled in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, or related mental health programs that require a clinical internship and/or practicum placement.

Interns have flexibility to set their own schedules based on their availability, academic requirements, and the needs of their caseload.

Our clinical internships are unpaid training positions. In return, we are committed to providing a supportive and meaningful learning experience, including dedicated supervision, mentorship, professional development, and hands-on clinical experience within a private practice setting. We recognize that an unpaid internship is a significant commitment and encourage students to consider their individual needs and circumstances when determining whether our program is the right fit.

Our outpatient practice serves clients across a wide range of ages, cultural and social backgrounds, and presenting concerns. Interns build their caseloads gradually with support from the Intern Development Team and work with their supervisor to assess clinical fit, scope of practice, experience level, clinical interests, and educational goals when considering prospective clients.

Only students enrolled in MFT programs may provide couples and family therapy as part of their internship.

As an outpatient mental health practice, clients who require a higher level of care are referred to appropriate services. This includes individuals with active substance use disorders, eating disorders requiring specialized treatment, or significant safety concerns that cannot be safely managed in an outpatient setting.

Yes. We encourage interns to develop their own clinical identity and practice in alignment with their education, theoretical orientation, and professional goals while receiving guidance from their supervisor.

Interns provide therapy, develop treatment plans, complete progress notes, maintain client records, participate in supervision and required meetings, and uphold ethical, legal, and HIPAA standards.

Yes. Interns may provide virtual therapy services as appropriate and receive training on the systems used to deliver telehealth care.

Yes. Interns may have opportunities to facilitate group therapy based on interest, client need, and academic program requirements.

Interns participate in weekly individual supervision and weekly intern meetings. Individual supervision provides personalized clinical guidance, case consultation, and professional development, while intern meetings offer a collaborative space to connect with peers, discuss challenges, share resources, and learn together.
Interns also participate in monthly all-staff meetings, providing opportunities to connect with the broader practice and participate in practice-wide discussions and trainings.

Yes. In addition to developing clinical skills, interns gain practical experience with the day-to-day systems involved in outpatient private practice. Interns learn to use SimplePractice, Google Workspace, and other tools for scheduling, client communication, documentation, telehealth, and practice operations.

Yes. Interns are responsible for tracking and reporting their direct, indirect, and supervision hours according to the requirements of their academic program and applicable licensing board guidelines.

Our program emphasizes mentorship, clinical growth, autonomy, and practical private practice experience. We aim to give interns the freedom to develop their own clinical identity while providing the supervision, structure, and community needed to feel supported along the way. Our goal is for interns to leave with greater confidence, meaningful clinical experience, and a strong foundation for their future careers as therapists.

Required Qualifications:

  • Enrolled in a Graduate-Level Counseling Master’s Program
  • Must live in Bellingham, WA or Whatcom County, WA.
  • Available for weekly group meetings on Wednesdays from 12 pm – 1 pm
  • In need of hours for graduation
  • Ability to do telehealth work
  • Ability to meet graduate program minimum hour requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Individuals open to working in multiple settings including in-office, virtual, and within a school
  • CACREP Program affiliation
  • Self-motivated
  • Consistent and good communicator
  • Prior experience working in a helping profession or similar field
  • Multilingual

Please note that Accent Counseling is unable to accept past or current clients in our Intern Program.

Have a question not answered here?

Please reach out to Accent’s Intern Coordinator, Sophia Taylor, at internrecruitment@accent-counseling.com for any internship questions.
Thank you!