Clinical Internship Opportunities

Gain valuable real-life experience in a range of clinical settings. Interning at Columbia River Mental Health Services gives you comprehensive training at a high-level treatment facility.

We provide high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services. We offer community behavioral health options for children, youth, families and adults. As a Columbia River intern, you will be learning to treat the whole person. Our focus is on healthy families and a healthy community.

Our licensed clinical training staff will provide supervision as you work closely with our therapists, clinicians, and support personnel to master therapeutic skills in community behavioral health.

Internship Placement Options

We have opportunities for interns to work with clients from age 5 to 65+. When you apply, please specify which program would be your preferred placement: Adult Outpatient, Family Services, Adult Substance Use, or Nursing/Medical.

The mental health challenges our clients face range from mood disorders to serious and persistent mental illnesses. Assignments will be based on a mutual agreement between intern and supervisor to ensure a good fit with student’s skill level and professional goals.

Commitment: 10 to 20 hours per week, 6 months to 1 year

Training Experience

Throughout your internship, you’ll receive training and hands-on experience designed to strengthen your clinical skills and prepare you for professional practice. Training includes developing your theoretical orientation and case conceptualization skills, applying critical thinking when selecting appropriate interventions, and building a deeper understanding of professional ethics and boundaries.

You will be able to gain experience in individual, group and crisis intervention skills. We serve a diverse population including but not limited to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and culture, which may include working with interpreters.

You’ll also gain practical experience with caseload management, clinical documentation using an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, and coordinating care with both internal teams and outside providers.

Education Requirements

For a mental health internship, you must be currently enrolled in a Master’s degree program in counseling, social work, or a related field.

For Substance Use Disorders (SUD) internships, you must be working on an AA or BSA degree.

For nursing internships, you need to be currently enrolled in a nursing degree program.

Please email your résumé along with what type of internship you are interested in (Adult Outpatient, Family Services, Substance Use, Nursing/Medical) to: Rachel Madden at rachelm@crmhs.org.

Clinical Internships FAQ

Can I be a customer of CRMHS and an Intern?

Per CRMHS policies and procedures, CRMHS employees or volunteers desiring to receive services will not be admitted to or provided services in CRMHS programs to ensure successful therapeutic relationships and protection of Individual privacy. If a staff member or volunteer is seeking services within the agency, the staff member will be provided a list of other resources in the community and strongly encouraged to seek services at another agency.

What type of supervision will I be provided with and how often?

Individual supervision requirements for mental health interns is one hour per week, but students can also attend group supervision weekly if needed (CBT and/or DBT). SUD interns are supervised weekly for their first 50 hours or as directed by the approved clinical supervisor.