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The Focus on the Family Internship Program provides valuable experience, professional and spiritual development, and lasting friendships for over 30 college upperclassmen each summer. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Focus on the Family has nearly 700 employees who work to achieve the mission of enriching the lives of families, engaging the culture, advocating for life and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The work is meaningful, the culture is rewarding, and the purpose is eternal.

Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored (FOTF HR) Marriage Intensive program provides intensive therapy to couples in 2 primary ways—group therapy or a one-couple therapy experience. The therapy is provided at FOTF retreat centers and is guided by Focus Marital Therapy (FMT) delivered in a multi-hour, multi-day format. FMT is a faith-based, integrative approach to treating couples. The environment is all-inclusive providing lodging, meals, and therapy to the couples. Sites include: Branson, MO; Rome, GA; Greenville, MI; Cave Creek, AZ; Wimberley, TX.

General Purpose/Summary Statement:

The Graduate Intern/Practicum Student position is an unpaid, training and learning opportunity based on a student’s level of training/experience and school requirements, as well as the needs of FOTF HR. This role exists to support graduate students in experiencing direct and/or indirect services in therapy with couples as part of their becoming professionals. Direct services may include providing co-therapy in one-couple Intensives to married couples in distress. This position also provides non-direct services including observations, training, attending meetings, involvement in ministry projects and/or other learning opportunities. FOTF HR will make every attempt to meet the student and graduate school needs for the required training.

Time Commitment : To be determined by the specific needs of the intern applicant and FOTF HR specific site.  The goal is to reach a mutually rewarding time agreement for both the intern and FOTF HR site.

Supervision : FOTF HR Site Clinical Director or designated supervisor

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

The Graduate Intern/Practicum student may engage in any of the following depending on graduate program requirements:

• Observe at minimum 1 group Intensive

• Engage in one-couple Intensives as co-therapist trainee

• Participate as 3rd “chair” trainee in group Intensive

• Review relevant files in preparation for Intensives

• Complete appropriate progress and other notes

• Join in therapeutic processing with therapist(s)

• Participate in weekly supervision with onsite supervisor

• Attend monthly clinical team meetings and didactics

• Read or view relevant training materials (books, articles, videos, etc.)

• Complete training workshops to learn and teach the Focus Marital Therapy model

• Complete training workshops related to providing therapy to couples in an intensive format

                                                                       

    The Graduate Practicum Student/Intern will be provided opportunities to:

• Learn, grow, and apply theory and therapeutic strategies

• Gain experience in co-therapy

• Use various assessments and other relevant information to form diagnostic impressions

• Generate treatment plans

• Engage in therapeutic rationale and strategy discussions

• Jointly participate in planning and pacing therapeutic intervention

• Challenge personal beliefs and theory

• Apply confidentiality standards

• Integrate Christian faith and professional practice

• Learn the theory, principles, and tools of FMT

  Graduate Intern/Practicum Student Qualifications :

• Character/Spiritual

• Agrees to the Focus on the Family Statement of Faith

• Aligns with FOF core values

• Strong Christian faith expressed in daily behaviors

• Personal Characteristics:

• Punctual, dependable, responsible

• Mature and responsive

• Warm, kind, helpful, sensitive, and firm or directive presence as appropriate

• Willingness to work in a co-therapy setting

• Has strong if imperfect relationships

• Teachable/open to critical feedback

• Intent to pursue career in therapy

• Willingness to self-disclose when appropriate

• Knowledge/Experience:

• Earning a Master’s or Doctorate degree

• Some understanding of the integrative process as it relates to faith and practice

• General grasp of scripture as it relates to counseling

• Relevant life experience

• Skills, Abilities, and Special Talents/Gifts:

• Able to engage in basic rapport building with clients

• Demonstrates aptitude for understanding and applying theoretical knowledge to clients and the therapeutic situation

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

• Counseling skills integrated with Biblical values

• Willing to self-exam, learn, and grow

Helping Families Thrive! Focus on the Family is a 501c3 Christian Non-Profit Ministry.