Masters Level Clinical Counseling Internship​

Internship Overview

• Clinic Locations (100% On-Site Placements): Glenwood, MN | Duluth, MN | Morris, MN

• Supported Degree Tracks: Marriage & Family Therapy (LAMFT / LMFT), Clinical Counseling (LPC / LPCC), Clinical Social Work (LGSW / LICSW)

• Licensure Boards: Minnesota and South Dakota

• Available Clinical Supervisors: Board-approved LMFTs and LPCCs

• Client Population: Individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan (ages 6+)

• Weekly Commitment: 20–25 hours per week

• Regular Operating Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (clinicians set their own schedules)

• Admissions: Rolling admissions (6–8 week review window)

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Program Overview

If you are a graduate student seeking a rigorous, supportive placement to complete your clinical internship, North Country Counseling provides hands-on training opportunities at our Glenwood, Duluth, and Morris clinics. Graduate student interns are integral to our mission: preparing future generations of phenomenal, grounded therapists who understand how to deliver effective, culturally competent care.

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Interns at North Country Counseling develop clinical judgment through direct client contact, intensive supervision, team collaboration, and deep self-of-the-therapist reflection. We emphasize relationship-building across the entire clinical ecosystem—between interns and staff, with the broader community, and with the clients we serve.

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Locations & Supported Clinical Tracks

We offer clinical placements across three physical practice locations:

• Glenwood, Minnesota

• Duluth, Minnesota

• Morris, Minnesota

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Our program is structured to support Master's-level students pursuing clinical licensure in Minnesota and South Dakota across three core mental health tracks:

• Marriage & Family Therapy: LAMFT / LMFT

• Clinical Counseling: LPC / LPCC

• Clinical Social Work: LGSW / LICSW

(Note: Clinical supervision on-site is provided by licensed, board-approved LMFTs and LPCCs.)

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Core Clinical Experience & Skill Development

• Progressive Clinical Caseload: Interns build toward seeing clients independently after completing a mandatory 40-hour shadowing and observation foundation.

• Comprehensive Modalities: Direct practice delivering individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy to clients aged 6 and older.

• Group Therapy Development: Opportunities to design, launch, and facilitate clinical groups.

• Clinical Specialization: Access to clinical mentors with diverse specializations, including eating disorder treatments and lifespan developmental modalities.

• EHR & Documentation Competency: Structured instruction and practical application in Electronic Health Record (EHR) navigation, Diagnostic Assessments (DA), evidence-based Treatment Plans, Progress Notes, Clinical Care Coordination, Case Management, and Discharge Summaries.

• Cultural Competency & Systemic Awareness: Dedicated exploration of how race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality, ability, and systemic dynamics intersect with therapeutic practice. Interns participate in continuous dialogue and reflection on these dynamics in supervision.

• Personal Theoretical Orientation & Self-of-the-Therapist: Intentional guidance to help you identify and hone your personal theoretical framework. Because personal histories directly influence clinical presence, our team cultivates a safe, challenging environment where interns examine the internal processes that arise during clinical care.

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Internship Requirements​

• Academic Status: Current enrollment in an accredited Master’s-level clinical counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical social work program leading to LPC, LPCC, LICSW, or LMFT licensure in Minnesota or South Dakota.

• Degree Credit: Placements must fulfill formal academic credit requirements through your graduate institution. Practicum hours are offered exclusively to students who will also complete their full internship with North Country Counseling.

• Caseload Scope: Willingness and academic readiness to provide clinical services across the lifespan (children ages 6+,adolescents, adults, couples, and family systems).

• Schedule Availability: Ability to fulfill on-site weekly hour requirements and maintain scheduling flexibility during our operating days.

• Candidate Competencies: Candidates should demonstrate resourcefulness, professional adaptability, and a grounded understanding of cultural diversity within the therapeutic relationship.​​​

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Internship Placement Commitment & Structure

Weekly Schedule & On-Site Attendance

• Weekly Commitment: Expected minimum of 20–25 hours per week combining direct client contact, shadowing/co-therapy, documentation,  administrative tasks, and supervision.

• 100% On-Site Requirement: All clinical and administrative hours must be completed on-site at your assigned clinic (Glenwood, Duluth, or Morris). Remote or hybrid direct-care hours are not available.

• Hours of Operation: Interns coordinate set weekly on-site schedules with their supervisor within business hours (Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM). Direct client hours depend on supervisor availability.

• Outside Employment Advisory: We strongly recommend that interns do not maintain outside employment during their placement, as we cannot adjust clinical schedules to accommodate external work commitments. If outside employment is necessary, your internship schedule must take precedence, and external employment must remain flexible.

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Phased Onboarding & Shadowing Model

Every internship follows a structured progression to ensure clinical readiness and client safety:

1. Administrative Onboarding: Completion of statutory background checks, onboarding paperwork, practice policies and procedures, and all mandated Department of Human Services (DHS) and payer compliance trainings.

2. Clinical Shadowing: Interns observe experienced clinicians from Monday – Thursday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Shadowing sessions are scheduled flexibly and sporadically based on client consent. Required benchmarks include:

   • Shadowing a minimum of one Diagnostic Assessment (DA).

   • Shadowing at least one adult clinical session and one minor (child/adolescent) session.

   • Obtaining a minimum of 40 shadow hours

3. EHR & Clinical Documentation Training: Completed following the initial shadowing milestones

4. Independent Practice: Upon demonstrating clinical readiness and receiving supervisor approval, interns begin carrying their own caseload for independent clinical care.

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Clinical Supervision & Group Consultation

Supervision hours combine on-site and structured virtual team meetings:

• Group Consultation: Biweekly on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (held virtually via Google Meet; attendance required).

• Group Supervision: Biweekly on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (held virtually via Google Meet; attendance required).

• Individual Supervision: One hour of weekly direct individual supervision scheduled by your site supervisor based upon their availability.

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Community Engagement

Interns are required to plan, coordinate, and attend a minimum of one monthly expo, community tabling event, or local networking initiative to develop outreach skills, understand local referral ecosystems, and expand professional networks.

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Application & Selection Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for placements at our Glenwood, Duluth, and Morris offices, subject to supervisor capacity and office availability.

1. Online Application: Complete all sections of the online application

2. Round 1 — Initial Interview: Preliminary screening and program alignment interview with the Internship Site Director.

3. Clinical Documentation Submissions: Following successful completion of Round 1, applicants must submit de-identified clinical writing samples—including a sample Diagnostic Assessment (DA) and Treatment Plan—prior to moving forward.

4. Round 2 — Clinical Supervisor Interview: An in-depth clinical interview with prospective site supervisors.

5. Round 3 — Executive Interview: Final interview with North Country Counseling practice leadership.

6. Decision Notification: The complete review and multi-stage interview process typically takes 6–8 weeks from application receipt to final notification.

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Background & Regulatory Clearances

All placement offers are strictly contingent upon the successful completion of reference checks and statutory background investigations, including those mandated under the Minnesota Sexual Exploitation Act (requiring contact with employers from at least the past five years). Interns must maintain full compliance with Minnesota statutes and HIPAA data privacy regulations; failure to pass background screenings or adhere to privacy standards will result in immediate termination of the placement.

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Inquiries & Contact Information

For questions regarding site availability, university affiliation agreements, or application requirements:

Cassandra Brix, Internship Site Director

Email: cassandra@northcountrycounseling.net

Phone: 320.223.2382

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