Behavioral Health Counselor Trainee Practicum and Internship Program

Our faculty includes licensed professional clinical counselors with supervisory designation. 

Are counselor trainees paid?

Yes! As of January 2025, counselor trainees will be compensated for their training time in their placement.

Do you accept students from fully online programs?

No. As of fall 2025, students must be enrolled in an in-person or hybrid program.

How many trainees are accepted each semester?

The number of accepted trainees varies based on available clinic placement and appropriate fit.

What is the interview process like?

Once an application is complete, applicants will be contacted to schedule a virtual interview with the program directors and other available site supervisors. This is an opportunity for us to get to know you and consider which available program would be appropriate for placement. This is also an opportunity for the applicant to ask questions about Nationwide Children’s Hospital, our programs, services and the training process.

When will I know if I have been accepted?

After all interviews have been completed, applicants will be contacted by email with the status of their placement acceptance.

What happens after I have been accepted?

After acceptance to the Counselor Trainee Program, students will be assigned an LPCC-S and home clinic. Trainees will then work with their supervisor to determine the start date and schedule for the semester. Trainees will receive further communication with additional instructions on requirements for onboarding.

Will my placement site meet my school requirements for direct hours?

The Counselor Trainee Program adheres to CACREP standards and will work with trainees to provide adequate opportunity to meet both direct and indirect hours.

Will my placement site work around my class schedule?

Trainees will work with their site supervisor to coordinate their weekly schedule. Trainee's class schedules, work schedules, and other pre-existing commitments should be shared at the time of application/interviews and with site supervisors to plan accordingly.

Is there weekend availability to complete internship hours?

No. Depending on the home clinic placement, schedules are generally arranged between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Trainees are expected to engage in on-site training multiple days per week. Many of our programs provide clinical services in the evenings M-TH, and may require students to have at least 1 evening available to complete training hours.

Do interns have to stay with the same program for the practicum and internship?

Yes, trainees are assigned to their home clinic for completion of both their practicum and internship.

Will I get to learn about different programs at Nationwide Children’s during my placement?

While trainees are assigned to a home clinic, there are opportunities to learn about other clinics within behavioral health through shadowing/observation and learning collaboratives. Trainees’ site supervisors will arrange shadowing opportunities based on their interests and the availability of programs.

When do I start seeing clients?

Trainees will have opportunities to co-facilitate therapy groups and/or sessions during their practicum. Trainees will typically begin seeing clients independently during their internship. This will depend on the trainees’ home clinic structure, the services provided, and individual development.

Will shadowing/observation count for direct hours?

Our shadowing/observation experiences are created in alignment with CACREP standards. While trainees will be primarily observing during shadowing experiences, they will still be included in sessions. These experiences will allow trainees to build clinical skills in preparation for delivering services independently throughout their internship. The site supervisor will identify the opportunities in the trainees’ clinic that will count for direct hours.

Can I still apply for the internship if I completed a practicum somewhere else?

Counselor trainees are required to commit to three semesters of placement. Students may choose to repeat their practicum, or complete their internship over three semesters.

Can I extend my internship for another semester?

Yes. Opportunities to extend internships for an additional semester are available.

Can I complete my hours virtually?

Trainees are expected to be on-site for the majority of their placement. Some seminars and trainings are offered virtually, and the use of telehealth in patient care varies by program. Trainees will work with their site supervisor to determine when virtual participation is appropriate.

Will my placement site accommodate my school breaks (i.e. spring break, winter break)?

Trainees will work with their site supervisor to identify appropriate coverage for clinical care during school breaks. If breaks are longer than 2 weeks at a time, trainees may be expected to complete internship hours during that break for the purposes of maintaining clinical care. Coverage needs will vary and be specific to the clinic you are assigned. Trainees should discuss scheduled breaks with their site supervisor upon initial placement.

Counselor Trainees will be compensated for their training time in their placement. Students may be given the option to opt in to certain hospital benefits. More information will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

Click here to complete the online application. Completed applications will require an attached resume/CV

Applicants will be contacted by a member of the Counselor Trainee Program regarding next steps. Applicants selected to move forward in the process will be scheduled for an interview following the application deadline. Placement decisions will be determined upon completion of all interviews.

Application Deadlines

• Spring Semester: October 1
• Summer Semester: March 1

For more information, please contact CounselorTraineeProgram@NationwideChildrens.org.