Each week, about 130 volunteers help provide services to PACN clients, often meeting with individuals and couples to discuss pregnancy, sexual health, relationships and other concerns. Sometimes, clients benefit from more in-depth counseling than what our trained peer consultants can address in one or two appointments. We match them up for regular counseling sessions with Master’s-level student interns pursing certification as professional counselors from local universities.
For women and men dealing with abuse, addiction, anger management or anxiety issues, an unplanned pregnancy or positive STD test result can feel like a crisis. Our counseling interns help them process these feelings, develop healthy life skills and strengthen relationships. Typically clients meet with counseling interns for six sessions, but individual circumstances may require more – or even fewer – appointments, depending upon the client’s situation.
Not only does this help guarantee even better outcomes for PACN clients, but it also allows interns to earn credit toward a counseling degree and put into practice skills from the classroom. Students are carefully supervised by a local licensed professional counselor to ensure clients are getting the very best care. Like all of PACN’s programs, appointments with counseling interns are offered at no cost to clients.
If you’re a Master’s-level counseling intern in need of practicum or internship credit, contact PACN to find out about our counselor-in-training program.