Internships & Practicums

Graduate Internships and Practicums

Austin Child Guidance Center is one of the premier training sites in Austin for future mental health professionals and regularly accepts graduate students who are seeking professional experience as part of their degree program. We accept advanced graduate students in their final internship or practicum of their social work and professional counseling program. Capacity and needs within the agency may impact how many students we can accept. 

Due to the intense nature of the work at The Center and the demands of the placement, we do not currently offer undergraduate-level internships, although there are volunteer opportunities for undergraduate students who wish to gain more experience working with children and families. 

Qualifications for Applying

The minimum qualification before applying to The Center are: 

• Graduate level students in their final practicum/internships at an accredited university in Texas 
• Able to work in-person at least part-time 
• Able to start placement at the beginning of Fall semester  
• Able to commit to 15-20 hours/week for at least two semesters  
• Possess at least one course in family, individual OR group therapy  
• Previous work/practicum experience using psychotherapy skills  
• Coursework/work/personal experience related to children and adolescent development   

Bilingual language skills, including English/ Spanish, are not required BUT we encourage students with these skills to apply. These language skills assist ACGC in providing accessible services to children and their families with limited English proficiency.  

It should be noted that a placement at Austin Child Guidance Center is demanding; however, you will find the agency very supportive in terms of the supervision and training you will receive. It is recommended that you seek out other students who have completed placements at The Center to learn about their experiences before applying.    

Clinical Placements Available for Graduate Students

Currently, ACGC offers two clinical placements for students in their final year of graduate school.  

The Clinical Counseling Placement is an internship in which students provide walk-in, individual, family and group therapy to children and their families.  Students in the Clinical Counseling Placement will also gain experience providing intake and case management. 

The Infant & Early Childhood (IEC) Clinical Placement involves providing mental health consultations to childcare staff and parents at high-needs centers in Austin.  Additionally, students in the IEC Clinical Placement have a small caseload of walk-in, individual, family and group therapy clients.   

See the Student Internship/Practicum Overview Sheet below for more detailed information about the two placement opportunities. To be considered for an interview with ACGC, please email a Professional/Academic Resume, Cover Letter, and two professional recommendations to internships@austinchildguidance.org.