Behavioral Health Internship

Must be able to complete internship between the hours of 8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center (FQHC ) that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing almost 300 caring and compassionate employees, our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

• Respect
• Integrity
• Accountability

We strive to demonstrate our Values in Action in all that we do. We value each individual on our team and aim to onboard a workforce of the very best talent, whose ambitions and values align with ours.

The Specialty Behavioral Health (SBH) Intern provides ongoing/episodic mental health treatment for a caseload of patients engaged in primary care at Unity Care NW under the supervision of a licensed clinical supervisor.
Primary Responsibilities and

Duties include:

1. Maintains and treats a caseload of patients:

a. Completes appropriate scheduling with regards to session length and session frequency for a caseload of 8-15 patients, based on clinical assessment and need.
b. Creates and utilizes treatment plans to guide treatment for patients including discharging when appropriate to support the flow of new referrals.
c. Maintains and tracks patient engagement, providing appropriate outreach and encouraging full participation in clinical treatment.

2. Provides Specialty Behavioral Health Counseling:

a. Evaluates, assesses, and diagnoses patients with qualifying mental health diagnoses following current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, Department of Health Washington Administrative Codes (WACs), and existing UCNW template structure with the support of designated clinical supervisor, as needed.
b. Provides risk assessments, safety/crisis planning, and coordination of care for patients when clinically indicated, involving clinical supervisor for support as needed in managing risks and crisis interventions.
c. Utilizes evidence-based practices and provides therapeutic interventions in an outpatient treatment setting.

3. Documents all patient contact and coordination of care:

a. Completes documentation adhering to UNCW’s Outpatient Mental Health Services Individual Treatment Services Standard 60.18b.

4. Collaborates and communicates effectively with all UCNW treatment teams and community resources/agencies as appropriate in treatment:

a. Refers patients to appropriate resources as clinically indicated.
b. Uses established communication methods to coordinate care with full health team at UCNW (e.g., Primary Care, Population Health, Psychiatry, Substance use).

5. Follows all internship contact requirements per student’s college/university learning contract with UCNW:
a. Meets for one‑on‑one supervision with identified clinical supervisor at UNCW, typically the Specialty Behavioral Health Counselor Lead, weekly for one hour and additionally as needed.
b. Meets with college/university clinical supervisor/advisor as needed/required.

• Must be enrolled in an accredited Mental Health Counselor, Marriage & Family Therapist or Social Work master’s program at the intern stage of their degree.
• Must have completed coursework in diagnostics and beginning counseling techniques acquired through practice or exposure to various conditions, beyond the formal knowledge (or on the job training), allowing intern to perform more advanced techniques.
• Possesses a growing level of BH clinical skills in the following areas: mental health assessments; direct individual therapy; organization and facilitation of psycho-educational and support groups; case management; and documentation of assessments and progress notes.
• Knowledge of the DSM-5 and how to use it in the assessment process.

• Possesses a growing level of the local community and private mental health and human services resources.
• Can provide…