Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Briana Rodriguez, ACS Trainee & Psy.D. Student, ACS’ On-Campus Counseling Program

Hello to whoever is reading this! 

My name is Briana Rodriguez and I am a third year doctoral trainee at Adolescent Counseling Services. I began working at ACS this year and will be here for one year as part of my training. I was originally drawn to this agency because of its focus on adolescents and their devotion to the community’s mental health. My initial inclinations could not have been more appropriate because I have been able to witness all of these things and more as an intern.

As an intern, we are each placed into different programs. I was placed in the On-Campus Counseling Program, which offers free mental health services in a school setting. I currently work at Oxford Day Academy (ODA) and the East Palo Alto Boys and Girls Club. I love both of these settings because I get to interact with kids in the community, and I get so much joy out of interacting with adolescents. I especially love working with my clients whose personalities bring me happiness and whose stories remind me every day of why I want to become a psychologist.

If I were to share any advice to interns or trainees like me who are thinking about applying to a practicum placement at ACS, I would say that any negative experiences you may have on the job will be completely outweighed by the positive, heartwarming moments you experience when you know you’re helping one of your clients work through a problem and change their life for the better.

Since this is a season for giving thanks, I am thankful to all my clients and for the wonderful staff at ACS. I can’t wait to learn more and grow through this training process. Feliz día de acción de gracias! (i.e. Happy Thanksgiving) 🙂