Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Julie Hsu, MFT Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program

changing careers mid-life

and going back to graduate school to follow my dream of becoming a therapist was exciting and daunting at the same time. I was well aware of how impactful my first clinical placement would be, and how it would set the tone for my journey towards becoming a therapist. Therefore, I did a lot of diligence on various agencies, went to several interviews, but when it came down to my final decision I trusted my gut. I had walked out of my interview with ACS knowing that this was the right place for me to learn and grow, and I made my decision that same day.

Six months into the process, I am happy to report that my gut did not fail me. I could not be happier with my experience at ACS, and here are some of the reasons why:

1. Interns get to attend weekly didactic trainings at the Institute of Psychotherapy, where we are exposed to new topics and research, theoretical approaches and interventions, as well as impressive guest lecturers who are experts in their fields.
2. I personally feel like I hit the jackpot with my site. I am a therapist in the On-Campus Counseling Program at a local high school. Unlike many of my classmates at other sites, I have had a full, but very manageable caseload from the beginning and get to work with a diverse group of clients with a wide variety of mental health needs. Having a supervisor on site has been a great luxury. As a beginning therapist, I really appreciate having immediate access to support and supervision while not being micromanaged and having the space to grow as a therapist. Group supervision truly compliments our experience at our sites, and provides us with a different perspective, additional support and the opportunity to be exposed to an even broader range of clinical cases and learn from and collaborate with our peers.
3. My fellow interns have also been a huge asset. ACS attracts an impressive and very diverse group of interns, and being part of this group of talented people who are not only extremely passionate about this work, but also genuinely care about each other, has truly enriched my experience. We are in a field that often requires us to carry quite a heavy emotional load and having colleagues, supervisors and mentors who are ready to support you (or sometimes simply give you a hug) has made a huge difference.