Location & Practice Overview

The internship is based at Skill Sprout’s Springfield clinic, an outpatient setting that delivers educational, behavioral, and rehabilitative supports to families across central Illinois.

Facility Type Pediatric outpatient clinic
Care Model Family-centered, individualized plans of care
Department Focus Mental health services integrated with behavioral programming
Location Springfield, Illinois

Responsibilities

  • Deliver direct therapeutic services to clients under clinical supervision
  • Conduct intake interviews, screenings, and mental health assessments as assigned
  • Collect session data, prepare materials, document activities, and support case coordination
  • Lead structured support and training groups for parents, siblings, and peer participants
  • Assist with staff training, create educational or outreach materials, and help manage volunteer program logistics in an assigned region
  • Communicate with families, greet clients during peak hours, and handle assigned administrative tasks

Daily work blends client-facing intervention with contributions to program development and family support activities.

Qualifications & Requirements

Applicants must be current graduate students who meet the academic and practical criteria below.

Degree Status
Actively enrolled in a Master’s program in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or a closely related field
GPA
Minimum 3.0
Preferred Background
Experience supporting children with disabilities; work with typically developing children also considered
Skills
Strong writing, clear interpersonal communication, and comfort with Microsoft Office and new software platforms
Scheduling Readiness
Willingness to work evenings or weekends when needed and to maintain service hours during academic breaks

Compensation & Benefits

This is an unpaid graduate internship. The primary value is structured, supervised clinical experience rather than financial compensation.

  • Unpaid / volunteer-based position
  • Direct supervision by a Master’s-level or clinically licensed clinician
  • Hands-on exposure to both therapeutic work and program-building activities

Schedule & Work Environment

Status Part-time internship
Flexibility Hours adjust to client and organizational needs
Evenings & Weekends May be required
Academic Breaks Direct service hours continue during Christmas break, Spring Break, and similar periods
Primary Environment Onsite clinic with regular family interaction during peak times

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

Interns support children, adolescents, and their families who receive behavioral and rehabilitative services.

Age Group Pediatric clients from early childhood through adolescence
Needs Profile Wide range of developmental, behavioral, and adaptive needs
Family Role Active involvement of parents, caregivers, and siblings
Setting Outpatient clinic with group and individual service pathways

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The role centers on supervised behavioral and mental health supports that emphasize skill-building and family engagement.

Therapeutic Services Individual, family, and group counseling alongside social-skill focused intervention
Behavioral Integration Collaboration within Applied Behavior Analysis frameworks
Assessment Activities Clinical intakes, free screenings, and targeted mental health evaluations
Group Programming Development and facilitation of caregiver and peer-oriented groups

Role Highlights

This placement differs from purely clinical practicums through its mix of service delivery and organizational contributions.

  • Balanced scope that includes both direct client work and leadership of structured family or peer groups
  • Opportunity to support volunteer program coordination and resource development for the department
  • Expectation of continuity across academic calendar breaks rather than a semester-limited schedule
  • Exposure to both therapeutic practice and practical program-growth tasks under licensed supervision

About Skill Sprout

Skill Sprout was founded in 2009 and provides educational, behavioral, and rehabilitative services to pediatric clients from birth through age 21. The organization operates clinic-based and in-home programs with a family-centered approach. Its Springfield location supports local families seeking individualized behavioral and developmental care.

Founded 2009
Core Focus Pediatric behavioral and rehabilitative services
Service Approach Family-centered, individualized plans of care
Client Age Range Birth through 21 years
Springfield Site 2035 W Iles Ave, Suite C

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a paid internship?
No. The position is volunteer-based and unpaid. Its value lies in supervised clinical experience and program involvement.
Who supervises the intern?
The intern reports directly to an assigned Master’s-level or clinically licensed supervising clinician.
What does the weekly schedule look like?
The internship is part-time with hours that may include evenings or weekends. Direct service continues during school breaks such as Christmas and Spring Break.
Does the role include only therapy sessions?
No. In addition to direct services, interns help lead support groups, assist with volunteer coordination, create materials, and handle family communication and administrative tasks.
What experience is preferred?
Prior work with children who have disabilities is preferred. Experience with typically developing children is also accepted. Strong writing and interpersonal skills are required.
How should I apply?
Submit your application through the Apply button on this page. The employer also maintains an internship application process on its own careers site.

Mental Health Internship (Master's Level) in Springfield, IL

Skill Sprout offers a part-time, unpaid Mental Health Internship in Springfield, Illinois for graduate students pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or a related field. Interns provide supervised therapeutic services that may include counseling and social-skill focused work, conduct intakes and assessments, collect data, and contribute to family support groups and program activities. The placement requires availability for evenings or weekends when needed and continuity of direct service during academic breaks. Candidates should hold a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate strong communication and writing skills, and ideally bring experience with children who have developmental or behavioral needs. Supervision is provided by a Master’s-level or licensed clinician. This Springfield clinic role gives Master’s candidates practical exposure to both client care and the operational side of a pediatric behavioral services organization. Interested students can apply directly through this listing to explore whether the placement aligns with their training goals.

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