Counseling INTERN

The Focus on the Family Internship Program provides valuable experience, professional and spiritual development, and lasting friendships for over 30 college upperclassmen each summer. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Focus on the Family has nearly 700 employees who work to achieve the mission of enriching the lives of families, engaging the culture, advocating for life and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The work is meaningful, the culture is rewarding, and the purpose is eternal.

Counseling Intern - Job Description

What you would be a part of:

Focus on the Family is one of the first ministries to offer free one-time consultations with professionally trained counselors. The Counseling team has 22 professionally trained and pastoral counselors with over 500 years cumulative experience in the mental health and pastoral disciplines. Additionally, there are four support staff. The department handles approximately 1,100 contacts each month and provides professional quality tele-mental health services in the form of a one-time consultation supplying encouragement and hope, resources, prayer, referrals and guidance to all who reach out to Focus on the Family with therapeutic concerns.

As a Counseling Intern, you will not only have the opportunity to observe and learn from our counselors at our Colorado Springs Headquarters, but also to attend and observe a Hope Restored Marriage Intensive at one of our five marriage retreat centers in Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, Texas or Arizona! Because of the additional travel and observation time, Counseling Interns will start one week earlier than the rest of the 2025 intern class. Counseling Interns start at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs on May 24th, travel to a Hope Restored Retreat Center for nine days in mid-June, and then return to Colorado Springs and finish their internship on August 6th.

Responsibilities – What does a day in the life look like?

• Observe the phone consultation process with several different counselors
• Attend and participate in weekly discussions on clinical topics
• Present and participate in case reviews
• Attend several off-site activities to gain a better perspective on the field of psychology
• Follow professional protocol around client information and confidentiality
• Participate in any projects as assigned

Goals – What do we want you to learn and grow in?

• Observe several different counselors in real-time conversations with the constituent
• Engage in case reviews to learn how to apply academic knowledge to real-life situations
• Gain firsthand experience on how assessments, treatment goals and treatment plans are determined
• Receive direct supervision from and be in daily contact with the Internship Supervisors
• Experience how the principles and practices of psychology can be used effectively while staying true to the teaching and truth of the Scriptures
• Learn and practice self-care strategies
• Be exposed to several different counseling theories and forms of therapy
• Observe a Hope Restored Marriage Intensive and debrief
• Meet with a director of a Hope Restored location

Experience – What are we looking for in a candidate?

• Have a heart and passion to help people who are in pain
• Have a declared major in a mental health field such as (but not limited to): Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family, Social Work, or Pastoral Counseling
• Be willing to address any personal issues as they arise
• Be willing to think practically (outside the “academic” box)

As a non-profit ministry, Focus on the Family is committed to hiring staff who are dedicated to sharing the gospel and live by biblical truths. Therefore, all candidates must:

Exemplify Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us...”

Pursue the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Be a consistent witness for Jesus Christ; maintaining a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of Focus; adhering to the Standard of Moral Conduct (http://media.focusonthefamily.com/fotf/pdf/about-us/human-resources/moral-policy.pdf) and Statement of Faith (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/about/foundational-values/); upholding Focus on the Family's ministry in prayer

Demonstrate behaviors aligned with Focus on the Family core values (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/about/foundational-values/)

Additional Notes

This position is an intern position only.  There will be no compensation or pay with this position, but a $3500 honorarium, workday lunch, and housing for out-of-town students will be provided.

Only upperclassmen college students need apply for the summer internship.

Transportation is the responsibility of the intern and may be a condition of acceptance.

Helping Families Thrive in Christ! Focus on the Family is a 501c3 Christian Non-Profit Ministry.