NAME: Laura Cisler, MSW, LICSW
ROLE: Outpatient Program Director (Mentor South Bay) & Intern Supervisor
TENURE: 8 years
ROLE: Outpatient Program Director (Mentor South Bay) & Intern Supervisor
TENURE: 8 years
Sevita: How does our internship program help set students up for success long term?
I think there's nothing like doing a job to really understand it. Interns get to jump right in and do the work, but it's a very slow ramp up. They work the same way one of our clinicians does, but with a huge wraparound of support. And they get so many different perspectives: They often have at least an admin supervisor, a clinical supervisor, and the director, like me, that they meet with. We all have different interest areas, different specialties.
They can take on challenging cases, knowing that they're going to get all these different perspectives and leadership/training styles too, which is what you need when you're learning.
You won’t go into a job placement having no experience working with clients. You’ll get a pretty broad range of experiences here.
Laura: Our interns can have a tremendous impact on the people that they work with, just like a credentialed therapist would. They can help children and teens make behavioral changes that may improve their school attendance or behavior in school.
If they work with families they get to help improve family relationships, provide some education for the parents so that they can feel more confident working with their children with behavioral or mental health issues.
They can also help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. For adults they can help improve work functioning, improve family relationships, and help people feel more confident at work and hold down jobs when their mental health issues may have caused them to lose them in the past. They also help get them connected to community resources.
We're trying to improve the overall mental health and the well-being of our communities, and interns make a big impact there as well.
So school-based, office-based and home-based. They do all the things that our clinicians are doing.
They can take on challenging cases, knowing that they're going to get all these different perspectives and leadership/training styles too, which is what you need when you're learning.
You won’t go into a job placement having no experience working with clients. You’ll get a pretty broad range of experiences here.
Laura: Our interns can have a tremendous impact on the people that they work with, just like a credentialed therapist would. They can help children and teens make behavioral changes that may improve their school attendance or behavior in school.
If they work with families they get to help improve family relationships, provide some education for the parents so that they can feel more confident working with their children with behavioral or mental health issues.
They can also help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. For adults they can help improve work functioning, improve family relationships, and help people feel more confident at work and hold down jobs when their mental health issues may have caused them to lose them in the past. They also help get them connected to community resources.
We're trying to improve the overall mental health and the well-being of our communities, and interns make a big impact there as well.
So school-based, office-based and home-based. They do all the things that our clinicians are doing.
Sevita: What are the characteristics of a successful intern?
Time management, organization, good communication skills, and the motivation are all really important. This field is challenging. So people who are excited, passionate, motivated to do it are going to do great. It won't feel as much like work, it'll just feel like learning something that they're excited to do.
It’s challenging managing an outpatient schedule. It's not like a walk in at nine and leave at five job. So being able to build and manage your schedule effectively is very important.
It’s challenging managing an outpatient schedule. It's not like a walk in at nine and leave at five job. So being able to build and manage your schedule effectively is very important.
Sevita: So what advice, if any, would you give to someone looking for an internship at Sevita?
Don't be afraid to be a little overeager and say what you're excited to learn about. It’s a tough field that you're going into, and if you're not passionate about it you're going to burn out. We want to know that you’re excited to be here. Also make sure that you are balanced and that you do have that ability to be a little analytical and task oriented as well.
Paperwork is a really important part of the job, both clinically and administratively. You need to be able to be efficient and mark off those tasks that need to be done.
This internship should be something you're seriously considering as a career. We have an intensive internship program. With the right mindset you're going to enjoy it and it's not going to feel that difficult. But if you’re applying only because it’s a paid internship, you're going to be frustrated.
Paperwork is a really important part of the job, both clinically and administratively. You need to be able to be efficient and mark off those tasks that need to be done.
This internship should be something you're seriously considering as a career. We have an intensive internship program. With the right mindset you're going to enjoy it and it's not going to feel that difficult. But if you’re applying only because it’s a paid internship, you're going to be frustrated.
Sevita: Interns talk about our supportive culture. How would you describe it?
I hope that what they get is that this is a culture of support. To me, that's the most important thing that we can provide them. Not just for interns, but staff too. That’s the team culture that I try to create…so they feel supported by me and by their supervisors, and by each other, too. I want them to know it's my job and their supervisor's job to support them, but I also want staff to feel supported by each other. And I think if they feel supported by their leadership, they will feel more able to support each other.
I want interns to feel supported and take the job seriously, but remember it's just a job. Interns don't get PTO, but I encourage them to find some balance.
If you need to reschedule, take time off. Definitely take your holiday break. Take time to rest. That's something that I'm trying to develop myself as an employee and as a leader. So I try to encourage them to do the same.
Sevita: Describe an “aha” moment when an intern knew that they were in the right role, or knew that they had been able to succeed with an individual.
I want interns to feel supported and take the job seriously, but remember it's just a job. Interns don't get PTO, but I encourage them to find some balance.
If you need to reschedule, take time off. Definitely take your holiday break. Take time to rest. That's something that I'm trying to develop myself as an employee and as a leader. So I try to encourage them to do the same.
Sevita: Describe an “aha” moment when an intern knew that they were in the right role, or knew that they had been able to succeed with an individual.
Yes, we have those all the time. The first time they usually say something like “I'm doing it. I'm doing the thing!” Or “I gave a reflection. I told them to use this mindfulness exercise and they did it. And they said they felt a little better this week.” I definitely hear that a lot. And that's another reason why it’s so fun for them--when they get to have those moments. You’re going to work with people for weeks, years even, that have just such a difficult background and their progress is incremental. We have a lot of really challenging cases in community mental health. And sometimes progress is really slow, but when they get to see that progress, it's so satisfying.
I have one intern who has already committed to becoming a permanent hire when she graduates. She says she’s feeling very supported by the team, safe in the work environment, and is really connecting with her peers.
Sevita: Can you tell us a little bit about your own career journey?
This was actually my first job out of graduate school. I was looking for a clinical role and wanted to do community-based work and this fit the bill. I started as a clinician, and did outreach for about two years then got promoted to supervisor. After about two years as a supervisor, my Director left and I was asked to fill the Program Director role.
The reason I've stayed with the company is that I've always had really good, supportive leadership, and I wanted to be able to provide that for our teams. I get to work with and guide new clinicians and experienced clinicians alike.
The reason I've stayed with the company is that I've always had really good, supportive leadership, and I wanted to be able to provide that for our teams. I get to work with and guide new clinicians and experienced clinicians alike.
I have one intern who has already committed to becoming a permanent hire when she graduates. She says she’s feeling very supported by the team, safe in the work environment, and is really connecting with her peers.