Internship Opportunities at Hope Alive
One of Hope Alive’s core values is lifelong learning. We believe that ongoing learning — both formal and informal — is a vital tool in understanding and ministering to those we serve. We are committed to both pursuing and providing opportunities for growth and development, so our community is robust with individuals equipped to serve with compassion, wisdom, and skill in meeting the needs of emotionally hurting people.
One meaningful way we live out that value is through actively investing in the next generation of mental health and human services professionals. Our internship program offers students the opportunity to develop real clinical and professional skills within a warm, Christ-centered environment where mission and practice go hand in hand.
We welcome interns from high school through doctoral level when a student’s skills, goals and educational pursuits align with Hope Alive’s mission, vision, and values and the ministry’s needs at the time.
What to Expect
Interning at Hope Alive means doing meaningful work from day one. Master’s-level counseling interns training to be therapists carry their own caseload of individual, couples, and family clients across all age groups and clinical presentations through our Community Counseling Program. They also assist with group facilitation in our Residential Program, which serves women experiencing homelessness with co-occurring disorders.
At the High School, Bachelor’s, and Doctoral levels, internship responsibilities are shaped by the student’s degree program and goals, and are developed collaboratively to ensure a valuable learning experience.
Placements range from one semester to a full academic year depending on degree requirements and Hope Alive’s needs at the time.
Supervision & Support
We take supervision seriously. Master’s-level interns meet weekly with our Executive Director and Clinical Supervisor, Dawn L. Etzel, MA, LMHC, LAC, NCC, for one hour of individual clinical supervision. At other educational levels, supervision frequency is determined by school requirements, with Dawn serving as the supervising professional throughout. Interns also have the opportunity to learn alongside other Hope Alive staff members as appropriate for the learning experience.
We invite interns to our team with thoughtful consideration, generally having between 3-5 interns at any one time, which means you won’t get lost in the shuffle — you’ll be known, supported, and invested in.
Who We Partner With
We most frequently partner with Huntington University, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Indiana Wesleyan University, and we regularly host students from other accredited programs — including online programs when the student is physically located in the Fort Wayne area. While we most commonly host students pursuing degrees in Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapy, we have also hosted students studying business, marketing, communications, and other fields that have meaningful application and learning opportunities at Hope Alive.
We are always open to exploring partnerships with other institutions when a student’s goals align with our mission.
Who We’re Looking For
The strongest candidates for a Hope Alive internship are those who:
- Share a genuine heart for Hope Alive’s mission of bringing hope and encouragement with Christ-like love to emotionally hurting individuals (Learn more about our mission, vision and values here.)
- Desire to provide quality professional mental health or human services within a Christian faith-based environment (Learn more about our beliefs here.)
- Thrive in an independent learning environment while remaining eager to grow professionally
- Demonstrate strong personal character and professional integrity
All interns are required to pass a background check and agree to Hope Alive’s Intern Code of Conduct and Intern Morals Clause (both found attached to the application here) prior to beginning their placement.
How to Apply
Applications for internships are accepted year-round with approved placements typically starting in January, May, and/or August.
Interested students are encouraged to reach out directly to Dawn Etzel at dawne@hopealivefortwayne.org. Please include:
- A current resume
- A cover letter describing your interest in Hope Alive and how your goals align with our mission
- A completed Internship Application (Download Here)
We look forward to hearing from you!