Who We Are
Community Solutions is a mission-driven, non-profit organization based in Santa Clara County, serving clients who experience mental health symptoms and substance use challenges. Our CS Learning Training Institute offers personal and professional development experiences for those in the behavioral health field, including internships and traineeships for mental health therapists and social workers.
Over the last 4 years, we’ve hosted over 100 interns pursuing various degrees, including Social Work, Clinical Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Public Health, and Justice Studies! With a wide range of services offered from prevention to residential and everything in between, and a diverse client population, interns at Community Solutions receive a comprehensive introduction to the behavioral health field and the various career pathways available to them.
Scroll down to our FAQ to learn more!
2024 – 2025 Internship Opportunities
Applications are currently closed as all available placements for the 2024-2025 academic year have been filled. Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will open in January 2025.
Get In Touch
Andriana Ancira, CS Learning Internship Coordinator: andriana.ancira@communitysolution.org.
Adults & Older Adults
The adult/older adult division at Community Solutions offers internships for MSW, MFT, and PCC students. The various programs available provide treatment for adults struggling with mental health issues, and sometimes substance use challenges. There is also various programs that work with special populations - like individuals struggling with homelessness or involved in the criminal justice system.
Children & Youth
We offer internships for MSW, MFT, and PCC students in our children and youth division. There are various programs include, but not limited to: outpatient mental health services, school-linked prevention and intervention services, and full service partnership programs.
Solutions to Violence
Our Solutions to Violence programs provide empowerment-based services to strengthen and support survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking crimes. We also provide education and prevention services on these issues for schools, groups, and the community. There are opportunities for MSW, PCC, and MFT students.
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Where will I be working?
We have three main sites: San Jose, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy, with a fourth, smaller site in Hollister. The Gilroy office is our headquarters, where a majority of CS leadership and infrastructure is housed. Interns are assigned a home office based on program location and proximity. However, staff and interns mostly do community-based work, seeing clients in their preferred environment, with remote options available around specific tasks like admin tasks and training.
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What will I be doing?
Community Solutions offers a wide range of experience to our staff and interns. Intern duties vary based on assigned program, degree, and experience level. Clinical interns provide therapy services, including mental health assessment, treatment planning, care coordination, and more. Bachelor’s level and MSW 1st year students perform primarily case management services, including connection to resources, skill-building, outreach, and advocacy.
Additionally, our CS Learning Training Institute offers numerous training opportunities to interns, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Seeking Safety, Understanding Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression (SOGIE), Intro to Trauma Informed Care, and more! Through our learning partnership with Santa Clara County (SCC Learn), Community Solutions’ staff and interns also have access to county trainings, including Solutions Focused Brief Therapy and Trauma-Focused CBT.
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Is there compensation available?
Yes! Our current intern pay rates are:
Master’s Level: $23/hour
Bachelor’s Level: $20/hour
Mileage Reimbursement: All interns are reimbursed at the federal rate for agency related travel apart from commute to their home office.
Sick Time: All interns receive 40 hours of sick time per calendar year.
Equipment: Community Solutions provides each intern with an agency laptop, cell phone, and HIPAA-compliant backpack while they are completing their internship.
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What does supervision look like?
All interns receive 1 hour of weekly 1:1 reflective supervision from a BBS-certified supervisor. All interns providing clinical services also receive 2 hours of group supervision per week.
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Is your organization affiliated with my school program?
We are currently partnered with over 20 universities nationwide to provide placement opportunities for students. If you are offered an internship placement with the agency and we are not yet partnered with your university, our team will work to execute an agreement prior to the start of your internship.
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Am I eligible for an internship with Community Solutions?
To be eligible for the position, all potential interns must:
- Must be able to meet and receive a criminal records clearance as required by specific programs, licensing regulations and Community Solutions practices.
- Possess a valid California driver’s license, current car insurance and a good driving record as documented by a DMV report and consistent with the Agency’s liability insurance requirements.
- Possess an automobile to perform routine job duties.
- Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved or as otherwise required by law.
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What are the benefits to interning with Community Solutions?
- Wide range of programs & services
- Diverse client population
- Comprehensive LIVE trainings w/ CEUs
- Guaranteed individual & group supervision
- PAID internship
- PAID sick time
- Mileage Reimbursement
- Emphasis on work/life balance
- State-recognized leader in internships per Advocates for Human Potential (AHP)
- Employment opportunities post-graduation
The Internship Insider: A CS Learning Blog
January 2024
Mastering Therapy Internship Interviews: A Guide for Aspiring Professionals
As you embark on the path to pursuing your Master’s in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy or Social Work, interviews for internships can prove crucial in shaping your career trajectory. With their in-depth insights into prospective employment opportunities and valuable connections in the field, these internships may provide critical hands-on experience that will serve as steppingstones to your professional journey. The following tips will guide you through mental health internship interviews and setting yourself apart from other candidates.
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