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Clinic-Based Placements

The placement office maintains a directory of mental health agencies who are interested in hosting Lewis & Clark Counseling & Therapy students for their placement and approved by our faculty to do so. Our database ensures that students connect with mental health agencies that are supportive of Lewis & Clark’s social justice mission and will provide a robust field experience. When students are approved to seek their practicum, internship, or externship placement, they will be invited to our annual internship fair, where they will have the opportunity to meet with potential placement sites. Throughout the placement search, students will be supported by the placement coordinator and their faculty clinical coordinator.

Internship Fair
Each Fall, the Partnership and Placement Office hosts an internship fair for all Art Therapy, Professional Mental Health Counseling, Professional Mental Health Counseling—Specialization in Addictions, and Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy students seeking placement for the upcoming academic year. We invite over 100 mental health professionals from our partner sites to meet our students. Students will have the opportunity to learn about their placement site options, meet potential supervisors, and make professional connections.

The Placement Process

Each program’s placement process is tailored specifically to that program’s needs, timeline, and expectations.

The placement office supports Art Therapy students during their second-year practicum experience and third-year internship experience. Both of these placements take place in local mental health facilities; this could include mental health clinics, hospitals, K-12 schools, government-run facilities, etc. Students will interview at their preferred sites and will then work with the placement coordinator to set up their placement contract.

The placement office supports MCFT students during their third-year internship and externship experiences. The internship takes place at the Lewis & Clark Counseling Center; faculty will assign students to supervisors and the placement office will set up the placement contract. Externships take place simultaneously in local mental health agencies; this could include mental health clinics, hospitals, K-12 schools, government-run facilities, etc. Students will interview at their preferred sites and will then work with the placement coordinator to set up their placement contract.

PMHC and PMHC—A students will complete two terms of practicum at the Lewis & Clark Counseling Center; faculty will assign students to supervisors and the placement office will set up the placement contract. Following the practicum placement, students will complete two terms of internship at a local mental health agency; this could include mental health clinics, hospitals, K-12 schools, government-run facilities, etc. Students will interview at their preferred sites and will then work with the placement coordinator to set up their placement contract.

Clinic-Based Placement FAQs

Lewis & Clark is committed to preparing future counselors and therapists to work in diverse and community-based settings. We partner with 200 mental-health clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington, including community mental health clinics, hospitals, government agencies, group practices, social services agencies, and anywhere that folks are receiving mental health services.

We seek to place students in mental health agencies that mirror our own social justice mission. We have long held and deep relationships with mental health providers across our region because we believe in the power of working together to bolster up our future counseling and therapy workforce.

The placement office maintains a list of about 200 mental health agencies that are approved by our faculty to host Lewis & Clark students. Each November, students who are preparing to seek placement will be invited to our Internship Fair, where they will have the opportunity to meet our site partners and explore placement opportunities. Students will then reach out to placement sites directly to schedule interviews; once a student has been accepted by a placement site, the placement office will guide them through the paperwork to get their placement approved and confirmed.

Each student will have two licensed supervisors at their placement. Supervisors are mental health practitioners who are leaders in their profession and have a passion for supporting the next generation of counselors and therapists. We are fortunate that many counselors and therapists in our community are eager to support Lewis & Clark students because of the strong reputation of our programs.

Our placement coordinator will be the primary contact for you during your placement search. Once you’ve secured your placement, the placement coordinator will guide you through all paperwork before you get started. In addition, your faculty clinical coordinator is involved and supportive every step of the way!

During your placement, your faculty advisor, faculty clinical coordinator, and your two field supervisors will be the team supporting you. We believe it takes a village to raise a counselor, and we make sure you have a team of support throughout your placement.

Clinic-Based Placements

The Placement Process

Art Therapy

Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy

Professional Mental Health Counseling + Specialization in Addictions

Clinic-Based Placement FAQs

What kind of clinics do Lewis & Clark counseling and therapy students work in?

How will I find my field experience placement?

Who will my field supervisors be?

What kind of support will I receive during the placement process?