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Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored (FOTF HR) Marriage Intensive program provides intensive therapy to couples in 2 primary ways—group therapy or a one-couple therapy experience.  The therapy is provided at FOTF retreat centers and is guided by Focus Marital Therapy (FMT) delivered in a multi-hour, multi-day format.  FMT is a faith-based, integrative approach to treating couples.  The environment is all-inclusive providing lodging, meals, and therapy to the couples.  Sites include: Branson, MO; Rome, GA; Greenville, MI; Cave Creek, AZ; Wimberley, TX.

General Purpose/Summary Statement:

The Graduate Intern/Practicum Student position is an unpaid, training and learning opportunity based on a student’s level of training/experience and school requirements, as well as the needs of FOTF HR.  This role exists to support graduate students in experiencing direct and/or indirect services in therapy with couples as part of their becoming professionals. Direct services may include providing co-therapy in one-couple Intensives to married couples in distress.  This position also provides non-direct services including observations, training, attending meetings, involvement in ministry projects and/or other learning opportunities.  FOTF HR will make every attempt to meet the student and graduate school needs for the required training.

Time Commitment: To be determined by the specific needs of the intern applicant and FOTF HR specific site. The goal is to reach a mutually rewarding time agreement for both the intern and FOTF HR site. 

Supervision: FOTF HR Site Clinical Director or designated supervisor

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

The Graduate Intern/Practicum student may engage in any of the following depending on graduate program requirements:

• Observe at minimum 1 group Intensive
• Engage in one-couple Intensives as co-therapist trainee
• Participate as 3rd “chair” trainee in group Intensive
• Review relevant files in preparation for Intensives
• Complete appropriate progress and other notes
• Join in therapeutic processing with therapist(s)
• Participate in weekly supervision with onsite supervisor
• Attend monthly clinical team meetings and didactics
• Read or view relevant training materials (books, articles, videos, etc.)
• Complete training workshops to learn and teach the Focus Marital Therapy model
• Complete training workshops related to providing therapy to couples in an intensive format

 The Graduate Practicum Student/Intern will be provided opportunities to: 

• Learn, grow, and apply theory and therapeutic strategies 
• Gain experience in co-therapy
• Use various assessments and other relevant information to form diagnostic impressions
• Generate treatment plans
• Engage in therapeutic rationale and strategy discussions
• Jointly participate in planning and pacing therapeutic intervention
• Challenge personal beliefs and theory 

• Apply confidentiality standards 

• Integrate Christian faith and professional practice
• Learn the theory, principles, and tools of FMT

Graduate Intern/Practicum Student Qualifications:

• Character/Spiritual
  • Agrees to the Focus on the Family Statement of Faith
  • Aligns with FOF core values
  • Strong Christian faith expressed in daily behaviors
• Personal Characteristics:
  • Punctual, dependable, responsible
  • Mature and responsive
  • Warm, kind, helpful, sensitive, and firm or directive presence as appropriate
  • Willingness to work in a co-therapy setting
  • Has strong if imperfect relationships
  • Teachable/open to critical feedback
  • Intent to pursue career in therapy
  • Willingness to self-disclose when appropriate
• Knowledge/Experience:
  • Earning a Master’s or Doctorate degree
  • Some understanding of the integrative process as it relates to faith and practice
  • General grasp of scripture as it relates to counseling
  • Relevant life experience
• Skills, Abilities, and Special Talents/Gifts:
  • Able to engage in basic rapport building with clients
  • Demonstrates aptitude for understanding and applying theoretical knowledge to clients and the therapeutic situation
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
  • Counseling skills integrated with Biblical values
  • Willing to self-exam, learn, and grow