Student Therapist Internship

Social Work | Counseling | Marriage & Family Therapy

Join a training environment built for therapists who want to develop real expertise in couples therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Virginia Beach or Fairfax Office (In-Person)
Graduate Clinical Internship
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Training

A Different Kind of Training Experience

Many graduate internships focus primarily on general outpatient therapy.

Communicate & Connect Counseling offers a training environment designed for therapists who want early exposure to relationship therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Our internship program was built for students interested in deepening their understanding of:

• couples therapy
• attachment science
• relational trauma
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

If you are looking for an internship where clinical learning, mentorship, and relational work are central, this may be the right training environment for you.

Overview

Communicate & Connect Counseling is a specialty therapy clinic focused on couples therapy, relationship counseling, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Our clinicians help couples:

• rebuild emotional safety after relationship injuries
• reconnect after periods of disconnection
• navigate trauma and attachment wounds within relationships
• develop secure emotional bonds that support long-term connection

Many of the couples we serve include:

• military couples and veteran families
• couples experiencing emotional disconnection
• partners navigating trauma and attachment injuries
• couples facing intimacy challenges within long-term relationships

Communicate & Connect Counseling serves as a training clinic for therapists who want to develop expertise in relational therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

We accept graduate student interns in:

• Social Work (Clinical Concentration)
• Professional Counseling
• Marriage & Family Therapy

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed based on supervision capacity and office space availability.

Why Interns Choose Communicate & Connect

Many graduate internships focus primarily on individual therapy and general outpatient work.

Communicate & Connect Counseling provides early exposure to relationship therapy and attachment-based clinical work.

Interns here benefit from:

• working within a specialty couples therapy practice
• exposure to relational and attachment-based treatment models
• mentorship from EFT-trained clinicians
• weekly Emotionally Focused Therapy consultation
• opportunities to observe and participate in couples therapy work
• a clinical culture focused on learning and professional development

Couples therapy is complex and emotionally demanding work. Our consultation structure helps interns begin developing the clinical thinking needed to navigate relational dynamics.

Our goal is not simply to help students complete internship hours.

Our goal is to help interns begin developing the skills and identity of a relationship therapist.

Clinical Environment & Practice Support

Student interns at Communicate & Connect Counseling are supported by a practice environment designed to encourage clinical learning and mentorship.

Our practice provides:

• comfortable and professional office spaces in prime locations
• administrative staff who assist with scheduling and office logistics
• support for both in-person and telehealth sessions
• ongoing Emotionally Focused Therapy group consultation (currently Mondays at 12 PM)
• opportunities to observe and discuss complex clinical cases
• mentorship from therapists specializing in relational therapy

This environment allows interns to focus primarily on clinical learning, professional development, and developing relational therapy skills.

Internship Structure

We accept a limited number of graduate student interns each year to maintain a strong mentorship environment.

Internship Eligibility

Interns must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program in:

• Social Work
• Professional Counseling
• Marriage & Family Therapy

We primarily accept second-year advanced placement interns.

First-year practicum students may be considered if they plan to complete their second-year internship with our practice, allowing for a two-year training experience.

Interns gain experience providing:

• individual therapy
• couples therapy
• relational assessments
• attachment-focused treatment planning

Clinical Orientation

Communicate & Connect Counseling is grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based model of couples therapy developed by Dr. Sue Johnson.

Interns receive exposure to:

• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)
• Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
• Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
• attachment-based case conceptualization
• trauma-informed relational therapy
• military cultural competence

Scheduling Expectations

Communicate & Connect Counseling operates using structured clinical shifts.

Available Shifts

Monday – Friday

8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
2:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Saturday & Sunday

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Each shift is 6 hours, with the expectation that student interns complete 4 clinical sessions during the shift, allowing time for documentation and supervision.

Intern schedules are developed collaboratively based on graduate program requirements and supervision availability.

All clinical work occurs in person at one of our office locations, though some clients may choose telehealth sessions.

Compensation & Training Benefits

Student internships are unpaid training positions.

However, interns receive significant professional development opportunities.

ICEEFT Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship

The practice covers the cost of the ICEEFT Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship (Level 1) — the foundational training in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Interns also receive:

• weekly EFT group supervision
• mentorship from EFT-trained clinicians
• exposure to couples therapy and relational work
• consultation focused on attachment-based treatment

Our goal is to help interns begin developing the skills and clinical identity of a relationship therapist specializing in attachment-based therapy.

Who This Internship Is Ideal For

Students who thrive in this internship often share several characteristics.

You may be a strong fit for this internship if you:

• are interested in learning couples therapy early in your career
• enjoy relational and attachment-based clinical work
• value mentorship and clinical consultation
• want exposure to Emotionally Focused Therapy
• are motivated by continued professional growth

Many interns who train at Communicate & Connect Counseling are interested in developing a future specialization in relational therapy.

Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed based on supervision capacity and office space availability.

Applicants must submit:

• Resume
• Brief letter of interest
• Graduate program information and internship requirements
• Completion of the Big Five Personality Test

Personality Test Instructions

Please complete the Big Five Personality Test at: https://www.123test.com/personality-test/

Download or screenshot your results and include them with your application materials.

Submit Applications To

admin@communicateandconnect.com

Complete applications help us review candidates more efficiently.

If you are interested in developing early experience in couples therapy and attachment-based treatment within a collaborative training environment, we encourage you to apply.