Intern Narrative
NSSEO-Westbrook Therapeutic Day School
I have only been at Westbrook for a few short weeks, yet I have already gained a wealth of invaluable experiences and training. Westbrook is my primary site, and I spend Monday-Friday here. I will have a rotation in a public High School during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the school year, spending one day a week in this setting. What is great about Westbrook, is that I get most all the needed experiences at one site. Although Westbrook serves children K-8 grades, I have been assigned to two primary classrooms with 5-8 grades students. Additionally, I have been paired with one 3-4 grade classroom for group counseling sessions. I have daily contact with all the children in these classrooms, as well as daily contact with the teachers and teaching assistants. My primary role at Westbrook is working as a therapist. I, along with my supervisor, provide ongoing therapeutic interventions throughout the day in the classroom setting. The students receive group counseling sessions two times a week, individual counseling once a week, and daily therapeutic intervention as needed. In addition to providing direct services to students, I am involved in weekly team meetings for each classroom, consultation opportunities on a daily basis, and training in crisis intervention. I also will have the opportunity to be involved and gain experience with family therapy sessions. An added bonus at Westbrook is the number of professional staff available to work with and learn from at one setting. Westbrook employees 5 school psychologists and 5 school social workers. There is always opportunity for supervision and everyone works as a team to help the students. Additional benefits that I have enjoyed at Westbrook are the opportunity for ongoing training, involvement in weekly therapist meetings, involvement in crisis team meetings, and working with another school psychology intern.