About the role#
This internship provides an opportunity to gain experience in community mental health while fulfilling educational requirements. You will work alongside staff to provide direct services to members, focusing on health, housing, and life skills. This is an unpaid internship designed to be completed for academic credit.
What you'll do#
- Attend New Staff Orientation before starting.
- Provide direct service to members, including individual and group counseling or therapy.
- Perform case management, treatment planning, and crisis intervention.
- Conduct assessments, teach life skills, and provide job support.
- Assist with medication management and psycho-social rehabilitation services.
- Complete all assigned paperwork, such as documentation and service plans, in a timely manner.
- Attend staff and team meetings as required.
- Maintain professional standards when working with members, colleagues, and contacts.
What you'll need#
- Enrollment in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Vocational Counseling, Family Therapy, or a related human service field.
- Preference for 1st or 2nd year Master’s students.
- Previous social service experience or experience working with individuals with mental illness is preferred.
- Ability to synthesize information and make sound judgments regarding member care.
- Proficiency in written and verbal communication.
- Ability to function independently.
- Computer skills, including knowledge of database functions and maintenance.
- A current and valid driver’s license.
Location & details#
- Locations: Chicago, Westmont, Kankakee, Gurnee, Northfield, and McHenry, Illinois.
- Modality: On-site.
- Term: Rolling.
- Note: All offers are contingent on a background check and rehire eligibility.
About Thresholds
Thresholds is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1959, it provides recovery services for individuals with mental health and substance use conditions. The organization operates 30 programs across 75 locations in Chicago and surrounding counties. Its staff offers community-based care including housing, psychiatry, employment support, and substance use treatment.
How to get in at Thresholds
Securing an internship at Thresholds requires staying ahead of the application queue. Because many roles are filled quickly, Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a position is published, allowing you to apply among the first candidates before the pile grows. Being an early applicant helps ensure your materials are seen while the recruiter is still actively reviewing initial submissions. You can also improve your chances by reaching out to the people managing the hiring process directly. Intern Insider surfaces the specific recruiters behind Thresholds roles, which lets you send a professional inquiry or request a referral. This direct approach often leads to better response rates than submitting an application into a general portal.
