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How to hire a counselor internship

Counselor internship hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring counselor interns in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a counselor internship is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per counselor internship on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 130,953 counselor interns in the US, and there are currently 132,694 job openings in this field.
  • Dayton, TX, has the highest demand for counselor interns, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a counselor internship, step by step

To hire a counselor internship, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a counselor internship:

Here's a step-by-step counselor internship hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a counselor internship job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new counselor internship
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a counselor internship do?

When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision. It is also essential to track the information gathered and coordinate with assigned personnel to adhere to the company's regulations and policies.

Learn more about the specifics of what a counselor internship does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a counselor internship, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A counselor internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, counselor interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of counselor interns and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Counselor InternshipDescriptionHourly rate
    Counselor InternshipMental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.$14-31
    Intensive In-Home CounselorAn Intensive In-Home Counselor conducts individual counseling sessions for parents and deals with delicate issues like sexual addiction. They also prepare progress reports for clients.$19-31
    Alcohol And Drug CounselorA drug alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities... Show more$14-32
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Intake Assessments
    • Substance Abuse Issues
    • Mental Health Issues
    • Group Therapy Sessions
    • Community Resources
    • Family Therapy
    • Anger Management
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Psychosocial Assessments
    • Relapse Prevention
    • Intake Interviews
    • Domestic Violence
    • Discharge Planning
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
    • Participate in weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and attend IEP meetings.
    • Create a rehabilitation plan of juveniles through the investigation of background history.
    • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
    • Monitor academic performance and provide tutoring for one individual with untreat ADHD.
    • Conduct psychological assessments for a diverse population including ADHD, memory, and achievement testing.
    More counselor internship duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the counselor internship job description is a good way to get more applicants. A counselor internship salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a counselor internship in Florida may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level counselor internship. Additionally, a counselor internship with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average counselor internship salary

    $45,500yearly

    $21.88 hourly rate

    Entry-level counselor internship salary
    $31,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 24, 2025

    Average counselor internship salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Illinois$49,318$24
    2California$48,419$23
    3Georgia$45,351$22
    4Ohio$44,886$22
    5Wisconsin$44,684$21
    6New York$44,400$21
    7Oregon$43,851$21
    8Colorado$43,279$21
    9Connecticut$42,270$20
    10Massachusetts$42,267$20
    11Iowa$40,727$20
    12Texas$40,312$19
    13South Carolina$39,818$19
    14Minnesota$38,579$19
    15Florida$37,962$18
    16Missouri$37,570$18
    17Arizona$37,498$18
    18North Carolina$34,355$17

    Average counselor internship salary by company

  4. Writing a counselor internship job description

    A job description for a counselor internship role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a counselor internship job description:

    Counselor internship job description example

    1. Embodies Eva’s Village’s core values, voice and tone in order to provide an exceptional and effective experience for our clients, funders, employees and volunteers.

    2. Performs all procedures accurately, completely and efficiently for clients in accordance with applicable program policies and procedures.

    3. Performs biopsychosocial intakes and assessments, and explores diagnoses with course of treatment.

    4. Develops treatment plans, which include measurable goals and objectives.

    5. Facilitates psycho-education classes, group therapy, support groups and individual counseling as assigned.

    6. Participates in case conference with multidisciplinary treatment team to determine the best course of treatment for clients and to address all of the client’s needs.

    7. Works with clients to help them develop life skills to be used after discharge.

    8. Provides discharge planning and links clients with additional services in the community.

    9. Sets up discharge plans to the least restrictive environment possible while maintaining a level of safety for the client to grow and learn.

    10. Maintains up-to-date client files.

    11. Participates in program data collection and maintains program tracking mechanisms.

    12. Develops and submits treatment plans as needed.

    13. Verifies insurance benefits for clients for specific treatment and care options as needed.

    14. Coordinates claims submissions, follow up calls, and appeals for denied claims as needed.

    15. Communicates with all appropriate referral sources, i.e., Parole, Probation, and Drug Court, etc. as needed.

    16. Contacts client and/or referring agency when clients miss their appointments and reschedules as deemed necessary.

    17. Makes appropriate referrals based on the needs of the client.

    18. Responsible for assisting clients with legal issues, scheduling fine payments, rescinding warrants and rescheduling courts dates where and when applicable.

    19. Responsible for urine testing and breathalyzers when needed.

    20. Perform crisis intervention when necessary.

    21. Additional duties as assigned by Supervisor.

    QUALIFICATIONS

    High School Diploma or GED Equivalent required

    College enrolled preferred, LAC/LSW preferred

    Enrolled in a course of study leading to certification as a CADC or Licensed as an LCADC.

    EXPERIENCE:

    Knowledge of 12-Step Program, AA, NA

    Ability to complete a bio-psycho-social for substance abuse/dependence

    Ability to speak, read and write English

    Must be able to work independently and complete assignments with minimal supervision

    Good interpersonal skills required

    Must maintain a professional demeanor and perform duties effectively in stressful/emergency situations

    Must be able to maintain objectivity and deal diplomatically with clients and family members


    Benefits Include:

    Medical , Dental , Vision, Life Insurance, Retirement Plan.

    Tuition Reimbursement ( STAR Program)


  5. Post your job

    To find counselor interns for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any counselor interns they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level counselor interns with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your counselor internship job on Zippia to find and recruit counselor internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit counselor interns, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new counselor internship

    Once you've found the counselor internship candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new counselor internship first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a counselor internship?

Before you start to hire counselor interns, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire counselor interns pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $45,500 per year for a counselor internship, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for counselor interns in the US typically range between $14 and $31 an hour.

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