Internships and Practicums

UPDATE: Austin Child Guidance Center (ACGC) is not accepting students for a 2025-2026 practicum or internship placement. We hope to offer this opportunity again soon. Thank you for your interest in working with ACGC. Please check our website for updates. 

ACGC is a leading training site in Austin for aspiring mental health professionals and regularly hosts graduate students seeking practical experience as part of their degree. We accept advanced graduate students in their final internship or practicum of their social work and professional counseling programs. The agency's capacity and needs may influence how many students we can accommodate.  

Due to the intense nature of the work at ACGC and the demands of the placement, we currently do not offer undergraduate internships. However, we do offer volunteer opportunities for undergraduate students who wish to gain more experience working with children and families.  

Qualifications for Applying 

The minimum qualification before applying to ACGC are:  

• Graduate-level students in their final practicum/internships at an accredited Texas university 
• Able to work in person at least part-time  
• Able to begin placement at the beginning of the Fall semester   
• Able to commit to 15-20 hours/week for at least two semesters   
• Completion of at least one course in family, individual, or group therapy   
• Previous work/practicum experience using psychotherapy skills   
• Coursework/work/personal experience related to children and adolescent development    

Students with bilingual language skills, including those proficient in English and Spanish, are encouraged to apply, but it is not a requirement. These skills enable ACGC to provide accessible services to children and their families with limited English proficiency.   

It should be noted that a placement at ACGC is demanding; however, the agency provides supportive supervision and training. It is recommended that you connect with other students who have completed placements at ACGC to learn about their experiences before applying.     

Available Graduate-Level Clinical Placements 

ACGC offers two clinical placements for students in their final year of graduate school.   

• The Clinical Counseling Placement is an internship in which students provide individual, family, and group therapy to children and their families. Students in the Clinical Counseling Placement will also gain experience in providing intake and eligibility services, as well as case management services.  
• The Infant & Early Childhood (IEC) Clinical Placement involves providing mental health consultation, training, and coaching to early childhood education staff and families at high-needs centers in Austin.  

See the Student Internship/Practicum Overview Sheet below for more detailed information about the two placement opportunities. To be considered for an interview with ACGC, please email a Professional/Academic Resume, Cover Letter, and two professional recommendations to internships@austinchildguidance.org.