Field Directors

Good morning! I'm wondering if anyone has successfully obtained affiliation agreements with online therapy sites (such as BetterHelp) so that MSW students can intern with their LCSW practitioners. We are in the process of reaching out to several companies regarding this. We would only allow our 2nd year or Advanced Standing students to participate in these internships. I am not sure how this would work, as I believe most of their therapists are contract employees. 

Thank you for any help or guidance you can give us! Any contacts you have at these types of companies would be greatly appreciated. 

Leigh Ann Hewes

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Leigh Ann Hewes
Director of Field Education
Utica University
Utica, NY
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Hello! We have never reached out to these online companies - most often we have heard concerns regarding supervision and someone to provide learning opportunities, particularly because clinicians enter into these companies as contractual (1099) employees. I have heard of a fair amount of movement and that clinicians don't always stay long-term with these companies. I would be interested to hear of others who may have had students placed there but for us we have not. In fact, we rarely place at private practices because we have found significant issues regarding supervision.

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Dana Holcomb, DSW, LMSW-Clinical
Associate Professor and Director of Field
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI 49307
231-591-2763
danaholcomb@ferris.edu
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Thanks, Dana. Those are my concerns as well, especially that the clinicians are only contracted employees. I appreciate your input!

Leigh Ann

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Leigh Ann Hewes
Director of Field Education
Utica University
Utica, NY
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Original Message:
Sent: Nov 02, 2023 09:59
From: Dana Holcomb
Subject: Online internships for 2nd year MSW students

Hello! We have never reached out to these online companies - most often we have heard concerns regarding supervision and someone to provide learning opportunities, particularly because clinicians enter into these companies as contractual (1099) employees. I have heard of a fair amount of movement and that clinicians don't always stay long-term with these companies. I would be interested to hear of others who may have had students placed there but for us we have not. In fact, we rarely place at private practices because we have found significant issues regarding supervision.

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Dana Holcomb, DSW, LMSW-Clinical
Associate Professor and Director of Field
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI 49307
231-591-2763
danaholcomb@ferris.edu
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