Intern - Residential Alcohol and Drug Counseling (4 Positions)

Mission Statement 

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices. 

Program Overview:  

Entre Familia: Entre Familia is a 6-to-12-month residential substance use treatment program that provides bilingual/bicultural, gender-specific, substance use disorder treatment to pregnant and postpartum women and their children. The program serves pregnant and postpartum women and their children has the capacity to serve up to 19 women and 26 children.  

Transitions: Transitions is a short-term, residential Transitional Support Services (TSS) program serving adults of all genders living with alcohol and/or substance use disorders and is funded and licensed by the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), Department of Public Health (DPH). The program has the capacity to serve up to 65 individuals. 

Position Overview: 

We are seeking dedicated and motivated interns to join our team as Alcohol and Drug Counseling Interns. This internship provides a structured and supervised learning environment for students pursuing education in Alcohol and Drug Counseling or related behavioral health fields. Interns will gain hands-on experience working with diverse populations through both individual case management and group facilitation, using evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Maintain a small caseload (1–4 clients) for individualized case management by providing: 

• Collaborate with clients to complete biopsychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans 

• Ongoing counseling and case management including aftercare services 

• Crisis intervention and referral services to mental health services 

• Psychoeducation education  

• Clinical documentation, reporting, and record keeping 

• Provide individual case management services using harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused modalities 

• Facilitate 1–4 weekly therapeutic groups incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Group Theory, and Stages of Change 

• Deliver both structured, evidence-based and process-oriented group sessions 

• Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and documentation standards as per 42 CFR Part II, HIPAA, Department of Public Health (DPH), and Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) policies 

• Learn and apply laws and professional standards related to client confidentiality 

• Engage in ongoing evaluation, assessment, and intervention strategies with individuals and groups 

• Participate in regular supervision and training to support skill development and preparation for future licensure 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Gain real-world experience using psychological theories and therapeutic frameworks including CBT, Trauma-Informed Care, Narrative Therapy, Group Theory, Stages of Change, and Harm Reduction 

• Develop a professional clinical language for documentation  

• Learn best practices in ethical and legal standards for clinical work 

• Strengthen ability to work effectively with diverse populations and within a multidisciplinary team   

• Receive supervision aligned with educational and licensure requirements 

• Current enrollment in an Addiction Counseling program and working toward becoming a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC) or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) 

• Must be enrolled in internship/field related coursework and have approval from the college/university to participate in the internship 

• Strong interest in behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and working with diverse populations. 

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards. 

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills. 

• Willingness to learn, take initiative, and engage in reflective practice. 

• Commitment to engaging in anti-racism work to examine and address systemic racism 

• This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.  

• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position.  However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.  

• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.  

• The Boston Public Health Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are eligible to apply.