Last week, I completed the 600 internship hours required for my program, including 240 hours of direct client contact.
When I first began internship, that number felt overwhelming. Practicum had required only 100 total hours, including 40 direct hours, so the jump was scary. There were moments when I wondered whether I would get there. Every cancellation and every no-show pushed the finish line farther away.
Like many of my peers, I quickly learned that completing internship hours requires persistence, flexibility, organization, and a lot of faith in the process. Balancing internship alongside a full-time job added another layer of complexity, forcing me to become intentional about how I managed my time, energy, and opportunities for growth.
Now that I have reached this milestone, I want to share some of the strategies that helped me get there.
1. Knowing the Requirements
A key factor was understanding what counted toward my hours.
I made it a point to learn the requirements established by my school, my internship sites, and the state. Knowing which activities qualified, how they should be categorized, and what documentation was required helped me avoid surprises later.
The more you understand the rules, the easier it becomes to maximize opportunities for earning hours. In addition to reading all available resources, do not hesitate to ask questions of your internship faculty and supervisors. Knowledge is power and allows you to develop a clear plan of action.
2. Making Time Available
Because of my full-time job, I made my evenings and weekends available to clients, reducing my free time to almost nothing. As I shared before, there were moments of exhaustion. However, it was a calculated decision. I knew Internship had an end date, and I remained focused on the larger goal while relying on my support system to help keep other areas of my life moving forward.
3. Understanding That Caseloads Take Time to Build
One of the most important lessons I learned during Practicum was that caseloads can take time to grow, even when the required number of hours is lower. Patience was essential. Looking back, those early weeks were laying the foundation for the steady growth that followed.
This realization led me to keep my availability up to date with my sites and to stay in close communication with the staff responsible for assigning clients. Once again, asking questions and being clear about your graduation requirements are essential to success.
4. Tracking Progress Consistently
I recorded my hours daily and made sure to submit timesheets for signatures on a weekly basis. I did not want unsigned timesheets to accumulate. Creating a routine helped make things feel manageable while also giving me a sense of progress and agency.
My clinical week begins on Sundays and ends on Saturday mornings. Every Saturday afternoon, I completed my timesheets and submitted them to my supervisors for signatures. That became my signal to step away from the laptop and treat myself. Sometimes that meant spending time in the backyard. Sometimes it meant taking a well-earned nap. Other times, it meant catching up with friends.
One lesson I learned is that paperwork often becomes such a routine part of our work that if we don’t track it, it is easy to forget the time we spend doing it. Documentation, treatment planning, case notes, and other administrative responsibilities are all part of the clinical process, and every eligible minute counts.
5. Saying Yes to Opportunities
Before my caseload reached its current size, I took advantage of every opportunity available.
I completed phone screens, helped other trainees with intake sessions, made myself available to co-lead couples’ sessions with a colleague, and partnered with another to organize a counseling group for men.
While some agencies may be very structured and not open to new learning opportunities, I did not hesitate to share my ideas. Luckily, agency leaders provided the support and guidance needed to turn some of those ideas into reality and enrich my clinical training.
6. Taking Advantage of Professional Development
I also attended webinars regularly throughout internship.
Many organizations offer excellent trainings at little or no cost for students and members. While a single webinar may only contribute a small amount of time toward internship requirements, those increments add up.
More importantly, they contribute to professional growth. The hours matter, but so do the knowledge, confidence, and competence that come with ongoing learning.
Wrapping Up
Meeting the internship hour requirements within the planned timeframe was a goal of mine from the start, and I pursued it with all the energy I had. However, it is also important to recognize that this pace may not be possible or desirable for every trainee. Fortunately, universities offer alternative paths that better align with students’ individual realities. Exploring those options early with your supervisors and professors is also important.
If you are staring at your own internship requirements and wondering whether you will ever get there, keep going. Learn the requirements. Stay organized. Be flexible. Take advantage of opportunities. And do not forget to thank the people who make up your support system. You will need them more than you think during this time.
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I will see you next week.
Roque Neto 