LVC Graduate Student Gains Counseling Experience Through Internship

Key Highlights:

• Juniper Martin is pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lebanon Valley College.
• Martin is practicing their counseling skills as an outpatient mental health counselor intern at Merakey's Anthra Plaza in Shamokin, Pa., where they work with mental health and drug and alcohol clients.
• Martin values the program's focus on viewing the client as a whole person and its commitment to multicultural approaches.

Juniper Martin is in the internship phase of Lebanon Valley College's Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program after taking online courses while working full-time. Here, they describe their fieldwork, the benefits of the master's program, and their love of the work.

What made you choose LVC's Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program?

My brother and his wife are LVC graduates, so LVC holds a very special place in our family. I also loved the ability to take classes completely online, which gave me a lot of flexibility when balancing school full time and a full-time job. On top of the professional things that I have learned in this program, I have also built close friendships with classmates that have extended far past the professional relationships we are building.

What sparked your interest in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling field?

I have been in therapy for roughly two and a half years! My experiences in therapy and a strong desire to serve my community really informed my decisions to pursue this field. I am also transgender and really feel that representation is important in this field. Who better to learn and get support from than someone who has lived it before?

How are you applying the lessons learned from LVC to your work in the field?

One of the biggest aspects that LVC puts into this program is seeing the client as a total person and not just a sum of their stressors. There has also been a major focus on multicultural approaches, which for us is both an ethical mandate and a unique approach. I work with clients in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania, which is a historically poor region with unique needs. Having this multicultural approach and having a blue-collar background has allowed me to connect with these clients quickly.

How is your internship advancing your studies and experience in the field?

I am currently an Outpatient Mental Health Intern Counselor at Merakey's Anthra Plaza location in Shamokin. I handle both mental health and drug and alcohol clients. I am very blessed to both live and work in counties covered by the Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania, which has given me access to their Behavioral Health Higher Education Plan. This has allowed me to actually be paid for my hours during the internship and given me the chance to dive headfirst into this field full time!

One of the very fun things that I get to do is play Dungeons & Dragons with clients as a part of group therapy. My clinical supervisor is a certified therapeutic game master and has encouraged me to pursue this training to be able to work better with these populations. I also have had opportunities to network with other clinics not only within Merakey but around the region to find more things to learn and train in!

Overall, I genuinely love what I do, and being able to pursue this really has been a dream!

What advice would you offer to others considering this career path?

Jump into it! Lebanon Valley College sets you up for success-they'll work with you to make sure you are before you start to work with clients. But also recognize that you are going to be a major impact in someone's life, and in some cases, you may be the only positive light in their lives. Be ready to work, be ready to learn, and ultimately be ready to care.