Social Work Training

McLean’s Social Work Department offers training opportunities for clinical social workers. Training is available for master’s, post master’s, and doctoral level clinicians.


Social Work Intern Training Program

This unpaid master’s degree clinical internship is for second year graduate students enrolled in one of the following graduate schools of social work: Boston College, Boston University, Simmons College, Smith College, and Salem State. This program offers clinical placements in both adult and adolescent treatment programs in all levels of care including inpatient, residential, and partial hospital settings. Social work interns work in a clinical program four days per week, beginning in September and continuing through the spring.

Each intern is assigned an LICSW who serves as primary supervisor and is responsible for overseeing the intern’s practicum experience, helping the intern to develop an educational plan, and completing evaluations required by the intern’s school of social work.

The program’s coordinator meets with the intern group on a weekly basis. The weekly meeting includes case presentations, guest speakers on a variety of clinical topics, tours of various programs, and the opportunity to share learning experiences with fellow interns. There are regularly scheduled conferences with the primary supervisor and the program coordinator to review the intern’s progress toward his/her learning goals. In addition, there are two meetings per year with the intern’s assigned school advisor, the program coordinator, the intern’s primary supervisor, and the intern.

How to Apply

Graduate schools are notified of available opportunities and recommend potential candidates to the program. Interested applicants are screened by the program coordinator and qualified applicants are then interviewed by the appropriate supervisor.

Before the internship, the intern’s participating graduate school must sign the McLean Hospital affiliation agreement. Interns are required to attend McLean Hospital new employee orientation and to complete a Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.


Post Master’s and Doctoral Fellowship Training

There are limited fellowships available for master’s and doctoral degree social workers. Training focuses on assessment and treatment of patients and families, as well as crisis intervention, aftercare planning, and case management. As members of interdisciplinary teams, fellows learn about current behavioral, biological, and dynamic approaches.

Fellowships involve a commitment of 24 hours per week for one year. Clinical appointments are arranged through the General Executive Committee, and all fellows are assigned a primary supervisor and have an individualized educational plan. Fellows receive a written evaluation and certificate of completion at the end of their training.

How to Apply

Fellowships are arranged through the individual’s training program and approved by the director of the Social Work Department. New fellows must attend McLean’s new employee orientation and complete a Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.