(Posted 2023 October)
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services welcomed two interns to its Counseling Services program for the 2023-2024 school year. This is Shiloah Kline’s internship story.
People trump numbers. I’m from Utah originally. I did my undergrad at Utah State, where I studied international business. And then I moved to Baltimore to teach in the city. I loved working with the kids in Baltimore City! I realized I like working with people and not with numbers, so I’m in grad school at George Mason for my masters in social work. I moved to Virginia during the pandemic and started working with high schools in Fairfax County and realized I needed to develop my skills to be able to provide additional services. I’m in my final year in my program at GMU. I will be graduating in May.
Diversifying my skillset is key. Last year I did a generalist internship at a health clinic in Manassas, where I did medical social work. I really liked it, getting a breadth of experience and trying something different. I’ve also been volunteering with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services on the [Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour] Hotline for the past two years. So, I already knew about these services the county offers and found volunteering on the hotline really meaningful for me.
Working with survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence is what made me realize I wanted to get my MSW. This is serving as my opportunity to see how I fit and make sure I have the skills needed.
Fairfax is the future (for now). My partner and I just bought a house in Fairfax County, so we’re planning to stay here for a while. I hope to continue working here, depending on what kind of jobs are available when I graduate. I plan to get licensed so I can provide the best services. I’ve started looking at openings. I’ll really start looking in the spring. The supervision and the entire Clinical Services team have been so supportive I feel I’ll have the skills and experience to set me up for what I need after graduation.
I’m already growing... I’m just starting to get my own clients. I’ve worked with a domestic violence group, co-facilitating. Hearing people’s stories and seeing their courage taking these steps to connect with others--to take the steps to recovery and healing--it’s really rewarding.
One of the reasons I’m excited about this internship is the opportunity to do group work, to work with adults, to do in-person counseling, to do teletherapy. I’m being challenged in multiple ways. I’m being stretched regularly to develop all these skills. I’m glad they’re giving me the opportunity to experience all these types of service.
… and growth can be challenging—in a good way. Sometimes it’s hard and sad, the things people share, but it’s also really amazing. Seeing individual clients is scary. I’m very nervous, but also really excited. I’ve been able to shadow quite a bit, which is so helpful and helps me be prepared. I’ve studied, I’ve shadowed, I’ve done practice and mock sessions, so at some point I need to jump in. Besides, my supervisor is right next door if anything becomes a crisis.
My downtime is precious. When I’m not studying and writing papers and doing this internship (when’s that?!), I love to run, so that gives me an outlet. I play the violin; I have since I was 6. My partner and I jam. That’s my creative outlet.
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