Internship Sites
PLU’s MFT Department partners with local community mental health agencies and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor at each site.
We guarantee our practicum students an internship placement at one of these sites.
Each site has the same objective of giving interns practical experience in the mental health field, however, each site has unique qualities and opportunities for growth as a therapist. In addition to the practicum sites, the MFT Department has a relationship with Camp Korey where students may volunteer and gain additional clinical hours.
Placements are determined by the interest of the student and space availability at the practicum site.
On Campus Site
The Couple and Family Therapy Center - Community Clinic on PLU campus
Every student in the program will spend their first semester of practica here performing therapy with a co-therapist from their class. Students will work with a wide range of clients, which include individuals, families,and couples. This site offers therapist-in-training the opportunity to observe their colleagues perform therapy sessions from behind a one-way mirror. Students will meet with a supervisor for 2 hours per week to confer about cases and discuss any questions or concerns they may have.
External Practice Sites
Affordable Counseling Center, Puyallup, WA
The Affordable Counseling Center is tailored to meet the counseling needs of middle America, offering affordable services for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. In a society where families confront various issues like bullying, ADD/ADHD, blended families, and school safety, parents navigate the challenge of guiding their children while balancing work, home, and relationships. The center’s goal is to assist clients in addressing these challenges and other issues they may encounter.
Chaplain Family Life Center (CFLC) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), WA
The CFLC is approximately 30 minutes from PLU’s campus. The mission of the CFLC is to provide an intern site for Master level students and provide supervised counseling for military personnel and family members on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). The CFLC operates under the guidance and direction of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains and Army Regulation 165-1 as a chaplain counseling center. Many clients come to the CFLC with an expectation of receiving professional counseling that includes a focus on spiritual values and resources. All interns will complete additional training in theological integration and military culture and terminology.
View the Chaplain Family Life Center information sheet (PDF)
Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, Lakewood, WA
Since 1965, Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare has provided comprehensive services for adults and children, including Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Court and Criminal Justice Programs, Homeless Support, and Integrated Medical Care. Their team includes Certified Peer Counselors, Counselors, Therapists, Nurses, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs), and Psychiatrists. Committed to Recovery and Trauma-Informed Care principles, Greater Lakes offers evidence-based treatments like counseling, case management, peer support, and medication.
Hope Development, Puyallup, WA
Hope Development Practice was founded in 2022. It is focused on serving the LQBTQIA+ community through advocacy, education and counseling. HDP is a group of dedicated therapists passionate in helping others feel the power of hope and how it can change their life for the best.
Integrated Therapy Services NW, University Place, WA
Integrated Therapy Services, located approximately 13 miles from the PLU Campus, offers a unique internship experience for therapists-in-training. They work with diverse clients in a private practice setting, supported by a community of systems-trained therapists. Committed to innovative and personalized wellness, the site integrates contributions from Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, and Mental Health Counseling. Based on current research, they offer evidence-based treatments for residents in Tacoma and throughout Pierce County.
Kwawachee Counseling Center (KCC), Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, Tacoma, WA
The Kwawachee Counseling Center (KCC) is a WA state licensed facility under the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, providing culturally-rooted outpatient mental health services with a holistic model focusing on mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. KCC staff integrates this traditional approach with a therapeutic model, catering to clients of all ages and issues. Services include clinical screening, diagnostic interviewing, individualized treatment planning, and various therapy formats.
Lori Kimmerly Therapy, Federal Way, WA
Lori Kimmerly Therapy is located in Federal Way, WA, serving individuals and families with a focus on anxiety, trauma, and grief. Lori is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and works for Lyra Health as a Blended Care Therapist.
MultiCare Specialty Care for Children, Puyallup, WA
The MultiCare children therapy services available at the Puyallup location are known as the Mary Bridge Good Samaritan Children’s Therapy Unit. It provides care for children with developmental differences or disabilities through occupational therapy, physical therapy and other specialty care clinics. The unit is housed in the Dr. Donald & Beret Mott Children’s Center near MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital. Designed to tell the story of Noah’s Ark, the building provides a scenic backdrop for achieving our mission: inspiring children, supporting families and celebrating differences.
Navos’ Child, Youth, and Family Services, Burien, WA
Navos’ Child, Youth, & Family Services provides therapy and support for families in crisis, particularly those with children affected by trauma or mental illness. Their approach combines compassion and expertise, tailored to each family’s situation, promoting social and emotional development in children who’ve experienced trauma. They also help children with mental illness understand, recover, and build tools for a successful life, incorporating the family’s values and culture for strength and healing.
253 Therapy and Consult, Tacoma, WA
253 Therapy and Consult is an inclusive, multidisciplinary Mental Health Practice in University Place, WA. The practice has years of experience providing culturally sensitive therapy services to clients. The team of therapists is highly trained and skilled in modalities such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, African-Centered Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.
YWCA Pierce County Counseling Program, Tacoma, WA
YWCA is located in Downtown Tacoma and specializes in working with individuals and families who have experienced domestic violence. From their website: “As an inclusionary non-profit organization, YWCA Pierce County provides assistance to survivors of domestic violence and their children. All survivors are welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Bilingual staff and interpretation services eliminate language barriers and ease transitions for all of our clients. The YWCA serves over 11,000 adults and children annually, who are seeking help due to domestic violence.”