From Classroom to Practice #2

Interview with Practice Partner Insieme Counseling

As part of the bachelor's degree program in Social, Health & Public Management at MCI, students complete a mandatory professional internship that prepares them for roles in the social, health, and public sectors. They get to know potential employers, gain initial insights into practical work, and apply the knowledge they have acquired during their studies.

Our students explore a wide variety of activity areas, such as administration, quality management, personnel organization, leadership, and project work. At the same time, students are introduced to direct work with clients, helping them understand the structures required for successful work.

We asked various organizations about their experiences collaborating with our students. Below, Christina Angerer, psychologist and psychotherapist at Insieme Counseling, shares some insights.

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Please briefly introduce your organization and your work, and explain the role that internships play.

Insieme Counseling is a psychological counseling center. We accompany people through stressful life situations and support them with personal, familial, and social issues. Our work combines counseling, orientation, and stabilization during challenging phases of life, offering a reliable point of contact for various concerns.

In addition, our counseling services include crisis intervention, pregnancy counseling, end-of-life counseling, family and couples counseling, parent-child pass counseling, and other support services tailored to the individual needs of clients.

Internships are an important way for us to give students a realistic insight into day-to-day work. They allow students to explore different areas of activity and gain experience in a professional counseling environment.

What tasks do interns typically take on, and how do you ensure that they learn and contribute meaningfully?

Interns gain insight into the organizational and professional processes of the facility. This includes supportive tasks in administration, research on professional topics, and documentation tasks. Depending on the duration of the internship and the students' prior experience, they also receive deeper insight into various counseling work processes and can explore different areas of activity in more detail.

How do you organize supervision during the internship, and which competencies have proven to be particularly important for students?

Supervision is provided by a dedicated contact person within the team who is available as a reliable guide throughout the entire internship. Regular feedback sessions serve to academically and professionally contextualize the experiences gained, clarify open questions, and jointly reflect on daily work routines.

We place special importance on reliability, a strong interest in social issues, respectful and appreciative interaction with people, and the willingness to listen attentively, learn new things, and actively participate in everyday internship life.

What has positively surprised you about previous internships, and where do you see room for improvement to prepare students even better for practice?

We found the students to be very motivated, dedicated, and open to new perspectives. They bring a high willingness to learn and are interested in the practical application of the theory acquired during their studies. Practice shows that an early understanding of organizational processes, communication, feedback culture, and professional roles is helpful. These aspects quickly gain importance in everyday professional life.

We are particularly pleased that we were able to welcome both of our MCI interns into our team and that they continue to work with us.

What three tips would you give to students interested in an internship with you—from preparation and application to starting with the team?

1. Before the internship: Inform yourself about the organization and its field of work.
2. During the application: It is important to show genuine interest in the practical field.
3. During the internship: Observe attentively, ask questions, and reflect on your experiences.

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If you are interested in shaping topics within social, health, and public management, apply for our programs and be part of the future! We Are Managing the Public Interest!