Meet our first-year clinical interns! Josselyn is committed to making mental health care available to all, and the first-year interns play a pivotal role in helping us meet that goal.
Access to community-based mental health care is more urgent than ever. Thousands of U.S. communities face shortages of mental health professionals, and community mental health centers help close these gaps while training the next generation of clinicians.
Our first-year interns are pursuing master’s degrees in social work from Loyola University Chicago. At Josselyn, they serve in the Intake Department, answering calls from people seeking services. Below they reflect on their experiences to date.
Thomas DeBow
Clinical Intern
Thomas DeBow highlights the technical and clinical competencies developed through intake.
Responding to live calls has strengthened his skills in risk assessment, crisis prevention, documentation, and insurance navigation.
He observes, “There are so many people who call Josselyn completely unsure of their future and ability to be seen by our clinicians. You can feel the relief when an individual finally gets to speak to someone who can set them up with an appointment.”
These are not abstract classroom concepts but applied competencies, practiced in real time under supervision. Without accessible community-based services, some individuals might rely solely on emergency departments or repeated hospitalization for support. Intake work therefore functions as both an access point and a preventive intervention.
Jacob Orlowski
Clinical Intern
Jacob Orlowski describes the intake process as a powerful point of connection. “Working on the intake and assessment team has helped me build strong skills in establishing rapport quickly, asking sensitive questions with empathy, and creating a safe, grounded experience for clients during their first point of contact,” he says.
Balancing structured assessment protocols with individualized responsiveness has deepened his understanding of referral pathways, levels of care, and interdisciplinary collaboration within a nonprofit setting. Exposure to these multiple dimensions of practice provides a comprehensive foundation for long-term professional growth.
Katie Richardson
Clinical Intern
For Katie Richardson, the most impactful lessons have centered on human connection. Many individuals who contact Josselyn for the first time feel anxious or uncertain about seeking care. She reflects, “Many people who first contact us are nervous about receiving services or worry that they will not have their needs met, so my job is to make them feel heard.”
Through direct phone engagement, she has learned how to create an immediate sense of safety and validation. Making callers feel heard from the first interaction can reduce fear and increase follow-through with services. In a system where stigma and logistical barriers remain prevalent, those early moments of rapport are clinically significant.
Dianna Zougras
Clinical Intern
Dianna Zougras emphasizes the complexity of navigating the mental health system. Through intake work, she has developed a working knowledge of Josselyn’s service array as well as community-based referral networks. She notes, “One of my favorite parts of working at Josselyn is when I find a resource for a client that other people haven’t been able to find… since navigating the mental health system can be really complicated.”
Identifying appropriate resources for individuals who may not qualify for a specific service requires both system literacy and persistence. Her experience reflects the broader importance of community mental health infrastructure in connecting individuals and families to comprehensive support.
Research from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing highlights ongoing workforce challenges in community mental health, including recruitment and retention. High-quality training programs embedded in service delivery are among the most sustainable ways to strengthen the future professional pipeline. Learn more about Josselyn’s internship program as well as additional services at josselyn.org.
