The Counseling Ministries department provides opportunity for Geneva College graduate counseling interns and undergraduate human services interns, to get hands-on experience in ministry at ACAC, while fulfilling their requirements for practicum and internships. 

Students get to work in a real church ministry environment, gaining an understanding of, and a chance to particpate in, the function of a large, urban church.  Students get to know not just the Counseling Ministries staff, but the staff at large, through interaction with other departments.  Students can also get to know the community of the North Side through interaction of ACAC, as it relates to counseling and social services.

Below you will find an outline of both the graduate counseling internship and the bachelor human services internship programs.  If you have questions, or if you are interested in a possible internship opportunity, please call Priscilla Ortlip at 412.321.4333 x122, or email her at priscilla.ortlip@acac.net.   We interview for students as early as a year prior to the actual internship, so please do not hesitate to call if you have questions.

GRADUATE COUNSELING INTERNSHIP

Program Goals 

• To provide robust training for graduate students in therapeutic counseling thorugh supervision, case assignment, observation, group discussion, videotaping, and applied research.
• To provide a foundation for Christian counseling using Christian perspective (consistent with ACAC's mission/vision), spiritual application (the Holy Spirit, scripture, and prayer), along with professional techniques and theories, applying them to problems encountered in life.
• To enhance the provision of counseling at the Christian Counselors Collaborative of Pittsburgh, at ACAC. 
• To participate and have impact in the Pittsburgh therapeutic community, by providing Christian counseling as an alternative to secular approaches and programs.

Requirements for Students/Colleges

• Basic knowledge and skills of therapy and approaches to counseling
• Active in the graduate counseling program at Geneva College 
• A mature spiritual belief and walk with Christ, consistent wtih ACAC's mission and vision statement
• Ability to be available for hours needed for individual supervision and the counseling program, working with the supervisor's schedule
• Availability to participate in the group supervisions bimonthly
• Liability insurance, either through the college or individually covered, naming ACAC as an 'additional insured'

UNDERGRADUATE HUMAN SERVICES INTERNSHIP

Program Goals 

• To provide robust training for bachelor level students in  human services, through supervision, case assignment, observation, group discussion, videotaping, and applied research.
• To provide a foundation for human services by participating in the Community Resource Ministry at ACAC, using Christian perspective (consistent with ACAC's mission/vision), spiritual application (the Holy Spirit, scripture, and prayer), along with professional techniques and theories, applying them to work with clients who present with social problems encountered in life.
• To enhance the provision of outreach and assistance at ACAC. 
• To participate and have impact in the North Side community, and in the church (ACAC) by giving hands-on help to those seeking assistance.

 Requirements for Students/Colleges

• Basic knowledge and skills of social work and human services approaches to intervention
• Active in the bachelor program at Geneva College
• A mature spiritual belief and walk with Christ, consistent wtih ACAC's mission and vision statement
• Ability to be available for hours needed for individual supervision and the Community Resource Ministry program, working with the supervisor's schedule
• Liability insurance, either through the college or individually covered, naming ACAC as an 'additional insured'