I’m at the competence stage.
Outline three concepts you learned from the reading and why they’re significant to you.
Identify which developmental stage you are currently experiencing.
How does understanding your developmental stage impact your preparation for the field?
The Developmental Stages of an Internship
Stage Interns Associated Feelings, Behaviors and Thoughts Interns Suggested Response Strategies
Anticipation
Positive Expectations
Anxiety about self, supervisor, co-workers, field site, clients, life context
Be realistic, clear, specific goals
Clarify and assess expectations
Make an informed commitment
Disillusionment
Unexpected emotions
Questioning adequacy of skills
Understanding breadth of demands
Reality of relationships with clients
Understanding/potentially conflicting operating values of organization
Disappointment with supervisor/coworkers or tasks
Acknowledge gap between expectations and reality
Normalize feelings and behaviors
Acknowledge and clarify specific issues
Acknowledge and clarify feelings
Confrontation
Achieve independence
Gain confidence
Experience effectiveness
Changes in opportunities
There can be interpersonal issues
There can be intrapersonal blocks
Reassess goals and expectations
Reassess support systems
Develop specific strategies
Competence
High accomplishment
Investment in work
Quality supervision
Understanding of ethical issues
Worthwhile tasks
Home/self/career issues
Share concerns openly
Develop coping strategies
Culmination
Termination with clients
Case management issues
Redefine relationship with supervisors, coworkers, faculty, peers
Ending studies
Post internship plans
Identify feelings
Recognize unfinished business
Meet with supervisor
Identify feelings
Recognize unfinished business
Meet with supervisor
The Successful Internship: Transformation and Empowerment in Experiential Learning; H.F. Sweiter, & M.A. King: Second Edition, Brooks/Cole, Belmont,
CA.
FS Handout 1 / 09