Hi, I wonder if I could get some advice.
I am trying to get some practical experience so I can get licensed in my field (it's a mental health field). I met with a person who specializes in the area that I'm interested in, but he said that his organization does not provide supervised experience to an unlicensed person. He recommended that I contact his wife in another organization, who also specializes in the area of my interest. That organization where his wife works happens to be where I got my initial practical experience as a student about 10 years ago.
The director of the program when I was there is still there. She seemed to remember me when I went to her organization (for a meeting for another job that I had) about 5 years ago and said hello to me in a nice way. Other than that, I don't know if she has a good impression of me or not.
My question is, to see if this organization will let me have practical experience, should I go with this person I actually want to work with or go through this director instead? I doubt the person I want to work with has the authority to make the decision to take an "intern" or not, although maybe she can weigh in, if we meet and hit it off (I've seen her and she seems kind of aloof and difficult to connect with.) Should I email the director but mention that I'd like to work with this other person who works in the area of my interest?
It's a small question, but for some reason I've had a problem with this and been putting off writing to either one for weeks. I’m afraid of them saying no, so probably that’s another reason I’m putting this off. Thank you in advance for your suggestions!
Since you already have a connection w/ the director, I would contact him directly and see if you could "intern" there for your supervised experience. If you already think the lady you were directed to is hard to connect with, she may not be the best person to approach or want to work directly with.
I would actually call the receptionist (gatekeepers) and ask if there is an intern coordinator. When I worked in a large non-profit there was another person who screened the interns, not our director; I think it was because that person had the training on the documentation needed and the director did not. In any case you can contact the person you were directed to and CC the director.
Good luck and congratulations on getting to this point in your licensing.
Contact them both. You can't do too much networking.
You are being a little confusing. If it were me I would get in contact (probably email)with the person I already know there. Tell her what you have been doing since you left and say that you have always liked that office so and would like to do your internship there.
I'm licensed in this field and could supervise post masters students. Typically contact gets directed towards the clinical director. However, if someone wanted me to supervise them, they could contact me. I would need approval from her, and obviously whether or not we could accommodate your needs would have to be looked at by both of us. I think either would be fine to contact, but ultimately the director will make the decision
