Administrative Assistant Internship

Our paid Counseling  Administrative Assistant Internship helps individuals gain essential skills for employment and allows the opportunity for future employment with Ash & Birch Counseling. You will work closely with our virtual administrative assistant and clinicians. 

Within the internship, the intern will gain a mix of administrative, interpersonal, and technical skills that support mental health professionals. Some key skills include:

Administrative & Organizational Skills

• Scheduling appointments and managing calendars for therapists or/and dietitians.
• Handling patient records and maintaining confidentiality (HIPAA compliance).
• Processing insurance claims and verifying patient coverage.
• Filing, faxing, and organizing medical documentation. 
• Answering phones, emails, and front-desk inquiries.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Speaking with patients empathetically and professionally.
• Assisting with intake forms and new patient registration.
• Coordinating with providers, clients, and insurance providers
• Handling crisis calls with appropriate discretion and escalation.

Technical Skills

• Using Electronic Health Records (EHR) software. 
• Managing databases and spreadsheets. 
• Working with telehealth platforms. 
• Learning billing and coding basics for mental health counseling and nutrition services.

Compliance & Ethics

• Understanding patient confidentiality laws (HIPAA). 
• Learning about informed consent and client rights.
• Recognizing signs of mental health crises and proper response protocols.

 Problem-Solving & Adaptability 

• Handling scheduling conflicts and urgent patient needs.
• Managing high-stress situations with professionalism.
• Assisting with insurance claim denials or billing discrepancies.

The paid internship serves young adults between the ages of 21 to 24 years old. 

Interns must be enrolled in the Work Experience Program which allows them to obtain essential skills and experience for employment in Pierce County. Interns must be able to work a span of 160 to 320 hours. 

Preferred qualification of candidates being enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant degree program (e.g., healthcare administration, business administration, marketing). 

Interns will also have to complete a background check and pass a background check before starting the internship program.

This is a hybrid position which allows for a combination of remote and in-office work.

Interns will be paid $16.66 to $18.90 per hours. Interns will be external source outside of Ash & Birch Counseling.

If you are interested in interning at Ash & Birch Counseling, please fill out the Counseling Administrative Assistant Intern Application.