Since 2015, CAPACares has had the privilege of welcoming more than 150 university students into our internship program. These students come to us at a pivotal point in their education, ready to learn, ready to serve, and ready to figure out what kind of professionals they want to become. We give them real experience, real clients, and real support. And then we watch them go out into the world and do remarkable things. This series is our way of celebrating them. We reached out to a group of former interns and asked them to reflect on their time with us. What did they love? What did they learn? Where did their path take them? Their answers reminded us of something we believe deeply: a good internship doesn’t just teach skills, it shapes people.
Jhordan Woodard | Social Security Administration | Former CAPACares Board Member (2019-2026)
Jhordan Woodard came to CAPACares as an intern and to this day, he remains fully committed to being a safe person for the people around him. He loved the hands-on experience and the intentional culture he found here, and he carried both into a career with the Social Security Administration and seven years of service on our board of directors. As a board member, Jhordan says he often reflected on his days as an intern as a reminder of what staff and families truly need. That perspective made him a thoughtful and dedicated leader, and we are grateful for every year he gave to this organization.
Imani Baxter | Therapist, Country Crossroads Counseling LLC
Imani Baxter came to CAPACares driven by a desire to provide free, accessible services to people in her community, and she left with something she did not expect: a deep belief in her own abilities. Her supervisor Nicole played a big role in that, consistently reminding Imani that she was capable and belonged in that chair across from her clients. The lesson Imani carries forward is the importance of genuine connection with everyone she encounters, and the reminder to give herself grace along the way. She recently transitioned into a full-time therapist role at Country Crossroads Counseling LLC alongside her best friend and fellow CAPACares alumna Allison Baker, a friendship that started right here in our intern office.
Susan Jones | Senior Program Liaison, Community Mental Health Fund
Susan Jones chose an MSW concentration in administration at a time when field placements for that focus were hard to find, but there was a place for her here at CAPACares. That opportunity helped her develop a blended skill set, both clinical and administrative, that has defined more than two decades of her career. After working as a clinical social worker and serving as Executive Director of an emergency children’s shelter, Susan moved into her current role as Senior Program Liaison at the Community Mental Health Fund, a position she has held for 20 years and an organization that is one of our valued funders today. Her path from intern to community partner is one we are especially proud of.
Meg Nelson | Director of Clinical Services, Hope House
Meg Nelson arrived at CAPACares with an early interest in trauma work, and the training and mentorship she found here helped turn that interest into a calling. She was introduced to Sand Tray Therapy during her internship and has brought it with her to every organization she has worked with since, valuing it for the way it allows clients to communicate without needing words. Meg interned alongside our current VP of Programs, Lexi Wright, and still speaks warmly about the time they shared in the intern office as graduate students figuring out the field together. She now serves as Director of Clinical Services at Hope House, where she leads a clinical team and oversees their internship program, passing on the same kind of investment she once received.
Kristina Jones | President and CEO, CAPACares
Kristina Jones completed her clinical internship at CAPACares in 2013 and 2014, and the experience confirmed what she already suspected: she wanted to dedicate her career to making therapy more powerful and more accessible. Her supervisor gave her the opportunity to observe live therapy sessions, and from that experience Kristina drew a lesson she still carries today: people are the experts in their own lives and growth happens on their own terms. Those values have guided her through 15 years at CAPACares, where she now serves as President and CEO, using her leadership and platform every day to reduce stigma and advocate for communities that deserve greater access to mental health care.
What These Stories Tell Us
Reading through these reflections, a few things stand out to us. Our interns remember the people. The supervisors who believed in them. The peers who became friends. The clients who reminded them why the work matters. They also remember feeling valued, not just as students filling a role, but as members of a team. The professionals featured in this series are now therapists, directors, program liaisons, federal employees, and organizational leaders. They are training the next generation of clinicians, funding mental health services in our community, and leading organizations that serve families every day. We are proud of every one of them. And if you are a CAPACares alumna or alumnus with a story to share, we would love to hear from you.
Interested in the CAPACares Internship Program?
If you are a graduate student in social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy, we invite you to explore what an internship at CAPACares could mean for your career. Our program offers hands-on clinical experience, strong supervision, and a team that is genuinely invested in your growth. To learn more or to apply, visit capacares.org/contact/intern or reach out to us via email. We would love to have you.