Emily Bloch is a clinical social work intern at CHD’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in Greenfield. In her final semester in Westfield State University’s Master of Social Work program, she feels that her internship is “a great step before entering the workforce.”

She said that applying what she learned in the classroom to a real-world setting has been invaluable. “I’m gaining so much confidence and knowledge in this internship,” she said. “When I started, I didn’t know the population of Greenfield and the surrounding towns very well, but now I’m seeing firsthand the effects of the opioid epidemic here. And for the first time I’m working with mandated clients, and this internship has enabled me to develop a compassion for them and focus part of my fellowship project on their needs.”

Bloch pointed out that her internship has taught her versatility, preparing her to expect the unexpected. “I expected that I’d be talking with adults, but I also have a child that I see every other week, and I did not expect that I would be working with so many folks either in recovery or who are seeking recovery and involved in the legal system,” she said.

She said she values having colleagues and supervisors she can rely on for information and advice, pointing out that she can ask questions—and get answers— both in individual supervision and group supervision. And when she had a momentary crisis in confidence, wondering “whether or not I would turn out to be a good clinician,” she could depend on Greenfield Clinic Internship Supervisor Dominique Wells and Clinical Supervisor Liam Bothelo, who are both former CHD interns, for reassurance and support.

“This is a special place and I feel very fortunate to be here,” she said.