Yeji Jang, Master of Social Work Direct Student

Practicum experiences look a little different in the pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped Master of Social Work student Yeji Jang from making the most of her remote internship with Espyr, a behavioral health company based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Espyr employs thousands of social workers around the country to provide employee assistance, student assistance, and coaching programs. Jang works in Espyr’s network provider relationship department, where she screens and interviews practitioners who want to join the company’s network. She additionally attends to client complaints and helps resolve any issues with providers.

“I’m glad I did this practicum because I’ve gained a lot of experience working with providers on the clinical side of social work and learning what they go through,” Jang said. “It’s taught me about ethical dilemmas, issues of confidentiality, and professional behavior.”

Jang also researches and writes for Espyr’s company blog. Her blog posts have covered topics such as COVID-19 and the rise of discrimination against Asian-Americans and practicing self-care.

Espyr’s Chief Clinical Officer Norman Winegar said the company is grateful for Jang’s contributions and has worked to create a meaningful internship experience for her.

“We’re so happy with our relationship with interns and with Yeji’s work in particular,” Winegar said. “She’s a great writer and has done a fabulous job.”

Jang trusts that her internship at Espyr will help prepare her for a career in clinical social work. She enjoys supporting patients in one-on-one settings and hopes to work in a hospital or geriatric office after graduation.