For Psychology Majors/Community Clinical Track
The purpose of an undergraduate internship is to expose students to the professional work environment. Students will have the opportunity to see what is being done in the field on a daily basis, connect with other professionals and begin to understand how coursework can be applied to clients and patients.
The following information may be helpful to you as you decide the professional setting in which to complete your internship.
Schools
Working with students and, occasionally, parents and the larger community. Students can be elementary, middle, or high schoolers, or college students.
- Work in conjunction with the school counselor and/or guidance counselor
- Learn how to develop and carry out Individualized Education Plans (IEP)
- Engage with students in educational Life Skills groups
- Assist with community engagement activities like health fairs, career fairs, college readiness programs, etc.
- In the college setting, working with staff responsible for Accessibility Services, Student Life, and Academic Success Services
- Learn how to properly document interactions with students
Experience in this setting can offer many opportunities with many different age groups and levels of education. As an intern, you would be involved with the students in a more direct way, and on a regular basis. This setting is good preparation for students planning to go on to careers in mental health or school counseling, or higher education.
Mental Health Facilities
Working with clients who have a mental health and/or alcohol or drug addiction diagnosis. These clients may by children, adolescents, or adults.
- Work alongside counselors, case managers/CPST’s, and client advocates
- Co-facilitate educational groups
- Complete client intakes and other required paperwork
- Help clients identify and implement healthy lifestyle habits
- Help create wellness recovery action plans
- Connect clients to community resources and services as needed
Experience in this setting provides the broadest exposure to clients with a variety of diagnoses and needs. The experience will allow you to see how a mental health diagnosis impacts all aspects of a person’s life, attitude, physical health, and overall well-being.
Hospitals
Working with patients who are hospitalized because of chronic or acute illness, accident, addiction, or mental health concern.
- Review patient treatment plans
- Co-facilitate educational groups for mental health patients in the hospital
- Shadow doctors and social workers on the mental health unit
- Learn proper documentation
Experience in the hospital setting can be varied but, at times, can be limited. Student interns in the hospital are exposed to a variety of diagnoses, and can gain insight into what intervention and approach works best with a particular patient. These internships are in high demand from students in other disciplines like nursing, for example.
Community Social Service Agencies
Working with individuals, children and/or families in need in a variety of settings such as shelters, drop-in centers, and community agencies. These clients may be victims of abuse, suffering from mental health or addiction issues, experiencing unemployment, or experiencing homelessness.
- Work with case managers, client advocates, and professionals from other social service agencies
- Complete client intakes and other required paperwork
- Learn proper documentation
- Learn how to appropriately interact with clients experiencing a variety of issues
- Understand and assess client needs
- Connect clients to community resources and services as needed
Experience in these, often non-profit community social service agencies, provide the intern with the opportunity to assist clients at their most basic level of need. This setting allows for a student who is interested in becoming a counselor or Licensed Social Worker to see how important it is for these basic needs to be met before a client can make further progress in their treatment or recovery plan.