Behavioral Health Specialist Internships
Behavioral health specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on clinical and community-based project experience, mentorship from working behavioral health specialists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Healthcare & Medical Services, with ABA Support Services, Optum, and National Youth Advocate Program among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 15+ Behavioral Health Specialist Internships
Medical Management & Policy Intern
Independence Blue Cross
Serving more than 8 million people nationwide, including 2.5 million in southeastern Pennsylvania, Independence Blue Cross — together with its subsidiaries — is the leading health insurance organization in the Philadelphia region. Our mission to build healthier lives for you, your family, and your employees shapes our actions and decisions every day.
At Independence, we see each of our members as an individual, with unique needs and concerns. We’re dedicated to harnessing the very latest ideas and technologies to deliver access to care that meets those needs and surpasses your expectations. For more information about Independence access our website at www.ibx.com. We’re revolutionizing health care, and our focus is on you!
About The Department:
The Medical Management & Policy Behavioral Health team is dedicated to supporting whole-person health by helping members access high-quality behavioral health care and services. Through collaboration with healthcare providers, care management teams, and other stakeholders, the department works to promote positive health outcomes, improve member experiences, and ensure access to appropriate behavioral health resources. Interns will gain exposure to initiatives that support member well-being, healthcare quality, and care delivery.
Job Description:
The Medical Management & Policy intern will help support a new project to better understand our behavioral health (BH) provider network. The project entails cataloguing our community Behavioral Health providers, assessing and validating their capabilities (various medical and therapy disciplines) and producing a SharePoint site to aid care navigators seeking to match members in need with the most appropriate treatment.
Key responsibilities may include:
- Support initiatives focused on improving access to behavioral health services and enhancing the overall member experience.
- Assist with collecting, organizing, and maintaining information related to healthcare provider networks and community-based resources.
- Conduct research and analysis to help assess provider capabilities, service offerings, and areas of specialization.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate information and ensure data accuracy and completeness.
- Help develop and maintain tools, resources, and documentation that support care coordination and operational processes.
- Contribute to the creation and organization of content within collaboration platforms and knowledge-sharing sites.
- Analyze data and summarize findings to support decision-making, project planning, and process improvements.
- Participate in project meetings, provide status updates, and assist with the execution of key project deliverables.
- Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and enhance resource accessibility for internal stakeholders.
- Present project insights, recommendations, and outcomes to team members and leadership as appropriate.
Qualifications:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with a variety of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to take detailed notes, organize information, and maintain accurate documentation.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality, accurate work.
- Ability to conduct research, analyze information, and summarize findings in a clear and concise manner.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Comfortable working independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
- Interest in healthcare, behavioral health, provider networks, care coordination, or healthcare operations.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and maintain confidentiality when appropriate.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for process improvement.
- Eagerness to learn, contribute to meaningful projects, and gain hands-on experience in a professional healthcare environment.
- SharePoint experience preferred
Education:
- Pursuing a degree in Psychology
- Current Junior, Senior, or Recent grad up to one year
GPA Requirement:
- 3.0+ or above
Program Dates
Program Start Date: June 1, 2027
Program Completion Date: August 6, 2027
Work Hours
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (37.5 hours per week)
Location
1901 Market Street, Philadelphia 19103
IBX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or disability.
Must have an Android or iOS device which is compatible with the free Microsoft Authenticator app.
Medical Management & Policy Intern
Independence Blue Cross
Serving more than 8 million people nationwide, including 2.5 million in southeastern Pennsylvania, Independence Blue Cross — together with its subsidiaries — is the leading health insurance organization in the Philadelphia region. Our mission to build healthier lives for you, your family, and your employees shapes our actions and decisions every day.
At Independence, we see each of our members as an individual, with unique needs and concerns. We’re dedicated to harnessing the very latest ideas and technologies to deliver access to care that meets those needs and surpasses your expectations. For more information about Independence access our website at www.ibx.com. We’re revolutionizing health care, and our focus is on you!
About The Department:
The Medical Management & Policy Behavioral Health team is dedicated to supporting whole-person health by helping members access high-quality behavioral health care and services. Through collaboration with healthcare providers, care management teams, and other stakeholders, the department works to promote positive health outcomes, improve member experiences, and ensure access to appropriate behavioral health resources. Interns will gain exposure to initiatives that support member well-being, healthcare quality, and care delivery.
Job Description:
The Medical Management & Policy intern will help support a new project to better understand our behavioral health (BH) provider network. The project entails cataloguing our community Behavioral Health providers, assessing and validating their capabilities (various medical and therapy disciplines) and producing a SharePoint site to aid care navigators seeking to match members in need with the most appropriate treatment.
Key responsibilities may include:
- Support initiatives focused on improving access to behavioral health services and enhancing the overall member experience.
- Assist with collecting, organizing, and maintaining information related to healthcare provider networks and community-based resources.
- Conduct research and analysis to help assess provider capabilities, service offerings, and areas of specialization.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate information and ensure data accuracy and completeness.
- Help develop and maintain tools, resources, and documentation that support care coordination and operational processes.
- Contribute to the creation and organization of content within collaboration platforms and knowledge-sharing sites.
- Analyze data and summarize findings to support decision-making, project planning, and process improvements.
- Participate in project meetings, provide status updates, and assist with the execution of key project deliverables.
- Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and enhance resource accessibility for internal stakeholders.
- Present project insights, recommendations, and outcomes to team members and leadership as appropriate.
Qualifications:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with a variety of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to take detailed notes, organize information, and maintain accurate documentation.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality, accurate work.
- Ability to conduct research, analyze information, and summarize findings in a clear and concise manner.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Comfortable working independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
- Interest in healthcare, behavioral health, provider networks, care coordination, or healthcare operations.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and maintain confidentiality when appropriate.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for process improvement.
- Eagerness to learn, contribute to meaningful projects, and gain hands-on experience in a professional healthcare environment.
- SharePoint experience preferred
Education:
- Pursuing a degree in Psychology
- Current Junior, Senior, or Recent grad up to one year
GPA Requirement:
- 3.0+ or above
Program Dates
Program Start Date: June 1, 2027
Program Completion Date: August 6, 2027
Work Hours
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (37.5 hours per week)
Location
1901 Market Street, Philadelphia 19103
IBX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or disability.
Must have an Android or iOS device which is compatible with the free Microsoft Authenticator app.
Behavioral Health Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Tips for Your Behavioral Health Specialist Internship Search
Apply to summer internships in the fall
Large hospital systems, government behavioral health agencies, and national nonprofits open summer intern applications as early as September or October. Smaller community organizations and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so set up alerts and check listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting window.
Build a clinical project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for behavioral health specialist internships expect limited work history and look for documented evidence of competence instead. Prepare two or three case studies, community needs assessments, or group facilitation summaries that name the population, the approach you used, and the outcome. A linked written sample or report gives recruiters something concrete to assess.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and professors or field supervisors often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller behavioral health organizations running their own cohorts alongside campus activity reaches employers who never attend university fairs.
Practice your intern interview format out loud before submitting
Behavioral health specialist intern screens typically include scenario-based questions, where you walk through how you would respond to a client situation or ethical dilemma. Practice explaining your reasoning aloud, not just arriving at an answer, since interviewers weigh your clinical thinking process as much as your conclusion. Do at least three practice runs before your first real screen.
Target structured internship programs built for new entrants
Larger healthcare systems and behavioral health organizations run cohort-based intern programs designed specifically for candidates without prior clinical employment, including behavioral health technician training tracks and rotational community mental health placements. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often include supervision hours that count toward licensure, so identify the ones that fit and apply in the first posting wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the behavioral health specialist internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before sorting through openings, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you only spend time on roles you can actually accept.
Behavioral Health Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a behavioral health specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and documented case studies or clinical project write-ups rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio of assessed client scenarios or community outreach projects gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where behavioral health program recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a behavioral health specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for behavioral health specialist interns is consistent performance on real casework, available headcount on the team, and clarity about return-offer timelines before the internship ends. Position for one by treating every client interaction and documentation task as evaluated work, without counting on the offer.
When should I apply for behavioral health specialist internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large hospital systems, nonprofits, and government agencies recruit for summer cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller community organizations and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check regularly and apply as soon as a role opens rather than waiting for a single season.
Are behavioral health specialist internships paid?
Most professional behavioral health specialist internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Some nonprofit and government placements offer stipends rather than hourly wages, while larger healthcare systems and private employers tend to pay competitively. Listings show compensation where the employer discloses it, so you can compare before applying.
What should a behavioral health specialist internship resume include?
Lead with two or three documented projects rather than work history: name the population or setting, the intervention or assessment approach used, and link to a case study, clinical reflection, or community program report where possible. Add relevant coursework in psychology, social work, or counseling. Keep the entire resume to one page and put your strongest clinical or research project first.
Are there remote behavioral health specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the behavioral health specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts in areas like crisis support, telehealth coordination, and program evaluation fill quickly, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a behavioral health technician or BHT internship track?
Some larger healthcare systems and residential treatment organizations offer structured behavioral health technician training internships that rotate new graduates through direct-support, documentation, and group facilitation settings. These tracks are built for people entering the field without prior clinical employment, recruit competitively, and often run on fixed cohort schedules, so identifying open tracks and applying in the first posting window matters.
Can international students get behavioral health specialist internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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