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 {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Judson Center, Metropolitan Family Services, and Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley among the employers posting roles now.
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See related jobsIf asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do.
Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 205,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment. Are you looking to have an impact on more than just a company’s bottom line? Then we’d love to hear from you!
We are now seeking a part-time intern for the fall to join our Behavioral Health Team at our Southeast Center!
INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assisting with case management tasks such as intake, assessment, treatment planning, therapy, case management, progress notes, care coordination, and more.
- Collaborating with other team members
- Locating resources for clients
- Co-facilitating treatment groups with team members
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's-level students pursuing degrees in psychology, social work, or counseling are preferred.
- Seeking students who are passionate about community mental health and who want to work across the lifespan with underserved clients
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Satisfactorily pass all relevant screening and criminal background checks
TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must have access to a vehicle, proof of insurance, and a valid driver's license to perform essential functions, required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- While performing the essential duties of this internship, the intern is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch. The intern is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal. The intern may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do.
Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 205,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment. Are you looking to have an impact on more than just a company’s bottom line? Then we’d love to hear from you!
We are now seeking a part-time intern for the fall to join our Behavioral Health Team at our Southeast Center!
INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assisting with case management tasks such as intake, assessment, treatment planning, therapy, case management, progress notes, care coordination, and more.
- Collaborating with other team members
- Locating resources for clients
- Co-facilitating treatment groups with team members
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's-level students pursuing degrees in psychology, social work, or counseling are preferred.
- Seeking students who are passionate about community mental health and who want to work across the lifespan with underserved clients
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Satisfactorily pass all relevant screening and criminal background checks
TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must have access to a vehicle, proof of insurance, and a valid driver's license to perform essential functions, required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- While performing the essential duties of this internship, the intern is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch. The intern is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal. The intern may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Behavioral Health Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
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 50% 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 50% 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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