Behavioral Health Therapist Internships
Behavioral health therapist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on clinical and counseling experience, mentorship from working behavioral health therapists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover 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 Therapist 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 Therapist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Tips for Your Behavioral Health Therapist Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer clinical cohorts
Large hospital systems and behavioral health organizations open summer internship applications the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester starts. Smaller nonprofits and co-op programs post closer to their start dates. Check listings in September and October so you are not shut out of the most structured programs before you realize recruiting has begun.
Build a clinical portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams at this level expect limited paid experience, so documented evidence of your coursework matters more than your resume length. Compile two or three practicum logs, case conceptualizations, or supervised session summaries that show the population you worked with and the therapeutic approaches you practiced. A one-page summary of outcomes you tracked gives reviewers something concrete to assess.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured clinical placements tied to your university's affiliation agreements, and faculty supervisors often know which organizations recruit from your program before roles post publicly. Applying directly to community mental health centers and private group practices running smaller cohorts widens the pool you reach beyond what your school's placement office lists.
Practice your clinical interview format out loud
Behavioral health therapist intern screens typically include a role-play or case vignette where you walk through an initial assessment, identify presenting concerns, and explain your approach. Practice explaining your reasoning aloud, since interviewers weigh how you think through a client scenario as much as the conclusion you reach. Record yourself once so you can catch hesitation patterns before the real screen.
Target structured clinical training programs at larger organizations
Hospital networks, large behavioral health companies, and community mental health federations run cohort-based internship programs built to train candidates new to direct practice, sometimes called clinical training or practicum programs. These programs recruit early, provide structured supervision hours that count toward licensure, and fill their cohorts fast, so identify the ones that match your degree track and apply in the first round.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the behavioral health therapist internships listed here, since many clinical settings require in-person client contact and supervised hours. Decide whether you can commit to on-site, hybrid, or remote work before you start applying, then filter by location and work type so you are not spending time on roles that do not fit your situation or licensure-hour requirements.
Behavioral Health Therapist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a behavioral health therapist internship?
Lead with your academic foundation rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited clinical experience at the intern level. Highlight relevant coursework in psychology, counseling theory, and human development alongside any case studies, supervised practicum logs, or documented client interaction simulations that give reviewers something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where behavioral health recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a behavioral health therapist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for behavioral health therapist interns is performance on real caseloads, the team's open headcount at the end of the term, and the timing of their return-offer decisions. Show initiative with client documentation, ask for feedback mid-term, and treat every supervised session seriously without counting on an offer materializing.
When should I apply for behavioral health therapist internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large hospital systems, community mental health organizations, and behavioral health companies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller nonprofits, private practices, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role fits your availability gives you the strongest position.
Are behavioral health therapist internships paid?
Most professional behavioral health therapist internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, with hospital networks and larger behavioral health organizations generally offering higher stipends or hourly rates than small nonprofits. Where an employer discloses compensation, it appears directly in the listing, so you can compare offers as you apply.
What should a behavioral health therapist internship resume include?
Lead with projects and clinical experience rather than unrelated work history. Include two or three documented practicum placements, supervised role-play case studies, or research projects, noting the population served, the therapeutic approaches practiced, and any supervisor evaluations or outcome data you can reference. Add relevant coursework in counseling, abnormal psychology, and ethics. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote behavioral health therapist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the behavioral health therapist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill quickly because they attract applicants across the country, so apply early once you find a role that fits your schedule and licensure-hour requirements. Filter by work type to see remote and hybrid openings without sorting through on-site roles you cannot take.
What is a clinical practicum internship for behavioral health therapists?
A clinical practicum is a structured, supervised internship embedded in a degree program that places students directly with clients in a mental health setting, such as a community clinic, hospital, or school. It targets people new to direct practice, counts toward licensure hours in most states, and recruits on academic-year cycles that fill early. Identify practicum partners affiliated with your program and apply in the first wave of your program's placement process.
Can international students get behavioral health therapist 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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