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 {{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 Therapist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
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 50% 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 50% 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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