Mental Health Counseling Internships
Mental health counseling internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career changers hands-on client-facing and clinical documentation experience, mentorship from working mental health counselors, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Counseling Works, Incremental Care, and Pivotal Therapy among the employers posting roles now.
Find Mental Health Counseling InternshipsOverview
Showing 5 of 8+ Mental Health Counseling Internships
Come Join Our Flock!
Are you ready to spread your wings and gain meaningful clinical experience in a supportive, fun, and engaging mental health practice? We're looking for a motivated and compassionate Mental Health Counseling Intern who is currently enrolled in an accredited master's-level counseling program and is ready to begin their practicum experience.
Our office may be small, but we're a close-knit team that values learning, laughter, collaboration, and helping people navigate life's challenges. If you're looking for a place where you can grow professionally without feeling like just another duck in the pond, we'd love to meet you!
What You'll Do
As a Counseling Intern, you'll receive hands-on clinical experience while working alongside experienced professionals in a supportive environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Conduct assessments and intake interviews with new clients to identify strengths, needs, and treatment goals.
- Provide individual and group counseling services under supervision.
- Collaborate with the clinical team to develop and implement treatment plans.
- Utilize evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
- Support clients experiencing mental health challenges, substance use concerns, homelessness, and other life stressors.
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with ethical, legal, and professional standards.
- Participate in case consultations, clinical supervision, and team meetings.
- Develop skills working with diverse populations and varying levels of need.
- Learn the day-to-day operations of a community-based mental health practice.
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in an accredited Master's degree program in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field.
- Eligible to begin Practicum and interested in completing both Practicum and Internship with our practice.
- Ability to work in-office.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently while also collaborating with a team.
- Commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical practice.
- Knowledge of counseling theories, interventions, and best practices.
- Familiarity with clinical documentation and ICD-10 diagnoses is preferred.
Why Join Our Team?
- Hands-on clinical experience with diverse populations.
- Individual supervision and mentorship opportunities.
- Supportive and welcoming team culture.
- Small-office environment where your contributions matter.
- Opportunities to develop practical counseling and case management skills.
- A workplace where professionalism and fun can exist in the same pond.
A Little About Us
We're passionate about helping people improve their mental health and quality of life. We believe that learning should be engaging, teamwork should be genuine, and sometimes a well-timed duck joke can make even the busiest day a little brighter.
Whether you're just getting your feet wet in the counseling field or you're ready to dive into clinical work, we'd love to help you grow into the counselor you aspire to become.
Make a difference, build your skills, and don't worry... we're not going to throw you in the deep end of the pond without supervision.
Application Question(s):
- Are you currently enrolled in a Master's program?
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Glen Burnie, MD 21061 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Come Join Our Flock!
Are you ready to spread your wings and gain meaningful clinical experience in a supportive, fun, and engaging mental health practice? We're looking for a motivated and compassionate Mental Health Counseling Intern who is currently enrolled in an accredited master's-level counseling program and is ready to begin their practicum experience.
Our office may be small, but we're a close-knit team that values learning, laughter, collaboration, and helping people navigate life's challenges. If you're looking for a place where you can grow professionally without feeling like just another duck in the pond, we'd love to meet you!
What You'll Do
As a Counseling Intern, you'll receive hands-on clinical experience while working alongside experienced professionals in a supportive environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Conduct assessments and intake interviews with new clients to identify strengths, needs, and treatment goals.
- Provide individual and group counseling services under supervision.
- Collaborate with the clinical team to develop and implement treatment plans.
- Utilize evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
- Support clients experiencing mental health challenges, substance use concerns, homelessness, and other life stressors.
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with ethical, legal, and professional standards.
- Participate in case consultations, clinical supervision, and team meetings.
- Develop skills working with diverse populations and varying levels of need.
- Learn the day-to-day operations of a community-based mental health practice.
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in an accredited Master's degree program in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field.
- Eligible to begin Practicum and interested in completing both Practicum and Internship with our practice.
- Ability to work in-office.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently while also collaborating with a team.
- Commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical practice.
- Knowledge of counseling theories, interventions, and best practices.
- Familiarity with clinical documentation and ICD-10 diagnoses is preferred.
Why Join Our Team?
- Hands-on clinical experience with diverse populations.
- Individual supervision and mentorship opportunities.
- Supportive and welcoming team culture.
- Small-office environment where your contributions matter.
- Opportunities to develop practical counseling and case management skills.
- A workplace where professionalism and fun can exist in the same pond.
A Little About Us
We're passionate about helping people improve their mental health and quality of life. We believe that learning should be engaging, teamwork should be genuine, and sometimes a well-timed duck joke can make even the busiest day a little brighter.
Whether you're just getting your feet wet in the counseling field or you're ready to dive into clinical work, we'd love to help you grow into the counselor you aspire to become.
Make a difference, build your skills, and don't worry... we're not going to throw you in the deep end of the pond without supervision.
Application Question(s):
- Are you currently enrolled in a Master's program?
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Glen Burnie, MD 21061 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Mental Health Counseling Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Mental Health Counseling Internship Search
Apply for summer cohorts in the fall
Large hospital networks, employee assistance programs, and community mental health centers open summer internship applications as early as September. Smaller outpatient clinics and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings in the fall semester and set a recurring reminder so you catch early-open cohorts before they fill.
Build a clinical evidence portfolio before you apply
Hiring supervisors for mental health counseling internships expect limited direct-service hours, so give them something concrete: anonymized case conceptualizations, assessment write-ups from coursework, or documented role-play feedback from practicum seminars. Name the theoretical frameworks and tools you used so reviewers can gauge your clinical preparation.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Your practicum coordinator and faculty supervisors often know which agencies recruit from your program before roles post publicly. Career fairs surface structured university-affiliated placements you won't find elsewhere. At the same time, apply directly to smaller outpatient practices and nonprofit agencies running their own cohorts, since those rarely come through campus channels.
Practice your clinical interview out loud before you apply
Mental health counseling intern screens typically include scenario-based questions where you walk through how you would respond to a presenting client concern or an ethical dilemma. Practice answering out loud and explaining your clinical reasoning step by step, because supervisors weigh how you think through ambiguity as much as the answer you land on.
Target structured counseling internship programs early
Many large healthcare systems, universities, and nonprofit behavioral health organizations run formal cohort internship programs designed to train people new to direct clinical work. These programs provide structured supervision hours, group consultation, and documentation training. They recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones aligned with your licensure track and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 80% of the mental health counseling internships listed here. Decide early whether you can commit to in-person client contact hours, a hybrid supervision schedule, or a fully remote telehealth placement, then filter by work type and location so you are not sorting through roles that don't fit your clinical training requirements.
Mental Health Counseling Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mental health counseling internship?
Lead with coursework and documented case study work rather than work history, since hiring teams know most applicants have limited clinical experience. A portfolio of anonymized session notes, assessment write-ups, or practicum case studies gives supervisors something concrete to evaluate. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where practicum coordinators and recruiters often move faster for students they meet face to face.
Can a mental health counseling internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for mental health counseling interns is consistent clinical performance, positive feedback from supervisors, and whether the site has open headcount when you finish. Position for a return offer by treating every session and documentation task as you would in a paid role, without counting on conversion as a given.
When should I apply for mental health counseling internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large hospital systems, community mental health centers, and corporate employee assistance programs often recruit summer interns the preceding fall. Smaller outpatient practices and co-op placements post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss the early cohorts that fill before spring.
Are mental health counseling internships paid?
Most professional mental health counseling internships in the United States are paid, though compensation varies by employer size, clinical setting, and location. University-required practicum placements tied to licensure hours are sometimes unpaid per program requirements. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it, so you can assess fit before applying.
What should a mental health counseling internship resume include?
Lead with documented clinical and academic projects rather than work history: two or three practicum placements, class-based role-plays, or case conceptualization papers, noting the theoretical frameworks and assessment tools used and where a supervisor or professor can verify the work. Add relevant coursework in abnormal psychology, counseling techniques, and ethics. Keep it to one page.
Are there remote mental health counseling internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 20% of the mental health counseling internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants nationally, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a practicum or clinical internship placement in mental health counseling?
Practicum and clinical internship placements are structured, supervised training experiences required for licensure in most counseling degree programs. They place students at approved clinical sites, schools, or community agencies where they accumulate direct client-contact hours under a licensed supervisor. These placements are competitive, coordinated early through your program, and form the foundation of your post-graduation licensure application.
Can international students get mental health counseling 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.
See All 8 Mental Health Counseling Internship Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mental Health Counseling Internships