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Psychology Internships That Can Make a Difference

Mar 13, 2024

Finding the ideal internship role is critical to your future as a psychologist, therapist or social worker. Not only do you need to complete an internship in order to finish your qualifications, but your internship can make a critical difference when it comes to your knowledge and skills in the future. Make sure you know what to look for in a psychology internship program, including what elements you should consider. As a leader in evidence-based practices, MHS is here to provide you with what to look for in a psychology internship near Plymouth, MN.

What Does a Psychology Internship Entail?

A psychology internship gives you the opportunity to get practical, hands-on practice as a psychologist within an existing program.

Doctoral Internship Programs

A doctoral internship program gives you the opportunity to work directly with clients in a community mental health setting.

At Mental Health Systems, you will have the chance to work with clients with a variety of conditions, including patients with major depression, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia.

Through the program, students will be able to engage in a variety of strategies and techniques, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, also known as DBT. Doctoral interns will receive the training they need to become effective professionals in the practice of clinical psychology. They will:

• Utilize the Local Clinical Scientist model of training
• Apply information gained through research and scientific methods to each new client
• Identify social, biological, and psychological factors and their impact on a client’s mental health symptoms
• Utilize that information in therapeutic intervention with clients

As a result of their internship, doctoral interns will become more effective practitioners who have better developed their skills by working directly with the community.

Masters Internship Program

In addition to the doctoral internship program, MHS offers internship opportunities for students seeking a master’s degree in social work, counseling psychology, or clinical psychology. Through this program, students will have the opportunity to go through extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Over time, students will co-facilitate, then facilitate, DBT groups to help further develop their skills.

Students will also attend staff training on mental health-related topics and sessions, which will provide them with deeper insight into the facility and its strategies.

How To Make Your Psychology Internship Application Stand Out

In order to begin a psychology internship, you will need to submit an application that showcases your skills and provides more information about why the practice or clinic you’re considering should choose you. Try these strategies to help your application stand out.

• Highlight relevant experience or classes on your resume. Tailor your application to the location where you’d like to receive an internship offer, including highlighting the specific details of training or experience that relate to that clinic’s primary area of practice.
• Showcase your interest. Not only have you taken classes in specific areas, but you may want to focus your eventual practice on a particular area of psychology or social work. Let your interest stand out as part of your cover letter or your talking points during your interview.
• Get to know the practice before you apply. Don’t just submit applications at random; instead, focus on practices that reflect your interests and future goals.
• Let your application show what makes you different from other applicants. Highlight your extracurricular interests, including volunteer activities, and show how they make you the ideal applicant for a position.

Crafting a practical application can make all the difference as you apply for internships and seek out a future role.

Psychology Internships Through MHS

At MHS, we are dedicated to training future mental health professionals and providing them with the tools they need to be successful, both during their internships and their future careers. Reach out to us to learn more about our internship programs and how they can help you gain the experience you need to shine in your future psychology career.

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