How to Find a Psychology Internship
Internships play a crucial role in accumulating practical experience within psychology. They facilitate professional connections and allow you to gain additional training in specific areas of interest through hands-on experiences.
The best psychology internship programs strengthen resumes, provide valuable avenues to letters of recommendation, and can even become full-time jobs. However, finding these opportunities can be challenging, as they are not often widely publicized.
Here’s a checklist of steps tailored specifically for students pursuing a career in psychology. We’ll dive into each step in detail below.
- Identify your specialization
- Learn your school’s internship policy
- Engage with your department
- Utilize professional associations
- Apply with precision
- Prepare for the interview
- Reflect on your experience
Identify Your Specialization
Psychology is a broad field, and internships can vary greatly depending on your interest. Are you drawn to clinical psychology, where you might work in therapeutic settings, or are you more interested in cognitive psychology and research? Perhaps forensic psychology or neuropsychology piques your interest? Identifying your specialization early will help focus your internship search on opportunities that align closely with your career goals.
Learn Your School’s Internship Policy
Before selecting an internship, it's essential to understand your program's specific requirements. While internships are typically a standard part of graduate studies, they are less frequently required at the undergraduate level. Determine whether your program awards academic credit for internships and familiarize yourself with the types of sites, settings, and roles recognized and accepted by your educational institution.
Engage with Your Department
Many psychology departments connect with local healthcare facilities, universities, and research labs. It's beneficial to consult with your professors, advisors, or the department head to find out about potential opportunities they are aware of or are participating in. They can help you align your academic efforts with these opportunities.
Utilize Professional Associations
Professional associations are goldmines for networking opportunities and internship listings. Associations often have student chapters and offer conferences, newsletters, and forums where internship opportunities are posted.
Apply with Precision
When applying for internships, customize your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences required by each organization. Highlight any relevant coursework, volunteer work, and practical experience you have gained through your studies. Your cover letter should convey your passion for the field and enthusiasm for the specific opportunity.
Prepare for the Interview
Interviews for psychology internships can be intensive, as organizations look for candidates with the requisite academic background, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills. Be prepared to discuss psychological theories, your research interests, and how you handle complex clinical situations. You might also be asked to role-play scenarios to demonstrate your clinical or counseling skills.
Reflect on Your Experience
After completing your internship, take the time to reflect on what you’ve learned and how it aligns with your career aspirations. Discuss your experience with mentors and peers, and consider how you can use the insights gained to further your academic and professional goals.
Finding the right internship in psychology requires a thoughtful approach that aligns your academic interests with professional opportunities. By following these steps, you can enhance your prospects of finding an internship that offers valuable experience and a solid stepping stone toward your future career in psychology.
Seek Mentorship from Faculty & Staff
Some PAU degree programs offer services that help students get placed into internships. For example, at Palo Alto University, the Masters of Social Work program has a dedicated Field Director who meets with students throughout the internship application process, helping them curate a list of relevant, target positions as well as build the most compelling application materials. If your graduate program has services like this, be sure to take advantage to give yourself the best chance of placement. For our Undergrad degree, senior interns will earn academic credit toward graduation and students are supervised by a professional member of the agency staff. They are also mentored by a PAU professor, who helps them integrate their internship experiences with their coursework.
Student Resources
- If you are pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology, you can use APPIC to discover an internship opportunity.
- APA highlights some internship and clinical opportunities for undergraduate and high school students.
- Explore the APA’s list of undergraduate research opportunities, another excellent method for deepening your experience and understanding of psychology.
- This book helps students find the right internship and offers advice on how to write a successful internship application.
- Chegg offers many resources, from resume building to interview preparation, to help you acquire the necessary skills for a lasting career. Join their waitlist to learn the skills that can lead to landing your dream job.
The APA offers plenty of resources and advice on internships and starting your career.
Blog Contributor Dr. Amanda Beltrani
Amanda Beltrani, PhD, is a licensed forensic and clinical psychologist. She obtained a master’s degree in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She then earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
She completed an APA-accredited internship on the forensic psychology track at New York University-Bellevue Hospital. Dr. Beltrani has published over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on competency to stand trial, clinical assessment and decision making, serious mental illness, and barriers to implementing evidence-based practices.
Currently, she is a staff psychologist at Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center in New York City. She works on a secure ward, conducting forensic psychological evaluations for the Courts as well as treatment and intervention programs for patients with various psychological and legal issues. In addition, Dr. Beltrani works part-time for CONCEPT Continuing & Professional Studies at Palo Alto University, providing new or aspiring mental health professionals with information about various aspects of practice to elevate their career and professional fulfillment.
About Palo Alto University
Palo Alto University offers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs with online, hybrid and residential options. An engaged faculty, who make significant contributions to their fields and thrive as mentors, prepare practitioners and students through rigorous educational programs, research and extensive hands-on clinical practice. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling, making a difference in their communities.