How to Find a Psychology Internship

by

Updated March 13, 2024

check mark Edited by
So, you're a psychology student and you want an internship. But how do you find a good internship when you study online? These psychology experts offer advice.

Psychology.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Psychology student intern helping at community center Credit: SolStock / E+ / Getty Images

For many psychology students, an internship is an integral part of their education. These hands-on experiences provide learners with a real-world context to apply what they've learned in their lectures and readings.

Not all psychology students need to complete an internship to graduate. Undergraduate learners can often choose whether or not to participate, while graduate students usually complete an internship as a program requirement. Even if an internship or practicum isn't mandatory, students can gain supervised experience before beginning their careers.

Online learners can also participate in internships, but these opportunities may take time to find. Learn about the benefits of an internship and how to find one.

Popular Online Master's in Psychology Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Benefits of a Psychology Internship

For undergraduate psychology students, an internship can help them choose a specialization. "It also can help identify populations that the student may want to work with or not want to work with," said Melissa Meade, a mental health counselor specializing in dance/movement therapy.

The most significant benefits of a psychology internship are the practical skills you gain. Students can apply theories they learned in the classroom to real-life professional settings.

Additionally, internship experience can make students more marketable when searching for jobs, said Dr. Jeanne Slattery, a professor of psychology and a licensed psychologist.

Skills Gained in a Psychology Internship

One of the main benefits of any internship is developing valuable skills you can carry into the beginning of your career.

"Because internships take many different forms and students enter internships with many different skills and needs, there will be a wide range of skills obtained," Slattery said. "I encourage my students to talk with their internship supervisor about goals and expectations from early in their internship."

  • Empathy

    "The student can learn how to deal with his/her emotions in response to the clients/patients," Meade said. "Students may not expect the depth of response that they may have when working with people."

  • Listening

    Truly listening makes up a huge part of psychologists' profession. Deep listening is not always an easy task. The earlier students begin practicing, the better.

  • Communication

    In addition to carefully listening to their clients, psychologists must also adequately communicate with them.

    Psychologists encounter many personalities on the job, and they must have the ability to work with different people and populations.

  • Analytical skills

    Interns can observe how professional psychologists deal with challenges on the job. They can also observe how these psychologists use their analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve those challenges.

Finding a Psychology Internship

Landing a psychology internship can be tricky for online learners who do not have the benefit of on-campus resources. Traditional students can always walk into a career office or talk to recruiters who visit campus. But for online students, the process looks a bit different.

Distance learners must self-direct their search. They should begin by looking for positions at social services organizations — such as foster care and women's shelters — as well as psych hospitals and rehab treatment centers. They might also look into regular hospitals, cancer centers, hospice locations, children's services, and community mental health providers.

Keep in mind, though, that for organizations without much funding — community services and nonprofit groups, for example — internships may not be paid. "Nonprofit organizations will likely want help, but may have limited opportunities to work with professionals as guides or mentors," Meade said.

When to Start Looking for a Psychology Internship

Undergraduate students should wait until their junior or senior years, although Slattery advised that degree-seekers start volunteering before then.

Graduate students should also consider their school's requirements. "I would start looking for placements the semester before it is required," Meade shared. "If it is not required, I would start in the early spring to look for something in the summer."

Advice for Students Seeking Psychology Internships

How to Find a Psychology Internship

Now that you understand the benefits of a psychology internship, when to start looking, and where to find support, it's time to put that into practice. Discover five essential steps to landing a psychology internship for undergraduate students.

Figure out the internship policy

Before you choose an internship, you should find out about your program's internship requirements. While internships at the graduate level are expected, psychology internships for undergraduate students are less common. Find out if your program offers credit for internships and what sites, settings, and roles it accepts.

Research the opportunities

You can learn more about the internship opportunities at your school, such as the industries, organizations, and roles that interest you the most. If nothing jumps out at you, find out what opportunities similar programs from other schools offer students. If your desired internship isn't pre-approved at your school, you may be able to submit a proposal for consideration.

Speak to your professors

Your professors can provide valuable insight into the field and potential internships available to you. They can highlight specific industries or organizations to contact or point you in the direction of a certain role that may offer a useful or unique experience. They might even provide an introduction with an internship supervisor or coordinator to improve your chances of getting accepted.

Contact career services

Most schools have an internship coordinator to help students work through the process but career services may also be of help (especially if there is no internship coordinator). Career services may have a list of organizations that have previously taken on interns or graduates from your program.

Reach out to local organizations

Make a list of organizations in your field and region, including nonprofit clinics and research labs. Research the ongoing projects at these sites, the type of work being conducted, and the supervisors running them. You can then contact the organization to ask if they accept interns — following up with specific information about how your strengths and professional interests might fit well with the opportunity.

Student Resources

American Psychological Association Careers Page

The APA is the largest professional organization for psychologists in the U.S. Here, you can find plenty of resources and advice on internships and starting your career.

Society for Personality and Social Psychology Internships Board

You can find a list of non-academic internships relating to psychology on the SPSP website.

APPIC Internship Matching Program

If you're a doctoral student in psychology, you can use this service to find an internship.

Internships in Psychology

This book helps students find the right internship for them. It also offers advice on how to write a successful internship application.

UC Davis Resume Templates

If you need help writing your resume, explore this resource. UC Davis compiled a list of several resumes and CVs, which can help you structure your own.

Meet Our Contributors

Portrait of Dr. Jeanne M. Slattery

Dr. Jeanne M. Slattery

Dr. Jeanne M. Slattery is a professor of psychology and a licensed psychologist with a small private practice. She sits on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and has written three books — one of which is coming out in a second edition in 2020. She loves teaching — and her students — and loves thinking about what will help them meet their goals.


Portrait of Melissa Meade

Melissa Meade

After a successful 30+ year career, Melissa Meade felt a deep desire to help others, leading her to become a mental health counselor. Additionally, having experienced the healing power of dance in her own life, she further pursued credentialing in dance/movement therapy. Melissa uses an embodied approach in therapy. She believes that every person has the internal ability to heal and everyone needs help from time to time. Her work with clients is informed by a humanistic approach, using aspects of solution/strengths-based, attachment-focused, and psychodynamic theories.

Latest Posts