15 Clinical Psychology Internships for Undergraduates
Internships are a good step for college students because they bridge the gap between classroom theory and industry, letting you develop professional skills before you even graduate. They give you a firsthand look at how an industry operates and allow you to build valuable connections with experienced professionals. This experience boosts your resume, making you stand out to future employers. Additionally, with the rise of online internships, gaining this kind of experience is more accessible than ever, allowing you to work with top companies without commute or relocation costs.
Why should I do a clinical psychology internship in college?
A clinical psychology internship can give you a clearer understanding of how mental health services and research are carried out. You can gain exposure to patient-facing environments, such as counseling centers, community programs, or hospital-affiliated clinics, while picking up skills like interviewing, documentation, data analysis, and program development. These experiences can enhance your applications for graduate programs and entry-level mental health or research roles. By working alongside board-certified clinicians, faculty, and peers, you build connections that can lead to future research opportunities, recommendations, or job leads after graduation.
How did we choose the best clinical psychology internships?
First, we looked at the prestige of the host institutions to ensure these programs will stand out on a graduate school application. We’ve closely examined the rigor of professional experience each role offers, prioritizing programs where you will shadow licensed therapists, assist with clinical research, and learn practical behavioral interventions. Finally, we weighed the opportunities to network, selecting internships that connect you with experienced mentors and industry leaders.
Here are the 15 best clinical psychology internships for undergraduates!
1. Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship – Behavioral Health Track
Location: Hybrid internship, with in-person sessions at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1–3 interns per summer
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in psychology, counseling, or related fields
During this internship, you will work under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in evidence-based treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Your responsibilities will include participating in case management, shadowing clinical sessions with the behavioral health team, and assisting with data entry for program evaluation and outcome measurement. You will receive regular supervision and training sessions, providing structured mentorship and feedback on professional and ethical standards in clinical settings. Throughout the internship, you will gain exposure to diagnostic assessments, therapeutic approaches, and consultation processes used in pediatric behavioral health.
2. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Lurie Center for Autism’s Summer Undergraduate Research Internships
Location: MGH Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, MA
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; small cohorts
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Rising college juniors and seniors (exceptional rising sophomores will also be considered) majoring in psychology, biology, neuroscience, or pre-med studies
As an intern at the MGH Lurie Center for Autism, you will spend nine weeks at a leading clinical and research center focused on autism spectrum disorder and related conditions, gaining exposure to both research and clinical care environments. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and assigned a semi-independent project, contributing to ongoing clinical, preclinical, or translational research initiatives. Your work may involve literature analysis, data management, patient recruitment support, biosample analysis, neuroimaging, and research study design. You will also have opportunities to observe clinical services across specialities, including psychology, psychiatry, and neurology.
3. Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship at the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Stipend: Up to $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive with a limited number of placements
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising junior and senior undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens (international students currently enrolled in U.S. undergraduate degree-granting institutions are also eligible to apply)
This internship assigns you to a faculty-led project that may involve clinical observations, community-based research, or applied developmental and clinical psychology studies. Your work may include analyzing archived data, assisting with research methods, and supporting projects related to child and adolescent behavior, addiction, or social-emotional development. You will gain exposure to the Center’s interdisciplinary approach, which integrates neuroscience, developmental science, and clinical practice within a pediatric and behavioral health context. The internship also includes lectures, seminars, and journal clubs that connect your project work to broader topics in child mental health and professional pathways.
4. Instructional ABA Consultants Internships
Location: Multiple locations, including Naperville, Oak Lawn, Glenview, and Des Plaines, IL, and Castle Rock, CO
Stipend: Between $19 – $21/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; no fixed cohorts
Dates: Various internship opportunities are available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program (Psychology, Education, or Health Sciences preferred); must pass a background check and have a valid driver's license
Instructional ABA Consultants offers both full-time and part-time internships designed to introduce you to clinical work with children with autism through applied behavior analysis (ABA) in clinic and in-home settings. During the internship, you typically participate in training sessions, shadowing, and regular communication with your supervising BCBA, which provides you with structured mentorship and regular feedback throughout the internship. Your responsibilities may include collecting and submitting session data, helping you build skills in clinical documentation and outcome tracking. Through collaboration with a clinical team, you will gain exposure to professional standards, ethical guidelines, and real-world behavioral health workflows.
5. Cleveland Clinic Children's ADHD Summer Treatment Program (STP)
Location: Cleveland, OH
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 4-5 undergraduates per group
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Undergraduate students and recent graduates in Psychology, Special Education, Pre-Medicine, Child Development, Social Work, or related fields
In this program, you will serve as a paraprofessional counselor in a highly structured, award-winning behavioral treatment camp for children with ADHD and related behavioral disorders. During your 10 weeks, you will cover clinical topics like behavior modification, social skills training, problem-solving techniques, and token economy systems. You will implement personalized reward and cost programs, coach children during recreational activities like soccer and basketball, facilitate friendship development, and assist classroom staff in academic learning centers. By the end of the summer, you will have developed clinical skills, including consequence control, crisis de-escalation, and nonviolent intervention.
6. Square One Psychology Undergraduate Mental Health Internship
Location: Square One Psychology, New York, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically, under 10 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, and Spring; the summer cohort starts from June 9
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Highly motivated undergraduate students
In this internship, you will join Square One Psychology’s Mighty Mouth programs for a full-time summer placement supporting evidence-based treatment for children with selective mutism. You will work alongside clinicians to prepare treatment sessions and materials, observe therapy, and assist with program implementation. A central part of the role involves serving as a counselor at Mighty Mouth Kids Camps and Clubs, where you’ll help facilitate group therapy activities, gain exposure to behavioral coaching, and assist with daily camp operations. You will also collaborate with graduate-level therapists and staff on tasks such as data collection and program development.
7. Pace University Counseling Center’s Undergraduate Summer Internship
Location: Pace University Counseling Center, New York, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 4 interns each year
Dates: May 20 – July 24
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Rising seniors enrolled in an undergraduate program in psychology or a related field (Pace students and rising juniors and students graduating mid-year are not eligible to apply)
In this internship, you’ll participate in weekly seminars covering clinical interviewing, therapeutic techniques, diagnostic categories, and professional issues, building practical knowledge of applied clinical psychology. You will work on a dedicated research or outreach project, which may include literature reviews, data management, or psycho-educational programming for the campus community. The internship includes mock screening interviews of staff members pretending to be clients seeking treatment and supervised practice in mental status assessment, helping you develop foundational clinical communication skills. You’ll receive regular individual and group supervision from pre-doctoral interns and senior staff, emphasizing mentorship and professional development.
8. Florida International University (FIU) Center for Children and Families STP
Location: Miami, FL
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 4-5 counselors assigned per group of 10-15 children
Dates: Approximately 9-10 weeks between late May and early August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until all positions are filled
Eligibility: Undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, and graduate students in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related fields
In the FIU Center for Children and Families Summer Treatment Program, you will work as a clinical counselor in a highly active summer camp for children with ADHD and related behavioral challenges. You will cover core clinical topics like behavior modification, structured point systems, positive reinforcement, and peer social skills training. Throughout the day, you will lead academic learning centers, coach team sports like soccer and kickball, deliver evidence-based treatment components, and record daily behavioral data. By the end of the summer, you will learn how to consistently track behavioral metrics, execute precise timeout procedures, de-escalate behavioral crises, and implement tailored behavioral interventions.
9. Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants (CBC) College Psychology Internship
Location: White Plains, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically small cohort sizes
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Undergraduates pursuing a Bachelor's degree in psychology or a related mental health field with good academic standing
In the CBC College Psychology Internship, you will work inside a leading clinical training center to understand the real-world application of evidence-based psychological treatments. Over eight weeks, you will cover foundational topics such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and clinical research methods. On a typical day, you will assist staff with chart management, prepare clinical literature reviews, and help therapists facilitate individual or group exposure therapy sessions. The internship gives you direct access to internationally recognized mental health experts through weekly didactic seminars and team meetings. Ultimately, you will develop practical skills in clinical observation, research synthesis, therapeutic exposure assistance, and clinical administration.
10. Brighter Hope Wellness Center (BHWC) Internships
Location: BHWC, Clarksville, MD (hybrid internships also available)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 2–4 students per semester
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, during Fall, Spring, and Summer
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduate students completing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Mental Health, Counseling, Social Work, Business, Marketing, or a related field
At BHWC, you can apply for a clinical-focused internship that places you in a multidisciplinary mental health setting working alongside mental health professionals, families, and clients. You may help plan and report on intake sessions, participate in team meetings, and offer support during therapy sessions for clients, including individuals with developmental delays. You will receive ongoing training and regular supervision, giving you structured opportunities to practice professional communication, ethical decision-making, and clinical documentation. Your role emphasizes collaboration, as you work with supervisors and staff to ensure clients receive consistent, high-quality care.
11. Sentio Psychotherapy Skills Undergraduate Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: No information available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 15 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in their junior or senior year who live in California (recent graduates may apply if they participate within 24 months of their graduation)
The Sentio Psychotherapy Skills Undergraduate Internship places you in a remote training program focused on foundational clinical psychology and psychotherapy skill development. You will work alongside Sentio University staff in live Zoom sessions where you’ll practice skills such as empathy, active listening, and clinical skills via mock client statements. The internship introduces you to empirically-based methods of Deliberate Practice to aid your professional mental health training. You will collaborate with peers on a capstone-style project and provide feedback on new experiential teaching methods being tested for undergraduates. You will receive structured supervision and mentorship from mental health professionals, offering insight into career pathways in psychotherapy and clinical psychology.
12. National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine Information & Referral Specialists
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 20–30 interns per national cohort
Dates: Minimum of 4 months in the Summer and Fall
Application Deadline: Summer: Late March; Fall: Late July
Eligibility: Undergraduate students | Must be at least 20 years old | Must be based in the U.S.
As a NAMI HelpLine Information & Referral Specialist, you will get to work directly with individuals and families who are seeking mental health resources, education, and guidance. You’ll build professional communication and empathetic listening skills through a structured onboarding and role-play training period designed to prepare you for support interactions. You’ll staff NAMI’s HelpLine services, providing information and referrals to people navigating treatment, recovery, and community-based support options. The program offers focused pathways, allowing you to work with the general HelpLine, the Teen & Young Adult HelpLine, or the Family Caregiver HelpLine based on your interests. You’ll receive ongoing mentorship and feedback from NAMI staff.
13. Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety (ATSA) College Summer Internship in Psychology
Location: Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety (ATSA), Oak Brook, IL
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically small cohorts
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Undergraduate students from all majors
The ATSA College Summer Internship in Psychology places you in a private practice that focuses on treating selective mutism and social anxiety in children, providing you with early exposure to clinical psychology in a real-world setting. A unique feature of this internship is that you’ll have the chance to serve as a trained “confederate” in therapy sessions, where you’ll follow therapist-directed roles to support exposure-based interventions. You’ll also assist with daily clinic operations, including phone intakes, call triage, and data collection from therapy sessions. The internship also includes weekly professional development seminars on graduate school pathways, funding, and career options, along with a two-day selective mutism training seminar.
14. NYU’s Child & Adolescent Mental Health Summer Internships for Undergraduates
Location: NYU Langone’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and/or affiliated clinical and research institutions
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; no fixed cohorts
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduates from any NYU school or college may participate in the internship; visiting students may also participate, but must first enroll in NYU for the summer semesters
NYU’s Child & Adolescent Mental Health Summer Internships for Undergraduates offer a structured, 12-week placement focused on clinical, research, and educational work related to child, adolescent, and family mental health. You’ll work under the mentorship of faculty or professional staff at your placement site, contributing to projects involving literature reviews, program development, data collection, and health promotion initiatives. Some placements, including research labs and hospital-based programs, allow you to assist with data collection or program support that may involve interacting with patients or families in supervised settings. Alongside your fieldwork, you’ll enroll in a required internship course featuring weekly lectures on career pathways, research methods, and presentation skills.
15. UNC Department Of Psychology and Neuroscience’s Karen M. Gil Internship Program
Location: Worksites across the Triangle area in North Carolina
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 10–13 students per semester
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Fall and Spring
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall: March 25; Spring: Mid-October
Eligibility: UNC undergraduate Psychology and Neuroscience majors in their junior or senior years (sophomores who have completed 60 or more credit hours can also apply) | Must have completed PSYC 101 and two additional PSYC or NSCI courses, or just an AP PSYC 101 course
In this internship, you will be placed at a clinical or community-based worksite in the Triangle area, where you gain practical experience supporting mental health and behavioral health services under professional supervision. You will typically spend 9–10 hours per week at your assigned site while enrolled in the graded PSYC/NSCI 493 course, which connects your fieldwork with academic learning. Your placement may involve observing or assisting clinicians in settings such as behavioral health centers, autism programs, recovery services, or community psychology clinics. You will receive mentorship and evaluation from both a site mentor and the program director.
Bonus Option: Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Undergraduates and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
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