15 Mental Health Internships for Undergraduates

If you’re an undergraduate student, an internship can be one of the most effective ways to begin building experience in your field. Internships offer exposure to professional settings, helping you gain practical skills while understanding how theoretical knowledge is applied. Through these experiences, you’ll collaborate with trained professionals, observe different career pathways, and build meaningful professional connections. Beyond skill development, internships strengthen your academic and professional profile by demonstrating commitment and field-specific experience. Many opportunities offer stipends, academic credit, or flexible schedules.

Why should I participate in a mental health internship as an undergraduate?

Doing a mental health internship in college can show future employers that you have experience with tasks such as active listening, patient interaction, and professional ethics. This practical exposure gives you a huge advantage in the job market, as you'll graduate with a proven track record of handling the day-to-day realities of the field. Most importantly, an internship allows you to test out a career in mental health, helping you figure out which specific sub-areas you want to work in before you finish your degree.

To support your search, we’ve curated a list of 15 mental health internships for undergraduates, selecting programs based on their competitiveness, learning depth, and the reputation of the organizations offering them.

1. Yale Child Study Center’s (YCSC) Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship

Location: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Stipend: Up to $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~15–20 interns
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising junior and senior undergraduate students | U.S. citizen or an international student enrolled in a U.S. institution

This eight-week summer research internship introduces you to the interdisciplinary study of child development, spanning both physical and behavioral health. You will contribute to ongoing research projects across laboratory, community, and clinical settings, engaging with both foundational and applied scientific approaches. Past project areas have included youth decision-making, substance use, parenting neuroscience, family-centered interventions, and social-emotional development. Alongside your research responsibilities, you participate in lectures, professional skills workshops, career exploration sessions, and journal discussions. The program culminates in a formal poster presentation, where you showcase your research findings to faculty, researchers, and students in a conference-style setting.

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students per session
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: High school, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks

Ladder Internships offers a selective, remote internship opportunity for undergraduates interested in mental health, wellness, and social impact. Through this program, students work with innovative startups in fields such as mental health tech, health tech, psychology-based platforms, and community wellbeing initiatives. You collaborate directly with startup teams, guided by an experienced manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach, to contribute to meaningful, real-world projects. Over the 8–12 week program, you gain hands-on exposure to the mental health space while developing professional and research-driven skills, all from anywhere in the world.

3. Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) Internship

Location: Nationwide (Over 200 locations across the US, including CA, TX, NY, and FL).
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; cohort size varies by center
Dates: Year-round and summer, with flexible start dates
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduates or graduates who are currently enrolled in or are a graduate of a program in Psychology, ABA, Education, or Child Development

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) internship provides a practical foundation in Applied Behavior Analysis and developmental support. You will explore topics like Autism Spectrum Disorder and behavioral intervention while working with young patients in clinical settings. During your tenure, you’ll conduct one-on-one therapy, track real-time behavioral data, and attend professional clinical supervision meetings. The program provides a science-based, hands-on training that offers a direct path toward professional technician certification. You will ultimately sharpen your skills in clinical observation and adaptive communication, building a strong professional groundwork for your future career.

4. The Gandara Center Internships

Location: Springfield, MA (Primary); additional sites in Holyoke, Northampton, and West Springfield
Stipend: Paid, varies as per role and experience
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rate not specified; cohort size varies as per divisions
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students majoring in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or Sociology who have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle

As an undergraduate intern at the Gandara Center, you will work within a community-focused system covering mental health topics like outpatient services, substance use recovery, family stabilization, and disability support. You’ll gain direct experience by shadowing clinical assessments, co-facilitating therapeutic groups, and assisting staff with crisis intervention or behavioral support plans. The program is particularly unique for its bilingual and bicultural focus, offering you a deep dive into culturally competent mental health practices. This experience ultimately prepares you to support diverse populations by providing a realistic, hands-on look at the practical challenges of community-based mental health work.

5. McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program (MMHRSP)

Location: Belmont, Massachusetts (Main Hospital Campus)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 10–15 students
Dates: 10 weeks between early June and mid-August
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: All undergraduate students

The McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program is a 10-week experience covering neuroscience, clinical psychology, and psychiatry for undergraduates. You will engage in activities like conducting mentored lab research, attending professional workshops, and performing community outreach. This program stands out by prioritizing students with little prior research experience and providing a competitive stipend at a premier Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital. Ultimately, you develop the scientific expertise and networking connections needed to jumpstart your future career. This immersive environment gives you the foundational tools to excel in the field of mental health research.

6. Mental Health America (MHA) Regional Internships 

Location: 200+ locations nationwide (Major regional offices in Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Houston, New York, etc.)
Stipend: Some internships are paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 1–3 Interns per program area
Dates: Summer: June – August (approximately 10 weeks); Fall: September – December; Spring: January – May
Application Deadline: Rolling / Seasonal
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students (usually sophomore standing or higher)

In this internship, you’ll dive into community mental health by exploring core topics like consumer advocacy, recovery-oriented care, trauma-informed support, and nonprofit administration. Your tasks will include facilitating peer support groups, conducting research on local mental health policy, and providing assistance in residential group homes or community day programs. What sets this program apart is its focus on "lived experience" and the rare opportunity to receive personalized mentorship from clinical guides in a grassroots setting. This hands-on experience is specifically designed to bridge the gap between your undergraduate psychology coursework and the reality of professional human services.

7. Camp Starfish – Camp Counselor & Specialist

Location: Rindge, New Hampshire (Residential camp site)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 100+ seasonal staff members
Dates: 10 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduates or recent graduates who have at least 12 months of experience post-high school

In this internship, you’ll work with children facing emotional, learning, and behavioral challenges in a therapeutic outdoor setting. The curriculum covers essential mental health topics like behavior management, social skill development, and restorative communication. You’ll lead activities such as hiking, swimming, and team-building while coaching campers through real-time social conflicts and emotional regulation. The program also features an intensive 140-hour pre-camp training and a 1:1 staff-to-camper ratio, ensuring constant support. By the end, you will master professional skills in crisis de-escalation, high-stakes problem solving, and empathetic leadership. This hands-on experience offers a profound, practical understanding of mental health support in a real-world setting.

8. Child Mind Institute Summer Clinical Externship

Location: New York, NY (Midtown Manhattan)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 6 interns
Dates: 11 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduate juniors or seniors

In this 11-week internship, you will dive into a busy outpatient practice to explore child mental health care firsthand. You’ll cover conditions like ADHD, anxiety, autism, and mood disorders while rotating through five specialized clinical centers. Your core activities will include shadowing clinicians during evaluations, conducting a mentored literature review, and delivering a final presentation to the professional staff. The program is unique for its direct one-on-one faculty mentorship and the broad exposure you gain across various psychiatric departments. This experience is designed to effectively bridge the gap between your undergraduate studies and a future career in mental health.

9. Sheppard Pratt Summer Internship

Location: Various locations in Maryland, primarily the flagship campus in Towson and sites in Baltimore, Elkridge, and Gaithersburg
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 4–10 interns per rotation
Dates: 10–12 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: College juniors or seniors who are currently enrolled in an accredited program

The Sheppard Pratt Summer Internship provides you with an introduction to mental health and behavioral services within one of the nation's leading psychiatric systems. During your time there, you will observe electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress, and assist with psychoeducational groups in a day hospital setting. The program features a vast continuum of care, which allows you to rotate through specialized units like the Thought Disorders Unit or the Center for Eating Disorders, offering exposure rarely found in smaller hospitals. By the end of the summer, you will have gained the confidence needed to communicate effectively within a professional medical team.

10. Columbia University – WHO Center for Global Mental Health’s Undergraduate Summer Internship

Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, small cohort sizes
Dates: 8 weeks starting in June
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising college seniors

This program immerses students in placement-based research projects aligned with their academic interests and the Center’s ongoing global initiatives. You will participate in a series of didactic, career, and professional development seminars while receiving mentorship from one to three faculty members engaged in global mental health research and training. Through this experiential model, you gain hands-on exposure to mental health research and implementation while learning to apply an equity-informed perspective to global mental health challenges. The program also offers valuable opportunities to network with professionals in healthcare research and policy.

11. JSSA Undergraduate Mental Health Internship

Location: Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by department
Dates: Year–round; flexible schedules
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduate students able to commute within the National Capital Region

The JSSA (Jewish Social Service Agency) Undergraduate Internship provides students with experience in a non-profit human services environment, focusing on administrative, educational, and project-based support within a mental health framework. You work under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals and trained staff across multiple departments. Responsibilities often include curriculum development for community presentations, data analysis for program evaluation, and assisting with summer camps for children. The internship emphasizes initiative, independence, and interdisciplinary learning. With personalized schedules and one-on-one supervision, you gain valuable insight into nonprofit mental health service delivery.

12. Boston University – Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Internship

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohort sizes
Dates: Academic year (Mid-August – Mid-May)
Application Deadline: Rolling/early semester
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University offers internships focused on mental health recovery, education, and rehabilitation, primarily within its Wellness & Recovery Services Division. You gain direct exposure to psychiatric rehabilitation through the program, working with individuals with lived mental health experience. The program also provides opportunities in training, communications, dissemination, and knowledge translation. It carefully matches you based on interests and skills through an application and interview process. This program is ideal for students interested in recovery-oriented mental health systems and education.

13. National Crisis Support – Mental Health Internship

Location: Remote (US-based students only)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies based on the number of active affiliation agreements with partner universities
Dates: Year-round (minimum two semesters)
Application Deadline: Rolling (when positions are open)
Eligibility: Undergraduates or graduate students who are enrolled in a university with an active affiliation agreement with NCS

The National Crisis Support (NCS) undergraduate internship is a formal program designed for students pursuing degrees in mental health, social work, and related fields. You will gain exposure to case management, group facilitation, advocacy, fundraising, digital outreach, and program evaluation. The program’s educational components include treatment modality seminars and weekly LMSW study groups. You work weekday daytime hours and must reside in the U.S. The program is well-suited for students seeking long-term, immersive nonprofit experience rather than short-term placements.

14. AFSP Richard B. Kirchhoff Public Policy Internship

Location: Washington, D.C. (Hybrid)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 2–4 interns per semester
Dates: Fall (September–December), Spring (January–May), and Summer (June–August); internships can be extended for a second semester with approval
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by term)
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in higher education institutions and able to receive academic credit

Richard B. Kirchhoff Public Policy Internship at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) focuses on mental health and suicide prevention policy at the systems level. You support legislative tracking, advocacy efforts, policy research, and coalition engagement. The program provides exposure to federal and state policymaking, including attendance at congressional hearings and meetings. You complete at least one long-term project aligned with AFSP’s public policy priorities. This internship is ideal for students interested in mental health advocacy, public policy, and health equity.

15. NYU Child & Adolescent Mental Health Summer Internships for Undergraduates

Location: NYU, New York, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically, small cohort sizes
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer between late May and mid-August
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: NYU matriculated or visiting students registered for CAMS-UA 300 Internship I (two credits) in the first six-week summer session and CAMS-UA 301 Internship II (two credits) in the second summer session

This 12-week internship offers undergraduates the opportunity to actively support initiatives focused on children’s, adolescents’, and families’ mental health and wellbeing. You will be placed in clinical, educational, or research environments centered on mental health, most commonly within NYU Langone’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or its affiliated research and clinical partners. You receive close guidance from experienced faculty or professional staff throughout the program. You typically dedicate approximately 15 hours per week to project-based work, with responsibilities varying depending on your placement. In addition to hands-on experience, you take part in weekly instructional sessions designed to deepen your understanding of mental health practice and research.

Image Source - Yale School of Medicine Logo