Top 7 Psychology Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles (LA), California
If you are a high school student interested in psychology, internships can be a strategic and approachable method to delve into the field. These programs allow you to build practical skills, learn directly from professionals, and gain early exposure to mental health research or clinical practice.
Los Angeles offers various internship opportunities in psychology and related fields through its hospitals, universities, research centers, and nonprofit organizations. Whether you’re interested in therapy, neuroscience, behavior analysis, or public health, internships can help clarify your interests while strengthening your college applications.
In this list, we’ve carefully selected the top 7 psychology internships for high school students in Los Angeles, California, including local and virtual options with strong mentorship, educational depth, and real-world impact.
1. Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA)
Location: California (program sites in Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 900 students accepted annually
Dates:
1st Summer: June 23 – July 24
Academic Year: August – May
2nd Summer Internship: July – August (up to 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled in California public or private schools, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, with a focus on those from structurally marginalized communities
Cost/Stipend: Up to $2,000 stipend (1st summer); additional stipend for 2nd summer internship
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a 14-month, paid internship and mentorship program designed to introduce high school students to careers in mental health. You’ll kick off with a five-week summer academy that emphasizes mental health science, communication, and health equity.
Throughout the academic year, you will attend monthly workshops and receive support from a mentor in the healthcare field. In the second summer, you will complete a paid internship at a community-based organization, where you will apply what you have learned to real-world mental health work. A final capstone project gives you the opportunity to present your knowledge in a presentation that reflects your chosen area of interest.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohort sizes
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with prior AI/ML experience or who have completed a Veritas AI program
Cost/Stipend: $2,490; financial aid available
The Veritas AI Internship connects high school students with real-world machine learning projects under the guidance of mentors from institutions like Harvard, Google, and Stanford. You’ll join a small cohort and work on problems in healthcare, public health, or behavioral data, utilizing AI tools like classification models, clustering algorithms, and neural networks.
Projects frequently explore mental health and psychological data, making this internship a great fit for students interested in psychology and data science. The program includes weekly mentorship, peer collaboration, and a final project presentation, with personalized feedback and a formal completion letter.
3. APA Internal Internship Program (IIP)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; varies by department
Dates: Year-round; flexible timelines
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students under 18 who have a D.C. work permit and reside in states where APA is registered as an employer
Cost/Stipend: Free to apply; paid and for-credit options available
The APA Internal Internship Program allows high school students to explore the field of psychology in a structured, research-based setting. You will not participate in clinical work but instead focus on projects related to research, communications, education, and policy at the American Psychological Association.
Under mentor supervision, you’ll contribute to department-specific assignments while attending educational workshops and team meetings. The experience varies based on your placement, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how psychology operates within a major nonprofit and professional organization. This flexible, virtual internship is ideal for students interested in applying psychological concepts in diverse contexts.
Location: Virtual
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, including undergraduates and gap-year students; must be able to commit 10–20 hours per week
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490; financial assistance available
Ladder Internships is a remote program where students work with startups across fields like healthcare, mental health, AI, and sustainability. You’ll be matched with a startup manager and supported weekly by a Ladder Coach who mentors you through a project aligned with your interests.
You can explore behavioral health, digital mental health tools, or psychology-adjacent topics like user behavior and cognitive science. Most projects end in a formal presentation, offering both professional development and a strong portfolio asset. With its flexible hours and virtual format, this is a highly accessible option for psychology-focused students seeking internship experience.
5. USC Psychological Science & Society
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Dates: 4-week summer session
Application Deadline: March for international students; May for domestic students
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students
Cost/Stipend: $7,000–$10,000, depending on commuter vs. residential status
USC’s Psychological Science & Society program offers a rigorous introduction to psychology through its summer pre-college courses. Over four weeks, you’ll study how psychological research applies to real-world issues like social media use, drug behavior, and happiness.
In addition to lectures and discussions, you’ll complete an independent research project and explore career paths in both clinical and academic psychology. The curriculum blends clinical, social, and behavioral science themes, providing a strong foundation in psychological inquiry. While not a paid internship, the program delivers hands-on experience and mentorship in a university setting.
6. Mary S. Easton Center Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and online
Dates: June 16 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16–18
Cost/Stipend: Free
Hosted by UCLA’s Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, this six-week program introduces students to the neuroscience of aging and neurodegenerative disease. You’ll participate in activities such as brain dissections, research projects, and community engagement initiatives related to Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
The program includes both in-person and virtual tracks, and encourages you to start Alzheimer’s Awareness Clubs at your schools. You will also have access to virtual seminars with neuroscience professionals throughout the year, offering ongoing mentorship and academic enrichment in cognitive science and neurology.
7. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) Internship
Location: Oakland, CA
Dates: June 2 – 6, June 9 – 13, July 21 – 25, July 28 – August 1
Cost: $1,800 (plus a non-refundable $75 application fee)
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, aged 15 or older
The Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) is a five-day, non-residential program that offers high school students practical clinical experience and insight into various healthcare careers. In collaboration with local healthcare organizations, including Alameda Health Systems, Samuel Merritt University, and private clinicians in Oakland, you will gain practical experience in clinical environments.
This program allows you to develop essential skills and offers opportunities to earn certifications such as CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens. The experience aims to familiarize you with the daily tasks of medical professionals while assisting you in exploring your future career interests.