15 Therapist Internships for High School Students
If you’re considering a future in therapy, finding the right internship in high school can give you a much clearer sense of what the field involves beyond what you learn in psychology classes. Internships allow you to engage with real mental health work, whether that means observing professionals, supporting community programs, or contributing to research and outreach. You’ll build practical skills, such as communication, active listening, and working within structured care settings, all of which are central to therapy-related careers.
Check out other Psychology internships for high-schoolers here!
Why should I do a therapist internship in high school?
A therapist internship in high school helps you move beyond a general interest in mental health to a clearer understanding of what working in the field looks like. You’ll get exposure to how therapists, psychologists, and social workers interact with clients and collaborate with other professionals, even if your role is primarily observational. Many programs also introduce key areas such as mental health conditions, treatment approaches, and communication techniques used in therapy. From a college applications perspective, it shows focused, sustained interest and gives you stronger material for essays and interviews. Over time, these internships help you build both clarity and credibility as you prepare for future opportunities in therapy and mental health.
To guide your search, we’ve put together 15 therapist internships for high school students centered around hands-on work, mentorship, and a clear connection to therapy-related careers.
Key takeaways
This list rounds up 15 therapist and mental-health-focused programs for high schoolers, spanning federal research institutes, universities, and community mental health organizations, with standout hosts including the NIH, Stanford, Harvard, and Georgetown.
Cost ranges widely here, from fully free federal and community-based programs up to several thousand dollars for university-affiliated psychology courses at places like Stanford, Dartmouth, and Georgetown.
Several programs on this list are tied to a specific city, county, or state rather than open nationally, so it's worth checking eligibility closely, while a few of the university options are academic courses rather than hands-on internships, which is still valuable but a different kind of experience.
Location matters a lot on this list: programs cluster around California, Michigan, the DC/Maryland area, and New York/New Jersey with narrow local eligibility, while several university online courses and one federal remote program are open more broadly.
One federal research program's application window opens as early as November 15, while a community mental health academy's early deadline falls January 15, and two community-based ambassador programs both close February 1, so it's worth starting early if any of those interest you.
1. UT Southwestern’s Inspiring Careers in Mental Health
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 2-week sessions in June
Application Deadline: Late September – early February
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
UT Southwestern’s therapist internship gives you an early look at the many professional roles connected to therapy, psychiatry, and behavioral health care. You’ll get to learn from clinician-scientists across fields such as psychiatry, neuropsychology, social work, and physician assistant practice, which helps you understand how different providers support mental health treatment. Before sessions, you’ll complete guided readings that may include scientific articles, media pieces, and other topical materials, giving you context for discussions. Interactive sessions allow you to ask practical questions about career paths, training, daily responsibilities, and patient-facing work. You’ll also explore areas such as psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, interventional psychiatry, community psychiatry, and neuroscience.
2. Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,750
Dates: Summer Academy: June 22 – July 23; Year-Round Programming: August – March
Application Deadline: Early: January 15; Final: February 28
Eligibility: High school students in California with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher; Applicants should be from marginalized communities as defined in the FAQ
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a paid, long-term program for California high school students interested in mental health science, advocacy, and applied community work. You’ll begin with a five-week summer academy covering mental health disorders, treatment approaches, research methods, communication, and career pathways. A capstone project gives you the chance to focus on a mental health topic that matters to you and develop a structured final product with mentor support. During the school year, you’ll continue through workshops, mentor check-ins, college preparation, and career-readiness activities. The second summer shifts into direct applied experience through a placement with a community organization or research institution.
3. American Psychological Association (APA): Remote Internship Program
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid and unpaid (academic credit) available
Dates: Internships are offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is a registered employer
APA’s internships introduce you to psychology as it operates across research, policy, education, communications, publishing, and digital work. Depending on your placement, you may support data-related tasks, help develop public-facing mental health materials, organize research information, or contribute to department-specific projects. You will work with a supervisor who helps define responsibilities and learning goals. Some placements may also include workshops, meetings, or networking opportunities with psychology professionals. It is a useful option if you want to understand the broader professional ecosystem around therapy and psychology.
4. National Institutes of Mental Health (NIH): Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Location: Multiple NIH laboratories located across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Dates: 8 weeks starting mid-to-late May or June and ending in early August
Application Deadline: November 15 – March 1
Eligibility: Currently enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school (18+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The NIH Summer Internship Program places you in a serious biomedical research setting where mental health, neuroscience, behavior, and psychiatric conditions are studied at a high level. If matched with a relevant lab or clinical branch, you may contribute to research connected to psychiatric disorders, brain development, neurobiology, behavioral science, or clinical studies. Your work can include reading scientific literature, learning research procedures, supporting data collection, and assisting with analysis under the guidance of an assigned mentor. The program gives you a realistic view of how research supports future therapeutic approaches, diagnostic tools, and mental health interventions. You may also attend seminars and professional development sessions that introduce you to scientific careers.
5. Butterfly Dreamz Teen Mental Health Ambassadors
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Butterfly Dreamz, Gary, IN & Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free; $720
Dates: 6 months, part-time
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current high school students who live or go to school in Lake County, IN (Gary) or Essex County, NJ (Newark)
Butterfly Dreamz’s Teen Mental Health Ambassadors program focuses on youth leadership, peer advocacy, and community-based mental health support. As an intern, you will help plan mental health initiatives that respond to the needs of teens in their local community, making the experience active rather than purely classroom-based.The program includes Teen Mental Health First Aid certification, which trains you to recognize and respond to mental health concerns in an appropriate peer-support role. You may also gather and analyze community data, speak about teen mental health needs, and collaborate with other youth leaders. The work is especially relevant if you are interested in therapy from a prevention, advocacy, or public health perspective.
6. Positive Results Center Mental Health Ambassador Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Positive Results Center, Lawndale/Los Angeles area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Dates: 12 weeks
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14-18) from Black and Brown communities
Positive Results Center’s Mental Health Ambassador Program combines mental health education with leadership, peer support, and workforce development. You’ll study topics such as trauma, anxiety, depression, stigma, PTSD, and the social and economic factors that affect access to care. The internship uses culturally grounded education, peer-led learning, expert workshops, and art-based activities to help you understand mental health in a community context. You’ll also build skills in facilitation, public speaking, outreach, and peer mentorship. A key part of the experience is developing and delivering an in-person mental health education workshop with your cohort.
7. JSSA High School Internship
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: Jewish Social Service Agency, Rockville, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Flexible; 12-6 hours/week throughout school year or summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students living in and around Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia; Must be able to commute to JSSA
JSSA’s High School Internship gives you exposure to the operations of a human services nonprofit that supports mental health, disability services, aging services, family support, and community care. You may attend meetings, assist with program preparation, support outreach or administrative work, and observe how staff coordinate services across departments. Depending on your interests, you may also help with presentations, trainings, reports, data-related tasks, or summer program support. The internship is flexible, so independent students can shape their experience across different parts of the organization. One valuable feature is the opportunity to observe case consultations and multidisciplinary collaboration when available.
8. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA + Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Virtual: $1,725, In-person: $3,325 (Scholarships available); Unpaid
Dates: Virtual Session 1: June 8 – 19; Virtual Session 2: June 22 – July 3; In-person Session 1: July 6 – 17; In-person Session 2: July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: March 1 (Rolling)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience introduces you to neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral science through faculty-led seminars and collaborative project work. As a participant, you’ll explore topics such as clinical neuropsychiatry, psychiatric epidemiology, behavioral neuroscience, brain stimulation, sleep, addiction, early psychosis, and mental health innovation. The program also includes discussions about careers in medicine and science, helping you understand how therapy connects with research, diagnosis, and clinical care. In small groups, you’ll develop a capstone-style project focused on a social or clinical issue related to the brain, behavior, or mental health. The final presentation gives you practice communicating ideas to peers, families, faculty, and program staff.
9. Summer Teen Internship – DOROT
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: DOROT, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: None (community service hours earned)
Dates: July 21 – August 13
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The DOROT Summer Teen Internship focuses on reducing social isolation among older adults, an important part of emotional well-being and community mental health. You’ll work with older adults through home visits, technology assistance, discussion groups, creative arts workshops, and other intergenerational activities. The program is centered around empathy, communication, leadership, and reflection, all of which are useful skills for students interested in therapy, counseling, or social work. Weekly themes, group activities, and guided reflections help you think more deeply about aging, connection, and emotional support. After the summer, you’ll complete additional volunteer hours during the academic year, extending the impact beyond the initial internship.
10. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Medical Immersion Scholars Academy, Oakland, CA
Cost/Stipend: $1,950 + $75 non-refundable application fee; Unpaid
Dates: Multiple 5-day sessions in Spring and Summer
Application Deadline: March 27 (summer)
Eligibility: High school students (15+)
The Medical Immersion Summer Academy gives you a short but skills-focused introduction to clinical environments and healthcare careers. As a participant, you’ll observe healthcare professionals across specialties while learning how medical teams coordinate patient care. The curriculum includes practical training modules in areas such as CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens. For students interested in therapy or psychology-adjacent careers, the Teen Mental Health First Aid component is especially relevant because it introduces basic crisis awareness and peer-support principles. You’ll also attend workshops on clinical skills, bedside manner, and patient interaction.
11. Boston Leadership Institute: One-Week Clinical Psychology Program
Cohort size: 15-20 students per class
Location: Babson College, Greater Wellesley and The Newman School, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $699; Unpaid
Dates: Babson College: Session 1: June 22 – 26; Gann/Bentley: Session 2: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12
Boston Leadership Institute’s Clinical Psychology program introduces you to mental illness, psychological assessment, and treatment over a focused one-week format. You’ll study the symptoms, causes, and interventions associated with conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, autism, OCD, ADHD, phobias, and eating disorders. Lessons emphasize how clinicians understand mental health conditions using psychological frameworks rather than simple labels. You may examine case studies and take part in discussions that connect classroom concepts to real clinical practice. Past sessions have included visits to psychiatric facilities and academic research labs, adding an applied element to the coursework.
12. Dartmouth Pre-College Online Program – Psychology: Explore the Mind & Mental Wellness
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,895 (need-based scholarships available); Unpaid
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Dartmouth’s online psychology course introduces you to clinical psychology through structured, case-based learning. You’ll dive into mental health diagnosis, treatment planning, therapeutic communication, positive psychology, and psychopharmacology. The coursework covers practical skills such as case conceptualization, empathetic listening, and understanding how clinicians build rapport with patients. You’ll also explore broader topics like stigma, behavioral change, patient well-being, and the factors that contribute to mental health conditions. Several subfields, including neuropsychology, health psychology, geropsychology, child and adolescent psychology, and forensic psychology, are connected to the curriculum. The final capstone project asks you to apply what you have learned by analyzing a fictional character’s mental health profile.
13. Harvard Secondary School Program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA + Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies + $75 application fee (financial aid is available); Unpaid
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students graduating high school in the current or next two years (ages 16-19)
Harvard’s Secondary School Program allows eligible high school students to take real Harvard courses for college credit during a seven-week summer term. If you are interested in therapy, you can choose psychology and neuroscience courses that build a stronger academic foundation for future study in counseling, clinical psychology, or mental health care. The program follows a college-level structure, with assigned readings, discussions, assessments, and formal evaluations. Psychology-related options may include introductory psychology, close relationships, eating behavior, neurobiology, neuroscience, and learning. Successful completion results in an official Harvard transcript, making this a rigorous academic option rather than a traditional internship.
14. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Programs – Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Enrichment: $1,895, College Credit: $3,995 (scholarships available); Unpaid
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Georgetown’s online psychology course focuses on how brain function shapes behavior, emotion, learning, memory, perception, and decision-making. You’ll examine topics such as anxiety, depression, drug effects, learning disabilities, social media, reward pathways, and the psychology of design. The course also teaches you how psychologists use research methods to study behavior, including how to create your own experimental design. For students interested in therapy, this background helps connect mental health symptoms with biological, cognitive, and social influences. The curriculum also introduces future paths such as counseling, social work, teaching, psychological testing, and related psychology careers. You’ll apply psychological research methods to a behavioral study in the final capstone project.
15. Wolverine Pathways: Paid Research and Career Internships
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: University of Michigan – Detroit, Southfield, Ypsilanti, Grand Rapids, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid internships + U-M tuition scholarship awarded to program completers
Dates: Year-round programming with internships offered during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by opportunity; enrollment in Wolverine Pathways is required
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 living in Detroit, Southfield, Ypsilanti Community School districts, or attending partner schools in Grand Rapids
Wolverine Pathways connects eligible Michigan students with academic preparation, mentorship, and paid internship opportunities that can include fields related to psychology, public health, education, and community wellness. After completing the year-round pathway components, you may participate in summer placements where you’ll support research teams, community health initiatives, or youth-focused programs. In a therapy-related context, your responsibilities could involve outreach support, literature reviews, program assistance, data entry, or work connected to behavioral health and social-emotional development. The program also puts focus on resilience, mentorship, college readiness, and professional development, which are useful for students considering service-oriented careers. You’ll gain exposure to how universities and partner organizations approach youth support and community well-being.
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Questions students often ask about these internships
1. Do I need psychology coursework or clinical experience already to apply?
No, most of these programs are designed to introduce mental health concepts from the ground up, so prior coursework isn't expected. A few of the more research-heavy options do favor students with some science background, so it's worth checking eligibility details closely.
2. Several of these programs are limited to specific cities, counties, or states. How do I know if I'm eligible?
Check the eligibility and location fields closely before applying, since a number of these are tied to a particular region or community. The programs that are virtual or don't list a residency requirement are generally open more broadly.
3. Some of these are academic courses rather than hands-on internships. Does that matter for college applications?
Not really. Structured courses still show initiative and sustained interest in the field, which is what admissions readers are looking for. Hands-on internships may offer more direct exposure to clinical settings, but both types of experience are worth including on an application.