Interning at NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illnesses) has been extremely insightful and impactful for me. As a Psychology major aiming to go into School Psychology, I have learned so many new perspectives from different demographics, gained many mental health related experiences, and looked through available resources for the community. I’ve heard so many affirmations throughout my internship, such as helpline callers thanking me for helping me, that really solidified that I’m going down the right career path! There are still so many resources and mental health programs that are still heavily needed for the community, so I hope to accomplish that with my future career!
This internship has really tied into my major because I was able to learn many new perspectives and insight about mental health! I don’t think there’s any educational requirement needed to succeed in this internship beforehand because they do a good job walking you through the program as if you had no knowledge of anything. The only requirement I would say is required is compassion for others! You do have to have some empathy and compassion when trying to help those with mental health challenges or those with loved ones with mental health challenges. Otherwise, there are many skills that you can learn on the spot or improve on if you’re not particularly strong in it! I know I’ve improved on some skills because of this internship, including writing, communication, and phone calls/emails!
One piece of advice I’ll give incoming interns is learning how to manage time! It’s an extremely hard skill to gain, and you won’t learn it in a couple of years. My supervisor was telling me how she sometimes has a hard time managing time, so it’s definitely something you can’t fully gain! Even people really far in their career sometimes struggle with time management. But, it’s always nice to work on it because balancing your internship, school, and other responsibilities gets extremely overwhelming and difficult.
Hey Kristina! I liked that your internship coincided with your major! NAMI was one of my choices as well and I feel like no matter what internship site, time management is key! I liked that you touched in compassion and empathy because although we're slowly destigmatizing seeking mental help, we still have a long way to go until we reach a point where everyone is comfortable to receive help and where all providers can create a compassionate environment. I'm sure you'll create a lasting impact as a future School Psychologist!