Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Wellness

This internship has benefited me in more ways than I ever thought possible. I have noticed so much personal and professional growth in such a short period of time, it is actually amazing to me and this experience has far exceeded my expectations. My internship site (Calm Clinic & BetterUCare) specializes in KAP, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and I have been able to not only learn a great deal about how the medicine works and relate these concepts to our clients, but I am also participating in the program as a benefit of the internship program. Previously, I would have been prevented from partaking in such therapies due to the expense and my previous lack of financial resources. The medicine, in addition to the brilliantly executed psychological protocols of the program, has had life-changing impacts on me already after only two treatment sessions. I'm excited to experience my third session on Friday, July 8th. It will be the perfect way to complete the internship program and my summer semester before departing on an epic month-long road trip before beginning my senior year.

My internship tied in perfectly with my field of study and is exactly what I want my specialty to be. I am a Psychology Major with an Addiction Treatment Minor. My ultimate goal is to become a Licensed Practical Counselor specializing in KAP. This was my dream before I even knew the internship program existed. I believe that my psychology course work at UNLV was instrumental in securing my internship position. Because of my passion for psychology and this specialty, along with my academic achievements, I was an excellent fit to work with the teams at Calm Clinic and BetterUCare.com.

Before my internship was secured, I knew this was the direction I wanted to take my career. However, I am now more sure than ever that this is the right fit for me in so many ways. I’m happy to announce that I was offered a paid position at Better U upon completion of my internship hours. This opportunity will allow me to advance my position at BetterU while simultaneously completing my senior year at UNLV. This is the perfect opportunity for me because I will be able to continue with BetterU even after graduation and relocation to the Pacific Northwest. I am passionate about empowering others to achieve their full potential and live happy, healthy, rewarding lives. This position will give me the flexibility to explore different areas within the same company while supporting our growing team while we impact the lives of others in lasting and meaningful ways.

The best piece of advice I can give to incoming interns is to be proactive in all areas of the internship as well as with the coursework, especially in an intense and condensed summer course. Because I took the initiative to reach out to the site supervisor as soon as I received her contact information, rather than waiting for her to contact me, I was able to get a jump start at the position. I was one of the first people she interviewed and made such a good impression that I was able to secure the exact position I wanted before anyone else was even interviewed. This removed so much stress and anxiety that I would have otherwise experienced if I would have had to wait and compete with other students.

Bonus Tip - Time Management. It is important to stay on top of each project, assignment and training session. Prepare a calendar that has recorded every due date and meeting. Check in on school and work emails at least once per day. Depending on the nature of the internship role, you may be engaged through text messaging and collaborative apps like Teams. Don’t miss important details by not keeping up with the conversation. If you apply yourself, this internship experience could provide much more than course credit and a brief experience. Make the most of it.