Child & Youth Mental Health

This internship has significantly empowered me for success as a future children's therapist. Through discussing mental health with educators and delving into research, I've learned effective ways to communicate with children about this topic. Understanding warning signs and coping strategies has boosted my preparedness. I feel confident and enthusiastic as I move towards becoming a children's therapist, armed with practical skills and knowledge that will make a real difference in the lives of the children I'll work with.

This internship was wonderful ! The entire process was very organized and easy to follow. My mentor, Jade, did an absolutely fantastic job providing us with what our expectations consisted of. There was never a time where I felt lost or felt like I didn't know what to do. Jade was also available and talked with us consistently. This internship has contributed toward my personal and professional development by opening a new door for what my future plans may include. I never thought about working with the Caribbean to help bring awareness for mental illness. This internship has also allowed me an opportunity to apply my psychology knowledge to real world experiences.

I enjoyed the opportunity to work with an organization I might not have otherwise discovered. Intern HQ allowed me to browse my options in a very coherent and accessible manner, and my coordinator was incredibly helpful in making any changes I required. Both my placement and my reflections through Intern HQ have allowed me to learn about myself and grow my skills, despite my placement only being a relatively short period.

This experience was amazing in every way and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested! I chose Child and Youth Mental Health because I wanted to be able to examine the effects of mental health on children, especially in a specific country. This remote internship was beneficial because I was able to develop my skills in working with people to develop tools and resources to help communities in need. I think that the organization in Jamaica does a wonderful job of welcoming interns and assigning them projects that will genuinely have a positive impact on the local classrooms and teachers in Jamaica. My biggest takeaway from this internship is that every culture has a unique view about emotions and it is so valuable to learn about these different views. We will always be surrounded by people from different backgrounds in our lives, so it is important to learn how to best help and understand everyone!

This internship made me happy, as I was able to utilize my psychological knowledge in an area where it could actually be used to help people. It reminds me of why I started psychology in the first place, so I could help people feel better about themselves and become more comfortable in interacting with the world. After the internship, I feel more empowered because I know I’m able to use my academically learned skills in a real world scenario successfully. Also I’m more confident in placing myself in leadership positions and understand how best to lead small teams. I learned a lot about how to be a leader and what not to do. Hopefully next time I take an internship I will do it on the ground in Jamaica!

This internship role prepared me for my long-term career goal of working with disadvantaged youth, from a psychological standpoint. I learned skills that will benefit me in the future, such as communication, organization, and time management, and I further developed my skills as a researcher. Going forward, it also taught me to prepare for any obstacles caused by cultural differences by keeping an open mind and avoiding making assumptions in general. Instead of assuming, I can ask clarifying questions. My overall greatest takeaway was to always remain conscious and considerate of the varying backgrounds and diverse lifestyles that may be present within a group or among individuals of interest. I feel more empowered to be successful in the field of psychology because I now have a greater understanding of environmental influences on psychological development.