Clinical Psychology

The internship experience was a treasure trove of learning as it offered a profound and multifaceted experience that was deeply enriching both personally and professionally. It was a journey of discovery and empowerment. I was exposed to various counselling techniques, conversation styles, client issues and got a better understanding of concepts which enriched my personal growth and significantly empowered me to approach my career with more confidence to be successful in the field of psychology and counselling.

The experience taught me how to be resilient, develop a positive mindset, and get out of my comfort zone. I now feel more empowered to have a growth mindset, know my strengths, develop them, but also learn from mistakes and be persistent in reaching my goals. Professionally, I am empowered to connect with others and interact with them in positive ways, connect and participate with professional organizations, and continue updating and developing my career.

My participation in the remote internship helped me to put my best foot forward because I knew that I would be facing people from different cultures, and I was anxious about doing well in my internship. The experience taught me how to be resilient, develop a positive mindset, and go out of my comfort zone. It also helped me realize that I can overcome challenges and limitations that may hinder me from achieving my goal once I set my mind to it. People provided their support to me, and this made a lot of difference too.

My remote Clinical Psychology internship provided me invaluable exposure to diverse psychological practices and perspectives. I had the opportunity to engage in real-world sessions with individuals facing various psychological challenges. This hands-on experience allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge I had gained in my academic studies to actual clinical scenarios. I learned how cultural norms, traditions, contextual factors and social structures can impact a person's mental health and treatment-seeking behaviour. My mentor's guidance and expertise expanded my clinical skills, provided insights into the ethical considerations and best practices. Her mentorship has had a lasting impact. In summary, the internship allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice, gain cultural competence, and benefit from the guidance of an experienced mentor. I am grateful for the knowledge and skills I have gained.

I feel ready to enter the field of psychology after participating in this internship. I have gained so much insight into the process of counseling interviews and these are universal skills that I can apply in my future work. I was also able to expand my cultural intelligence as I met new people and learnt from experts with international experience. The most memorable moment was a career counseling session I was allowed to attend. There were remote interns from different parts of the world and it was a very multicultural environment. I attended so many theme-specific presentation sessions (from career counseling to psychotherapeutic interventions) by experts and this was very beneficial, as I gained new knowledge and interesting insights, which exceeded my expectations.

This internship role exposed me to a wide range of mental health care professions and research topics that allow me to determine areas of potential interest for career opportunities. I shadowed an Indian clinical psychologist through her different sessions, counseling meetings, and appointments. I also attended talks as well as training sessions with different professionals in mental health related careers. I wrote reports about all of these meetings, asked questions to the professionals I met, and pursued relevant further research that I submitted to my advisor. I expanded my knowledge of cultural differences (and similarities), and investigated how profoundly the mental health of people in both India and the US was negatively impacted by COVID-19 as well as the lockdowns and the impact of those lockdowns. My most significant learning points were that improving someone’s life in a small way (even just offering a listening ear) can greatly affect the course of their life in a positive way and empowering them to improve their mental health and their situation in life.