MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Colorado
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Centennial State. Build clinical skills, make a difference in patients' lives, and connect with employers in mental healthcare.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
240+
CO BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,200+
Annual Openings
Why Get an MHT Externship?
A Mental Health Technician externship gives you real-world behavioral health experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychiatric technicians earn a median salary of $38,000+ with faster-than-average job growth due to increased mental health awareness.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice patient observation, de-escalation, and therapeutic communication in real settings
- ✓ Build professional references from behavioral health supervisors
- ✓ Discover which setting fits you best (inpatient, residential, crisis, substance abuse)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — behavioral health has high demand
New to behavioral health? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA MHT certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building confidence and making a real difference in patients' lives.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find an Externship in Colorado
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a behavioral health externship.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities that employ Mental Health Technicians:
- ✓ Psychiatric hospitals — Inpatient behavioral health units
- ✓ Behavioral health centers — UCHealth Behavioral Health, HealthONE Behavioral, Mental Health Center of Denver, Colorado Mental Health Institute
- ✓ Residential treatment — Long-term mental health facilities
- ✓ Substance abuse centers — Detox and rehab facilities
- ✓ Crisis stabilization units — Short-term crisis care
- ✓ Community mental health — Outpatient behavioral health
- ✓ VA medical centers — Veterans mental health programs
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any healthcare/human services experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing MHT training and seeking hands-on behavioral health experience"
- ✓ Highlight your qualities — Patience, empathy, communication skills, reliability
- ✓ Be flexible — Behavioral health is 24/7; offer evening/weekend availability
- ✓ Expect background check — Most behavioral health facilities require this
Make Contact
Reach out to facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the unit manager, nurse manager, or HR department
- ✓ Email HR — Many behavioral health facilities prefer email inquiries
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn and help
- ✓ Emphasize commitment — Mental health work requires dedication
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Track your hours — Log date, hours, and experiences
- ✓ Learn actively — Observe de-escalation, ask questions appropriately
- ✓ Maintain boundaries — Professional relationships with patients always
- ✓ Practice self-care — Behavioral health work can be emotionally demanding
- ✓ Ask about openings — Express interest in future employment
Sample Script: Calling a Behavioral Health Facility
"Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I'm completing a Mental Health Technician training program and I'm looking to gain hands-on experience in behavioral health through an externship. I'm passionate about helping people with mental health challenges and I'm wondering if your facility might have room for an extern? I'm flexible with scheduling, including evenings and weekends, and I'm prepared to complete any required background check. Would it be possible to speak with someone in HR or a unit manager about this opportunity?"
Key points to emphasize: You're trained, you're passionate about mental health, you're flexible with scheduling (24/7 field), and you understand the importance of the work. Behavioral health facilities value dedication and empathy.
Where to Find Externships in Colorado
Colorado has 240+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Denver Metro (Denver, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams Counties)
Colorado's largest metro with UC Health, HealthONE, and major behavioral health systems.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Psych, HealthONE Behavioral (Highlands, Aurora), Denver Health Behavioral, VA Eastern CO BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Mental Health Center of Denver, WellPower (formerly MHCD), Jefferson Center for Mental Health, AllHealth Network, Aurora Mental Health
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
CeDAR (UC Health addiction), Sandstone Care, Denver CARES, Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners
💡 Denver has 55% of CO behavioral health jobs. UCHealth Anschutz is academic center. Mental Health Center of Denver is large community provider. Competitive market.
Colorado Springs/Southern Colorado (El Paso, Pueblo Counties)
Military city with UCHealth, Penrose-St. Francis, and state mental health institute.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UCHealth Memorial Behavioral Health, Penrose-St. Francis Behavioral, Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, Cedar Springs Hospital
Behavioral Health Centers:
AspenPointe, CCHA Southern Region, Health Solutions, Pikes Peak Mental Health, Crossroads' Turning Points
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Peak View Behavioral, The Recovery Village Palmer Lake, Mountain Vista Recovery, Southern CO Crisis Services
💡 Colorado Springs has major military presence (Fort Carson, Peterson, NORAD). Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo is state hospital. Veteran mental health a focus.
Boulder/Northern Colorado (Boulder, Larimer, Weld Counties)
University region with UC Health and community mental health centers.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UCHealth Longs Peak Behavioral Health, Banner Fort Collins Behavioral, Boulder Community Health Psych, McKee Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Centers:
Mental Health Partners (Boulder), SummitStone Health Partners (Larimer), North Range Behavioral Health (Greeley), Community Reach Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Naropa Community Counseling, Foothills Recovery, Fort Collins Crisis Line, Boulder Shelter Crisis Services
💡 Boulder/Fort Collins have UC and CSU influence. Young populations with mental health awareness. Growing market with outdoor lifestyle appeal.
Mountain/Western Slope (Eagle, Mesa, La Plata Counties)
Ski resort communities and Western Slope with rural behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Valley View Hospital Behavioral (Glenwood), St. Mary's Behavioral Health (Grand Junction), Mercy Regional Behavioral (Durango)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Mind Springs Health (Western Slope), Axis Health System (Southwest), Midwestern Colorado Mental Health, Mountain Family Health BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Mountain Recovery, Western Slope Crisis Services, San Juan Basin Crisis, Aspen Behavioral Health
💡 Mountain communities have seasonal populations and unique mental health challenges (altitude, isolation, seasonal workers). Extreme shortages with incentive packages.
What You'll Learn During Your Externship
A behavioral health externship exposes you to real patient care in mental health settings. Here are skills you'll develop:
Patient Observation
Monitoring patient behavior, mood changes, and safety. Documenting observations accurately for clinical staff.
De-escalation Techniques
Learning verbal and non-verbal strategies to calm agitated patients. Crisis prevention and intervention basics.
Therapeutic Communication
Active listening, empathetic responses, and appropriate boundaries. Building rapport with patients in distress.
Documentation
Recording patient behaviors, incidents, and progress. Understanding behavioral health charting requirements.
ADL Assistance
Helping patients with daily activities—hygiene, meals, medication reminders. Supporting patient independence.
Safety Monitoring
Conducting safety checks, understanding suicide precautions, and maintaining secure environments.
Ready to Start Your MHT Career in Colorado?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $650 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find MHT externship sites in Colorado?
Does Colorado require MHT certification?
What's unique about Colorado's behavioral health job market?
Is there demand in Colorado ski towns?
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