MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Hawaii
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Aloha 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
65+
HI BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
380+
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 Hawaii
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 — Hawaii State Hospital, Queen's Behavioral Health, Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health, Kaiser BH Hawaii
- ✓ 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 Hawaii
Hawaii has 65+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Oahu (Honolulu County)
Hawaii's population center with 70% of state behavioral health resources.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Hawaii State Hospital (Kaneohe), Queen's Behavioral Health, Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health (Ewa Beach), Kaiser Permanente BH Hawaii, Adventist Health Castle BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Adult Mental Health Division Oahu, Mental Health Kokua, Child & Family Service BH, Catholic Charities Hawaii BH, Parents and Children Together
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Hina Mauka (multiple locations), Bobby Benson Center, Salvation Army Addiction Treatment, Queen's Crisis Services
💡 Oahu has vast majority of Hawaii behavioral health jobs. Hawaii State Hospital is only state psychiatric facility. Very high cost of living but excellent quality of life.
Big Island (Hawaii County)
Hilo and Kona communities with Hawaii Health Systems behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Hilo Medical Center Behavioral Health, Kona Community Hospital BH, North Hawaii Community Hospital BH, Bay Clinic BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Big Island Substance Abuse Council, Neighborhood Place of Kona, Hamakua Health Center BH, Hui Malama Learning Ohana
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
CARE Hawaii Big Island, Big Island Substance Abuse Council, Hilo Crisis Line, West Hawaii Crisis Services
💡 Big Island has healthcare shortages. Two distinct regions (Hilo east, Kona west). Rural communities need dedicated mental health workers. Housing more affordable than Oahu.
Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai)
Tourism-driven economy with Maui Memorial and community mental health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Maui Memorial Medical Center Behavioral Health, Lanai Community Hospital BH (limited), Molokai General Hospital BH (limited)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Mental Health Association of Maui (Malama Family Recovery), Aloha House, Maui Youth and Family Services, Maui Economic Opportunity BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Aloha House Recovery, Maui Behavioral Health Resources, Maui Crisis Line, Malama Family Recovery Center
💡 Maui has tourism economy with seasonal workforce mental health needs. Molokai and Lanai are very small islands with limited services. High cost of living.
Kauai County
Garden Isle with Wilcox Medical Center behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Wilcox Medical Center Behavioral Health, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (limited BH), Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Kauai Community Mental Health Center, Ho'ola Lahui Hawaii, Child and Family Service Kauai, Women in Need
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Hina Mauka Kauai, Kauai Recovery, Garden Island Crisis Services, Ho'ola Recovery Programs
💡 Kauai is small but has consistent behavioral health demand. Tourism and retirees drive volume. Tight-knit community. Extreme housing challenges.
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 Hawaii?
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
Common questions about MHT externships in Hawaii:
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