MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Louisiana
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Pelican 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
180+
LA BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
920+
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 Louisiana
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 — Ochsner Behavioral Health, LCMC Behavioral Health, Central Louisiana State Hospital, Tulane Psychiatry
- ✓ 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 Louisiana
Louisiana has 180+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
New Orleans Metro (Orleans, Jefferson Parishes)
Louisiana's cultural capital with Ochsner, LCMC Health, and Tulane behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Ochsner Behavioral Health, University Medical Center New Orleans BH, Tulane Psychiatric Hospital, East Jefferson Behavioral Health, River Oaks Hospital
Behavioral Health Centers:
Metropolitan Human Services District, NAMI Greater New Orleans, Kingsley House, VIA LINK, Covenant House
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Odyssey House Louisiana, Bridge House/Grace House, New Orleans Crisis Line, Metropolitan Crisis Services
💡 New Orleans has 40% of Louisiana behavioral health jobs. Ochsner is state's largest employer. Post-Katrina mental health awareness increased services. Unique culture.
Baton Rouge Metro (East Baton Rouge Parish)
State capital with Our Lady of the Lake Behavioral and LSU Health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Our Lady of the Lake Behavioral, Baton Rouge General Behavioral, LSU Health Psychiatry, Sage Behavioral Hospital
Behavioral Health Centers:
Capital Area Human Services (major CMH), FamilyFirst Counseling, Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, McMains Children's
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Serenity Treatment Center, Baton Rouge Substance Abuse Clinic, Baton Rouge Crisis Line, CAHS Crisis Services
💡 Baton Rouge is Louisiana's 2nd largest city. LSU Health provides some academic training. State government behavioral health jobs available.
Shreveport/Northwest (Caddo, Bossier Parishes)
LSU Health Shreveport and Willis-Knighton behavioral health services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
LSU Health Shreveport Behavioral, Willis-Knighton Behavioral Medicine, Specialty Hospital of Shreveport, Christus Highland BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District, Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Martin Luther King Health Center BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Highland Addiction Medicine, Shreveport Recovery, Shreveport Crisis Line, NW Louisiana Crisis Services
💡 Shreveport serves Ark-La-Tex region. LSU Health Shreveport provides academic training. Lower cost of living than New Orleans.
Acadiana/Southwest (Lafayette, Calcasieu Parishes)
Cajun country with Ochsner Lafayette and regional behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Ochsner Lafayette Behavioral Health, Our Lady of Lourdes Behavioral, Lake Charles Memorial BH, Christus Ochsner St. Patrick BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Acadiana Area Human Services District, Beacon Community Connections, Catholic Services of Acadiana, Imperial Calcasieu Human Services
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Acadiana Addiction Center, Palmetto Addiction Recovery, Acadiana Crisis Line, SW Louisiana Crisis Services
💡 Acadiana has unique Cajun culture. Oil/gas industry drives economy and affects behavioral health demand. Hurricane preparedness is part of crisis work.
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 Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
Does Louisiana require MHT certification?
What's unique about Louisiana's behavioral health job market?
Will EHired place me in an externship?
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