MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Michigan
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Great Lakes 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
380+
MI BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,950+
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 Michigan
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 — Michigan Medicine Psychiatry, Henry Ford Behavioral Health, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health, Corewell Health BH
- ✓ 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 Michigan
Michigan has 380+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Detroit Metro (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb Counties)
Michigan's largest metro with Henry Ford, Corewell, and DMC behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Henry Ford Behavioral Health (Kingswood), Corewell Health Behavioral (Troy, Dearborn), DMC Sinai-Grace Psychiatry, Ascension St. John BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (major CMH), CNS Healthcare, Hegira Health, Community Care Services, Lincoln Behavioral
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Dawn Farm, Personalized Nursing LIGHT House, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation, Detroit Crisis Center
💡 Detroit metro has 50% of Michigan behavioral health jobs. Henry Ford Kingswood is major psychiatric hospital. DMC serves underserved populations. Competitive market.
Grand Rapids/West Michigan (Kent, Ottawa Counties)
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health and Corewell Health West behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services (major), Corewell Health Behavioral West (Butterworth), Forest View Psychiatric Hospital, Metro Health BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Network180 (Kent County CMH), Hope Network Behavioral Health, Pine Rest Outpatient, Arbor Circle, Ottawa County CMH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Pine Rest Addiction, Hope Network Recovery, Grand Rapids Crisis Services, Network180 Crisis
💡 Grand Rapids has Pine Rest—one of nation's largest faith-based mental health systems. Corewell Health West expanding behavioral services. Growing market.
Ann Arbor/Washtenaw (Washtenaw County)
University of Michigan Psychiatry and academic behavioral health excellence.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Michigan Medicine Psychiatry (UM), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare BH, St. Joseph Mercy Behavioral, Chelsea Hospital Psychiatry
Behavioral Health Centers:
Washtenaw County CMH, Home of New Vision, Catholic Social Services BH, University of Michigan Depression Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Dawn Farm, Home of New Vision, Ann Arbor Crisis Services, U-M Psychiatric Emergency
💡 Ann Arbor has University of Michigan Psychiatry—top academic program. Prestigious training but very competitive. VA serves veteran population.
Northern Michigan/UP (Grand Traverse, Marquette Counties)
Resort and rural communities with Munson and UP Health System behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Munson Behavioral Health (Traverse City), UP Health System Behavioral (Marquette), McLaren Northern Michigan BH, Mackinac Straits Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Northern Lakes CMH, Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare (UP), Hiawatha Behavioral Health, North Country CMH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Addiction Treatment Services (Traverse City), Great Lakes Recovery Centers (UP), Northern Michigan Crisis Line
💡 Northern Michigan has significant shortages with beautiful settings. Cherry Festival region attracts seasonal workers with mental health needs. UP is extremely rural.
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 Michigan?
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 Michigan:
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