MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Missouri
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Show-Me 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
280+
MO BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,450+
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 Missouri
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 — BJC Behavioral Health, SSM Behavioral Health, Truman Medical Center BH, Fulton State Hospital
- ✓ 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 Missouri
Missouri has 280+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
St. Louis Metro (St. Louis City, St. Louis County)
Barnes-Jewish, SSM, and Mercy behavioral health anchor eastern Missouri.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
BJC Behavioral Health (Barnes-Jewish), SSM Health Behavioral (DePaul, St. Clare), Mercy Behavioral St. Louis, St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center (state)
Behavioral Health Centers:
BJC Behavioral Health Outpatient, Provident (major CMH), Places for People, Preferred Family Healthcare St. Louis, Queen of Peace Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Centerpointe Hospital, Harris House, St. Louis Crisis Line, BJC Crisis Services
💡 St. Louis has BJC/Washington University academic medicine. SSM and Mercy compete. St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center is state facility. Strong opportunities.
Kansas City Metro (Jackson, Clay, Johnson-KS Counties)
Truman Medical Center, Research Medical, and cross-border behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health, Research Psychiatric Center (HCA), Centerpoint Medical Center BH, Saint Luke's Crittenton Children's
Behavioral Health Centers:
Comprehensive Mental Health Services, ReDiscover, Truman Behavioral Health, Swope Health BH, Johnson County (KS) Mental Health accessible
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Preferred Family Healthcare KC, DeLaSalle Education Center, KC Crisis Line, Comprehensive MH Crisis
💡 Kansas City spans Missouri/Kansas—access both states' behavioral health. Truman Medical Center serves safety net. Research Psychiatric is major employer.
Columbia/Central Missouri (Boone, Cole Counties)
University of Missouri Psychiatry and state capital behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
University of Missouri Psychiatry, Burrell Behavioral Health Columbia, Fulton State Hospital (nearby), Capital Region Medical Center BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Burrell Behavioral Health (major regional), Compass Health Network, Family Counseling Center, Phoenix Programs
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Phoenix Programs, Burrell Recovery, Columbia Crisis Line, Mid-Missouri Crisis Services
💡 Columbia has Mizzou academic psychiatry. Fulton State Hospital is major state facility. Jefferson City has state government behavioral health jobs.
Springfield/Ozarks (Greene, Christian Counties)
CoxHealth, Mercy Springfield, and Burrell Behavioral Health serving Ozarks.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
CoxHealth Behavioral, Mercy Behavioral Springfield, Lakeland Behavioral Health, Burrell Behavioral Health Inpatient
Behavioral Health Centers:
Burrell Behavioral Health (major—headquarters), Great Circle, The Kitchen Inc, Ozarks Counseling Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Preferred Family Healthcare Ozarks, CoxHealth Recovery, Springfield Crisis Line, Burrell Crisis Services
💡 Springfield is Burrell Behavioral Health headquarters—one of Missouri's largest community mental health providers. Ozarks region has growing demand.
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 Missouri?
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 Missouri:
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