MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Nebraska
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Cornhusker State. Build clinical skills, make a difference in patients' lives, and connect with employers in mental healthcare.
[Hero Image]
Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
95+
NE BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
520+
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 Nebraska
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 — Nebraska Medicine Psychiatry, CHI Behavioral Health, Bryan Behavioral Health, Lincoln Regional Center
- ✓ 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 Nebraska
Nebraska has 95+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Omaha Metro (Douglas, Sarpy Counties)
Nebraska's largest city with Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health, and Methodist behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Nebraska Medicine Psychiatry (UNMC), CHI Health Behavioral (Immanuel, Lakeside), Methodist Behavioral Health, Lasting Hope Recovery Center (major)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Community Alliance (major CMH), CHI Health Psychiatric Associates, Heartland Family Service, Lutheran Family Services BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Lasting Hope Recovery Center, Santa Monica Recovery, Omaha Crisis Line, Community Alliance Crisis
💡 Omaha has 55% of Nebraska behavioral health jobs. Nebraska Medicine/UNMC is academic center. Lasting Hope Recovery Center is major psychiatric facility.
Lincoln Metro (Lancaster County)
State capital with Bryan Health Behavioral and Lincoln Regional Center.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Bryan Behavioral Health (major), Lincoln Regional Center (state), CHI Health St. Elizabeth Behavioral, Bryan West Campus BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Region V Systems (major CMH), CenterPointe, Lutheran Family Services Lincoln, Mental Health Association of Nebraska
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
CenterPointe (addiction), Bryan Recovery, Lincoln Crisis Line, Region V Crisis Services
💡 Lincoln has Lincoln Regional Center—state's primary psychiatric hospital. Bryan Health is major private provider. State capital has government behavioral health jobs.
Grand Island/Central Nebraska (Hall, Buffalo Counties)
Agricultural hub with CHI Health St. Francis and central Nebraska providers.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
CHI Health St. Francis Behavioral (Grand Island), CHI Good Samaritan BH (Kearney), Richard Young Hospital (Kearney)
Behavioral Health Centers:
South Central Behavioral Services (major), Central Nebraska Community Services, Heartland Counseling Services, Mid-Plains Center for BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
South Central Recovery, Grand Island Crisis Line, Central Nebraska Crisis Services, Kearney Crisis Line
💡 Central Nebraska serves agricultural communities. Richard Young Hospital specializes in adolescents. Spanish bilingual valuable for meatpacking communities.
Western Nebraska (Scotts Bluff, Lincoln Counties)
Panhandle region with Regional West and community behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Regional West Medical Center Behavioral (Scottsbluff), Great Plains Health BH (North Platte), Sidney Regional BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Panhandle Mental Health Center (major), Cirrus House, Region I Behavioral Health, Community Action Partnership BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Panhandle Recovery, Western Nebraska Crisis Line, Region I Crisis Services, Panhandle Crisis
💡 Western Nebraska has significant shortages. Panhandle Mental Health Center serves vast rural region. Wyoming and Colorado accessible for specialty care.
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 Nebraska?
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 Nebraska:
Explore More Resources
MHT in Nebraska
Externships in Nearby States
Related Programs
Explore All Healthcare Training Resources
Find specific resources by program, topic, and state