MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in New York
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Empire 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
1,100+
NY BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
5,800+
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 New York
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 — NYU Langone Psychiatry, Columbia Psychiatry, NY State Psychiatric Institute, Mount Sinai Behavioral Health
- ✓ 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 New York
New York has 1,100+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
New York City (5 Boroughs)
World's premier behavioral health market with Columbia, NYU, Mount Sinai, and major systems.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
NY State Psychiatric Institute (Columbia), Bellevue Psychiatric (NYU), Mount Sinai Behavioral Health, NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester BH, Kings County Psychiatric
Behavioral Health Centers:
NYC Health + Hospitals Behavioral (Bellevue, Kings County, Elmhurst), NAMI-NYC, Jewish Board, CASES, Fountain House
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Phoenix House, Odyssey House NY, Samaritan Daytop Village, NYC Crisis Line (888-NYC-WELL)
💡 NYC has world-class behavioral health. Columbia and NYU are globally renowned. Extremely competitive but unmatched training. Very high cost of living.
Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk Counties)
NYC suburbs with Northwell Zucker Hillside and South Oaks behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Zucker Hillside Hospital (Northwell—major), South Oaks Hospital, Stony Brook Psychiatry, Nassau University Medical Center Psych
Behavioral Health Centers:
Association for Mental Health and Wellness, Family Service League, Central Nassau Guidance, Pederson-Krag Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Long Island Center for Recovery, Seafield Center, Long Island Crisis Line, Northwell Crisis Services
💡 Long Island has Zucker Hillside—one of nation's top psychiatric hospitals (Northwell). Stony Brook provides academic training. High cost of living.
Upstate New York (Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo)
Major upstate cities with strong academic psychiatric programs.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Albany Medical Center Psychiatry, Upstate University Hospital Psychiatry (Syracuse), Strong Memorial Psychiatry (Rochester), ECMC Behavioral (Buffalo)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Capital District Psychiatric Center, Hutchings Psychiatric (Syracuse), Rochester Psychiatric Center, Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
St. Peter's Addiction Recovery (Albany), Crouse Chemical Dependency (Syracuse), Upstate NY Crisis Lines
💡 Upstate NY has multiple academic medical centers. Rochester (Strong/UR) and Syracuse (Upstate) offer excellent training. Lower cost of living than NYC.
Hudson Valley/Westchester (Westchester, Orange, Dutchess Counties)
NYC suburbs with NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester and community providers.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral (White Plains), Westchester Medical Center BH, MidHudson Regional Hospital BH, Orange Regional BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Westchester Jewish Community Services, Mental Health Association in Orange County, St. Joseph's Medical Center BH, Family Services of Westchester
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Arms Acres, Clearview Treatment Programs, Hudson Valley Crisis Line, Westchester Crisis Services
💡 Hudson Valley is NYC metro with lower cost than city. NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester is major employer. Access NYC opportunities while living in suburbs.
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 New York?
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 New York:
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