MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Ohio
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Buckeye 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
480+
OH BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
2,500+
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 Ohio
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 — Ohio State Harding Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Psychiatry, UC Health Psychiatry, ProMedica 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 Ohio
Ohio has 480+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Columbus Metro (Franklin, Delaware Counties)
State capital with Ohio State Harding Hospital and OhioHealth behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Ohio State Harding Hospital (academic), OhioHealth Behavioral (Grant, Riverside), Mount Carmel Behavioral, Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare (state)
Behavioral Health Centers:
ADAMH Board of Franklin County, Southeast Inc, Netcare Access, Ohio Guidestone Columbus, Syntero
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Maryhaven, Columbus Springs, Columbus Crisis Line, Netcare Crisis Services
💡 Columbus has Ohio State Harding Hospital—academic center. Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare is state facility. ADAMH Board coordinates services. Growing market.
Cleveland Metro (Cuyahoga County)
Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth behavioral health systems.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Cleveland Clinic Psychiatry (academic), University Hospitals Psychiatry, MetroHealth Behavioral, Windsor-Laurelwood (UH)
Behavioral Health Centers:
ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, Frontline Service, Recovery Resources, Murtis Taylor Human Services, Guidestone
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Glenbeigh, Stella Maris, Cleveland Crisis Line, FrontLine Crisis Services
💡 Cleveland has Cleveland Clinic—world-renowned with excellent psychiatric services. University Hospitals and MetroHealth compete. Competitive but abundant.
Cincinnati Metro (Hamilton County)
University of Cincinnati Psychiatry and Lindner Center of HOPE behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UC Health Psychiatry (academic), Lindner Center of HOPE (major), TriHealth Behavioral, Mercy Health Behavioral, Cincinnati Children's BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
MHRS (Mental Health Recovery Services), Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health, Talbert House, Central Clinic
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Lindner Center Addiction, Talbert House Recovery, Cincinnati Crisis Line, GCBH Crisis Services
💡 Cincinnati has UC Health academic psychiatry and Lindner Center of HOPE—one of region's premier psychiatric facilities. Northern Kentucky accessible.
Toledo/Northwest Ohio (Lucas, Wood Counties)
ProMedica and Mercy Health behavioral services serving northwest region.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
ProMedica Behavioral Health (Flower Hospital), Mercy Health Behavioral (St. Charles, St. Vincent), Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital (state)
Behavioral Health Centers:
NAMI Toledo, Unison Behavioral Health, Rescue Mental Health, Harbor Behavioral Health
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Harbor Addiction Services, Zepf Center, Toledo Crisis Line, Harbor Crisis Services
💡 Toledo serves northwest Ohio with ProMedica and Mercy competing. Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital is state facility. Michigan accessible.
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 Ohio?
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 Ohio:
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