MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Washington
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Evergreen 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
340+
WA BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,800+
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 Washington
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 — UW Psychiatry, Harborview Behavioral Health, Western State Hospital, Fairfax 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 Washington
Washington has 340+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish Counties)
Tech capital with UW Psychiatry and major behavioral health systems.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UW Psychiatry (academic), Harborview Behavioral Health (UW—crisis), Fairfax Behavioral Health, Swedish Behavioral, Navos (MultiCare)
Behavioral Health Centers:
King County Behavioral Health, Navos/MultiCare, Sound, Harborview Outpatient, Neighborcare Health BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers, Seattle Crisis Line (206-461-3222), King County Crisis, DESC Crisis
💡 Seattle has UW Psychiatry—top academic program. Harborview is major psychiatric emergency center. Tech industry drives mental health innovation. Very competitive.
Tacoma/South Sound (Pierce County)
Joint Base Lewis-McChord region with MultiCare and CHI Franciscan behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
MultiCare Behavioral (Good Samaritan, Tacoma General), CHI Franciscan Behavioral, Western State Hospital (state—Lakewood), Madigan Army Medical Center
Behavioral Health Centers:
Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, Comprehensive Life Resources, Pierce County Behavioral Health, Sound Tacoma
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
MultiCare Recovery, Pierce County Crisis Line, Greater Lakes Crisis, JBLM Military Family Support
💡 Tacoma has Western State Hospital—major state psychiatric facility. JBLM military presence creates veteran mental health demand. More affordable than Seattle.
Spokane/Eastern Washington (Spokane County)
Inland Northwest hub with Providence and MultiCare behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Providence Sacred Heart Behavioral, MultiCare Behavioral Spokane, Eastern State Hospital (state—Medical Lake), Mann-Grandstaff VA BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Frontier Behavioral Health (major CMH), SNAP, Spokane Mental Health, Lutheran Community Services
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Spokane Recovery, Daybreak Youth Services, Spokane Crisis Line, Frontier BH Crisis
💡 Spokane serves Inland Northwest including North Idaho. Eastern State Hospital nearby. Lower cost of living than Seattle. Providence and MultiCare compete.
Vancouver/Southwest Washington (Clark County)
Portland suburb with PeaceHealth and community behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
PeaceHealth Southwest Behavioral, Legacy Salmon Creek BH (accessible), Vancouver VA Behavioral, Sea Mar Vancouver BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Community Services Northwest, Clark County Behavioral Health, Sea Mar Community Health BH, LifeWorks
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Lifeline Connections (major), Vancouver Crisis Line, Clark County Crisis, Columbia River Crisis
💡 Vancouver is Portland metro. No Washington state income tax; no Oregon sales tax. Access both states' behavioral health markets. Growing rapidly.
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 Washington?
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 Washington:
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