5 answers
Christine
Student
Prosper, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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How do I create connections in the psychology field?
I am currently a high school student who is need of connections for internships and such. I also would like to know any extracurriculars that I could pursue for psychology.
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5 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1750
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Christine !
This is a great question. If you want to do some volunteer work to be around the field of human services, that would be the best way to get some work experience and develop an awareness of how mental health services are conducted, but you would most likely not be able to work with clients or patients just yet. There are some places that you can seek volunteer work at or you can propose (to your teacher and administration) having a peer counseling service right at your high school.
Some places to try for volunteering are Direction 61:3 which provides service for individuals who are aging out of the foster system. You never know what opportunity you might have there working with people your age. There is also Engage Hope Ministries and Wounded No More Ministries, Inc. but they are not in Prosper. Since you live in Prosper, seek out any social services available in your town that are not indicated on the internet. A social service agency or program would be ideal for you to start out with.
Another way to possibly gain connections in the psychology and human behaviors field is to find out how to get notifications for trainings. Visit your school social worker and present this because the social worker goes to a lot of trainings, workshops and conferences and can possibly discuss which agencies run the trainings in the community and who these trainings are open for. When I trained for ten years for Deaf Culture (working with deaf clients) the presenter had a strict rule that no one other than case managers can come to the training. So discuss this with your school social worker or school counselor and see what information you can gather. Many trainings may be open to the public.
Also think about creating an opportunity for yourself and others right at your school. Write up a description for a possible Peer Counseling program to do at your high school. This would simply be a program that students can go to when they need to talk out situations. You'd be doing situational counseling, not by any means Therapy. This will have you become familiar with the different processes of light weight counseling and look stellar on your resume. I did my Health Science Hours in High School at a Counseling Center when I was 16 and they just had me doing situational peer counseling right from the start. It was a fantastic experience. I loved it so much I stayed with it for a year. (In this case, "peer" refers to clients that are teens served by teens).
Try not to worry too much about experience yet as you may very well find some while in high school, but college will present many opportunities for you. Take it a step at a time and aim for high grades. I hope this is helpful to you in all you pursue.
Best wishes in all you do !
DIRECTION 61:3 SOCIAL SERVICE FOR VOLUNTEER WORK https://direction613.org/
This is a great question. If you want to do some volunteer work to be around the field of human services, that would be the best way to get some work experience and develop an awareness of how mental health services are conducted, but you would most likely not be able to work with clients or patients just yet. There are some places that you can seek volunteer work at or you can propose (to your teacher and administration) having a peer counseling service right at your high school.
Some places to try for volunteering are Direction 61:3 which provides service for individuals who are aging out of the foster system. You never know what opportunity you might have there working with people your age. There is also Engage Hope Ministries and Wounded No More Ministries, Inc. but they are not in Prosper. Since you live in Prosper, seek out any social services available in your town that are not indicated on the internet. A social service agency or program would be ideal for you to start out with.
Another way to possibly gain connections in the psychology and human behaviors field is to find out how to get notifications for trainings. Visit your school social worker and present this because the social worker goes to a lot of trainings, workshops and conferences and can possibly discuss which agencies run the trainings in the community and who these trainings are open for. When I trained for ten years for Deaf Culture (working with deaf clients) the presenter had a strict rule that no one other than case managers can come to the training. So discuss this with your school social worker or school counselor and see what information you can gather. Many trainings may be open to the public.
Also think about creating an opportunity for yourself and others right at your school. Write up a description for a possible Peer Counseling program to do at your high school. This would simply be a program that students can go to when they need to talk out situations. You'd be doing situational counseling, not by any means Therapy. This will have you become familiar with the different processes of light weight counseling and look stellar on your resume. I did my Health Science Hours in High School at a Counseling Center when I was 16 and they just had me doing situational peer counseling right from the start. It was a fantastic experience. I loved it so much I stayed with it for a year. (In this case, "peer" refers to clients that are teens served by teens).
Try not to worry too much about experience yet as you may very well find some while in high school, but college will present many opportunities for you. Take it a step at a time and aim for high grades. I hope this is helpful to you in all you pursue.
Best wishes in all you do !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Esther A
1
Answer
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Esther’s Answer
Hi Christine.
I recommend looking into volunteering.
If you want to work as a psychologist professionally, you’ll need to pursue higher education. There might be laws in your state governing who could be a psychologist.
Psychology is a broad field that can be applied to many careers besides psychology such as counseling and social work. Shadowing a someone who uses psychology in their day-to-day work might be a good start for you since you are a high school student.
Reach out to family and friends. Maybe they know of a psychologist you can shadow.
After shadowing, ask if there are any volunteering opportunities available
I recommend looking into volunteering.
If you want to work as a psychologist professionally, you’ll need to pursue higher education. There might be laws in your state governing who could be a psychologist.
Psychology is a broad field that can be applied to many careers besides psychology such as counseling and social work. Shadowing a someone who uses psychology in their day-to-day work might be a good start for you since you are a high school student.
Esther recommends the following next steps:
Sha Anyanga
Psychologist
18
Answers
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
Sha’s Answer
Hallo, it's great that you are currently looking for internships and way to connect. First of all, believe in yourself and the skills and knowledge you have gained. Currently you can engage your psychology teachers if they can connect to some practicum areas, as they could give you a deeper insight. Remember you would also need a reference letter from them while looking for practicum areas. Connect with family and friends, they might be of help to you at this time. You could also join LinkedIn and put your professional details. I hope you could land some volunteering opportunities . LinkedIn will also be an opening phase to connect you with different professionals in accordance to your course at early age,exposing you to the job market. In addition, if you could just do a research of the mental health places within your vicinity that offer internship and take a bold step to inquire if ,they could offer you internship opportunities.
The co curricular activities you could engage in include; student-run clubs, sports teams, art societies, and volunteer positions extending learning beyond regular academic settings and into community engagement.
The co curricular activities you could engage in include; student-run clubs, sports teams, art societies, and volunteer positions extending learning beyond regular academic settings and into community engagement.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
401
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Christine,
Good question! Creating connections in the psychology field as a high school student can be incredibly valuable for gaining experience, finding internships, and learning about the profession. Here’s how you can build connections and get involved in psychology-related extracurriculars:
1. Join Psychology-Related Clubs and Organizations
- High School Clubs: If your school has a Psychology Club, join it or consider starting one. This could allow you to engage with peers who share your interest and invite guest speakers or psychologists to give talks.
- Science Olympiad or Science Fair: You can participate in competitions or fairs, focusing on psychology-related experiments or projects. This would not only give you exposure but also provide opportunities to meet people interested in the field.
- Psychology and Neuroscience Summer Programs: Many universities offer summer programs or workshops focused on psychology for high school students. Attending these could help you build a network of peers and professionals.
2. Volunteer in Psychology-Related Fields
- Mental Health Helplines or Charities: Volunteering with local mental health organizations or hotlines, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), allows you to get involved in the psychology and mental health community early.
- Hospitals or Clinics: Some hospitals and clinics allow volunteers in various roles, including administrative roles in departments focused on mental health. This could give you exposure to the field.
- Special Education or Counseling Offices: Volunteering with students with special needs or at school counseling offices can give you practical insight into developmental and counseling psychology.
3. Network with Professionals
- Reach Out to Local Psychologists: You can contact local psychologists or counselors to ask for informational interviews. This is a great way to learn more about the field and potentially find internship opportunities.
- Shadow a Psychologist: Try to arrange shadowing experiences with psychologists in private practices, hospitals, or schools. Many professionals are open to hosting curious students.
- Attend Psychology Seminars and Conferences: Look for local events, webinars, or conferences related to psychology. Sometimes universities, mental health organizations, or professional associations host events that high school students can attend.
4. Pursue Online Courses and Certifications
- Introductory Psychology Courses: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, Alison, edX, and Khan Academy offer free introductory psychology courses. Completing these courses will not only expand your knowledge but also demonstrate your commitment to the field.
- Certifications in Mental Health First Aid: Getting certified in Mental Health First Aid is a practical way to show your interest in psychology while gaining useful skills.
5. Participate in Research Opportunities
- Reach Out to University Psychology Departments: Some professors welcome high school students as research assistants, especially for simple data entry or observational tasks. Even if you aren’t directly involved in experiments, working in a research setting exposes you to the field.
- Psychology Research Competitions: Participate in psychology-related projects for science fairs or competitions like the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) or the American Psychological Association (APA) High School Psychology Project Competition.
6. Psychology Extracurriculars to Consider
- Model United Nations (MUN): While not strictly psychology-related, this can give you insights into behavioral psychology through diplomacy and decision-making processes.
- Debate Team: In psychology, it is beneficial to cultivate critical thinking, effective communication, and an awareness of persuasion.
- Peer Tutoring or Mentoring: Tutoring or mentoring other students can give you a firsthand understanding of learning processes and educational psychology.
- Student Counselling Services: Take advantage of peer counseling programs if your institution has them. This would coincide with counseling psychology and provide you with experience in helping others.
Building connections takes time and effort. Be persistent, be patient, and be prepared to offer something of value to the people you connect with.
Best wishes!
Good question! Creating connections in the psychology field as a high school student can be incredibly valuable for gaining experience, finding internships, and learning about the profession. Here’s how you can build connections and get involved in psychology-related extracurriculars:
1. Join Psychology-Related Clubs and Organizations
- High School Clubs: If your school has a Psychology Club, join it or consider starting one. This could allow you to engage with peers who share your interest and invite guest speakers or psychologists to give talks.
- Science Olympiad or Science Fair: You can participate in competitions or fairs, focusing on psychology-related experiments or projects. This would not only give you exposure but also provide opportunities to meet people interested in the field.
- Psychology and Neuroscience Summer Programs: Many universities offer summer programs or workshops focused on psychology for high school students. Attending these could help you build a network of peers and professionals.
2. Volunteer in Psychology-Related Fields
- Mental Health Helplines or Charities: Volunteering with local mental health organizations or hotlines, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), allows you to get involved in the psychology and mental health community early.
- Hospitals or Clinics: Some hospitals and clinics allow volunteers in various roles, including administrative roles in departments focused on mental health. This could give you exposure to the field.
- Special Education or Counseling Offices: Volunteering with students with special needs or at school counseling offices can give you practical insight into developmental and counseling psychology.
3. Network with Professionals
- Reach Out to Local Psychologists: You can contact local psychologists or counselors to ask for informational interviews. This is a great way to learn more about the field and potentially find internship opportunities.
- Shadow a Psychologist: Try to arrange shadowing experiences with psychologists in private practices, hospitals, or schools. Many professionals are open to hosting curious students.
- Attend Psychology Seminars and Conferences: Look for local events, webinars, or conferences related to psychology. Sometimes universities, mental health organizations, or professional associations host events that high school students can attend.
4. Pursue Online Courses and Certifications
- Introductory Psychology Courses: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, Alison, edX, and Khan Academy offer free introductory psychology courses. Completing these courses will not only expand your knowledge but also demonstrate your commitment to the field.
- Certifications in Mental Health First Aid: Getting certified in Mental Health First Aid is a practical way to show your interest in psychology while gaining useful skills.
5. Participate in Research Opportunities
- Reach Out to University Psychology Departments: Some professors welcome high school students as research assistants, especially for simple data entry or observational tasks. Even if you aren’t directly involved in experiments, working in a research setting exposes you to the field.
- Psychology Research Competitions: Participate in psychology-related projects for science fairs or competitions like the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) or the American Psychological Association (APA) High School Psychology Project Competition.
6. Psychology Extracurriculars to Consider
- Model United Nations (MUN): While not strictly psychology-related, this can give you insights into behavioral psychology through diplomacy and decision-making processes.
- Debate Team: In psychology, it is beneficial to cultivate critical thinking, effective communication, and an awareness of persuasion.
- Peer Tutoring or Mentoring: Tutoring or mentoring other students can give you a firsthand understanding of learning processes and educational psychology.
- Student Counselling Services: Take advantage of peer counseling programs if your institution has them. This would coincide with counseling psychology and provide you with experience in helping others.
Building connections takes time and effort. Be persistent, be patient, and be prepared to offer something of value to the people you connect with.
Best wishes!
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
63
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Christine, Networking and connections are great! However, you may need to wait until graduate school to obtain a clinical internship. They require extensive training, and you will be at the end of your academic 'career' before being able to acquire field hours. There may be other ways to gain some experience however, such as volunteer positions within a hospital setting, or bachelor level mental health positions. At this point you can start to become familiar with the psychological and counseling associations which provide a wealth of information (such as the American Counseling Association or the American Psychological Association). Engage in your own mental health therapy; this is critical as you will be sitting on the opposite side one day and will need to understand what the therapy process is like. Typically, graduate degrees require a certain amount of hours as the client or patient. This is also something you can do later; it may be useful to you now if you do not already have an emotional support system in place or simply have curiosity about how psychotherapy works. Browse your local library for books about the field of psychology; see what interests you. I have no doubt there are a plethora of online sites as well; make sure those you decide to follow are providing accurate information from licensed individuals. Self-help reading is also a great way to dip your toes in; think of it as 'light' psychology. Self-help is a broad term that may encompass holistic and alternative medicine, self-care, and much more (from a less academic standpoint). If you can obtain a mentor in the field- this may turn out to be a professor or academic advisor, be vocal about your desire to get more hands-on experience. Whether you decide to enter the field of psychology or something similar, you will have a lot of time to explore all the options! Similar career paths may include forensic anthropology, social work, marriage/family therapy, child psychology, substance use counseling, victim advocacy, case management, peer support, and child life. Become familiar with what is out there and see what speaks to you!