Mental Health Field Placement Program

The Graduate Student Field Placement Program nurtures the educational and professional development of graduate students interested in careers in the mental health field.

Berkeley Mental Health will offer field placements for 2026-2027 with the following teams:

• Berkeley High School Mental Health
• Adult Mental Health (Homeless FSP, Comprehensive Community Treatment)

The Field Placement Program for the adult clinic hosts trainees and interns from September through May.  In alignment with the Berkeley High School academic calendar, interns participating in the school-based internship program are required to begin their placement early in August and conclude by the first week of June.  The recruitment period typically opens in mid-January and closes in early April.

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The program is only open to students from Alliant International University, University of Southern California, University of San Francisco, California State University East Bay, University of California, Berkeley, Saint Mary's College, San Francisco State University, Samuel Merritt University, The Wright Institute, Palo Alto University, Smith College, and California Institute of Integral Studies. Our annual recruitment cycle typically begins in early January of each year and concludes by April. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and we selectively extend offers to interview on a rolling basis as well. There are typically 4-6 Trainee/Intern positions available per cohort; these positions are competitive and often fill quickly.

All interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a completed application, including their resume, a cover letter, and two letters of recommendation (including one from your current university) as soon as possible. Interns under final consideration for an internship will undergo interviews with supervisors who are accepting interns for the calendar year. The interview process also includes livescan fingerprinting.

A $6000 stipend is available for the 2026-2027 school year. This changes every school year depending on funding. 

What the program offers

Trainees/Interns will learn the complex system of California Medi-Cal industry-standard documentation requirements, high-quality treatment planning, electronic record keeping, and community-responsive skills and tools. They will learn how to deliver relevant clinical services and the skills needed to navigate a dynamic community mental health system of care successfully. They will also develop relationships with seasoned LCSWs, LMFTs, and PPSCs.

Trainees/Interns at the Berkeley High School Health Center, a multidisciplinary co-location of our Mental Health and Public Health Divisions, offer a wide array of services to students. Those with Berkeley Mental Health will gain relevant clinical experience and high-quality learning opportunities in psychotherapy, group facilitation, crisis assessment/intervention, case management, educational advocacy, community outreach, and collaboration with parents, caregivers, and families.

Trainees/Interns with the Comprehensive Community Treatment Team and Adult Mental Health Team will gain much experience in clinical services. These team-based programs offer a high level of support for adults with severe mental illness. The program is intended for clients with difficulty maintaining stability outside of institutional settings. Staff provide intensive services and make frequent contact with participants. As a Trainee/Intern, you will obtain quality learning opportunities in case management, community outreach, crisis support, and psychotherapy for individuals and families in the clinic and various community settings, including homes, shelters, and the streets.

Formal memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between the City of Berkeley and several colleges and universities across California have fostered an ongoing relationship between the City of Berkeley, the Mental Health Department, and educational institutions to support student learning. 

WHAT THE INtERNSHIP PROGRAM HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH

As part of Berkeley’s Mental Health Department's comprehensive, effective, and responsive workforce development strategies, this internship pipeline program contributes to California’s potential pool of social workers,  MFTs, ASW, and LPCCs who provide a diverse set of services to the state’s residents. Moreover, with a dedicated and skilled workforce, our residents benefit by receiving the highest mental health services and programs, resulting in a healthier City population.