MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Georgia
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Peach 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
380+
GA BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,900+
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 Georgia
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 — Emory Behavioral Health, Georgia Regional Hospital, Grady Behavioral Health, HCA Behavioral Georgia
- ✓ 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 Georgia
Georgia has 380+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Atlanta Metro (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett Counties)
Georgia's largest metro with Emory, Grady, and extensive behavioral health network.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Emory University Hospital Psychiatry, Georgia Regional Hospital (Atlanta, Decatur), Grady Behavioral Health, Peachford Behavioral Health, Ridgeview Institute
Behavioral Health Centers:
Behavioral Health Link, Georgia DBHDD Metro Region, View Point Health, Highland Rivers Health, Jewish Family Services BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Ridgeview Institute, Talbott Recovery, Skyland Trail, Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders, Fulton County Crisis
💡 Atlanta has 55% of Georgia behavioral health jobs. Emory is top academic center. Georgia Regional Hospitals are state facilities. Peachford and Ridgeview are major private hospitals.
Augusta/CSRA (Richmond, Columbia Counties)
Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Medical College of Georgia Psychiatry, Charlie Norwood VA BH, Doctors Hospital Behavioral, East Central Regional Hospital
Behavioral Health Centers:
Augusta University BH Clinics, Serenity Behavioral Health, Georgia DBHDD East Central Region, Burke County Mental Health
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Recovery at Charlie Norwood VA, Augusta Crisis Services, CSRA Addiction Services, Burke Recovery Center
💡 Augusta has Medical College of Georgia psychiatry program. VA serves large veteran population. East Central Regional Hospital is state facility.
Savannah/Coastal Georgia (Chatham, Glynn Counties)
Historic coast with Memorial Health and Gateway Behavioral Health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Memorial Health Behavioral (Savannah), Gateway Behavioral Health, Coastal Harbor Health System, Southeast Georgia Health System BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Gateway Behavioral Health Services, Savannah Counseling, Unison Behavioral Health, Park Place Outreach
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Georgia Crisis Access Line, Coastal Recovery Services, Gateway Crisis Unit, Savannah Crisis Stabilization
💡 Savannah has Memorial Health and Gateway Behavioral. Coastal tourism and military (Fort Stewart, Hunter AAF) affect demand. Hurricane preparedness is part of crisis work.
Columbus/Southwest Georgia (Muscogee, Dougherty Counties)
Fort Benning region with Piedmont Columbus and Southwest Georgia BH.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Piedmont Columbus Behavioral Health, Phoebe Putney Behavioral (Albany), Southwest Georgia Regional (Thomasville), Midtown Medical BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
New Horizons Behavioral Health, Aspire Behavioral Health Southwest, Georgia Pines, Albany Area Primary Health Care BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Columbus Crisis Stabilization, Southwest Georgia Crisis Services, Albany Recovery, Aspire Crisis Line
💡 Columbus has Fort Benning military influence. Albany and Thomasville serve rural southwest Georgia. Significant shortages in rural areas with incentives.
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 Georgia?
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
Where can I find MHT externship sites in Georgia?
Does Georgia require MHT certification?
What's unique about Georgia's behavioral health job market?
Will EHired place me in an externship?
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