MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Oklahoma
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Sooner 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
150+
OK BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
780+
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 Oklahoma
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 — OU Health Psychiatry, Saint Francis Behavioral, Griffin Memorial Hospital, INTEGRIS Mental 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 Oklahoma
Oklahoma has 150+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Oklahoma City Metro (Oklahoma, Cleveland Counties)
State capital with OU Health Psychiatry and INTEGRIS Mental Health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
OU Health Psychiatry (academic), Griffin Memorial Hospital (state), INTEGRIS Mental Health (Spencer), SSM Health St. Anthony Behavioral
Behavioral Health Centers:
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, NorthCare, Red Rock Behavioral Health, Variety Care BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
ODMHSAS Treatment Centers, Valley Hope OKC, OKC Crisis Line, NorthCare Crisis Services
💡 Oklahoma City has OU Health—academic center for psychiatric training. Griffin Memorial is state hospital. INTEGRIS operates major behavioral health campus.
Tulsa Metro (Tulsa, Rogers Counties)
Oil capital with Saint Francis Behavioral and Laureate Psychiatric.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Saint Francis Behavioral Health, Laureate Psychiatric Hospital (major), Hillcrest Behavioral, Ascension St. John Behavioral
Behavioral Health Centers:
Family & Children's Services (major), Mental Health Association Oklahoma, 12&12 Inc, Morton Comprehensive Health BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Laureate Eating Disorders, 12&12 Addiction, Tulsa Crisis Line, FCS Crisis Services
💡 Tulsa has Saint Francis Behavioral and Laureate—major psychiatric employers. Family & Children's Services is large community provider. Oil industry influences economy.
Southern Oklahoma (Comanche, Pontotoc Counties)
Lawton military region and Ada tribal health services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Comanche County Memorial Behavioral (Lawton), Chickasaw Nation Behavioral Health (Ada), AllianceHealth Durant BH, Southwestern Medical Center BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Red River Behavioral Health, Chickasaw Nation BH Services, Great Plains Youth and Family Services, Carl Albert Community MH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Red River Recovery, Southern OK Crisis Line, Lawton Crisis Services, Tribal Crisis Support
💡 Southern Oklahoma has Fort Sill military base and significant Native American population. Chickasaw Nation operates major behavioral health services. Tribal health opportunities.
Western/Rural Oklahoma (Canadian, Garfield Counties)
Agricultural communities with regional behavioral health services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Northwest Center for Behavioral Health (state—Woodward), SSM Health St. Anthony Shawnee BH, Enid's St. Mary's Regional BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Northwest Center for Behavioral Health Outpatient, Jim Taliaferro Community MH (Lawton), Great Plains Community MH, Red Rock Rural
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Western OK Recovery, Rural Crisis Lines, Northwest Center Crisis, Regional Crisis Services
💡 Western Oklahoma has significant shortages. Northwest Center for Behavioral Health in Woodward is state facility serving rural region. Spanish bilingual valuable.
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 Oklahoma?
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 Oklahoma?
Does Oklahoma require MHT certification?
What's unique about Oklahoma's behavioral health job market?
Can I work in tribal behavioral health?
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