Internship Program

Joining the Mental Health Army

Since the year 2000, Freedom From Fear has opened their doors to more than 100 students studying for careers within the mental health field. Both undergraduate and graduate students are able to participate in the program. Some institutions that undergraduate students have come from are St. John's University, Wagner College, College of Staten Island, New Jersey City University and several others. Graduate students from Pace University, Wagner College, Brooklyn College, Post University, Rutgers, Caldwell College to name a few, have also participated. Each intern is able to gain hours and credits through their school while interning at Freedom from Fear.

Mary Guardino, Founder and Executive Director of Freedom From Fear, lets each individual intern that comes to the facility know that they are about to join the mental health army. They will have the opportunity to be trained to be soldiers in the fight to bring light to mental illnesses and become advocates for those suffering with mental illnesses. In addition, interns are trained in understanding the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses and how to dispel myths regarding them. Mary always reminds interns that mental illnesses are medical conditions just like diabetes or heart disease.

The program varies depending if the interns are undergraduate or graduate students. Each individual is afforded the opportunity to have hands on experience working in an active mental health facility. Undergraduate interns typically spend 10 hours a week within the facility per semester. Some duties of undergraduates include filing, making appointments and writing articles for Freedom From Fear’s website. Students also get a chance to work on different advocacy projects such as Mental Health Wellness Week. The most exciting and interesting part of the internship is getting the opportunity to sit in on sessions with the mental health professionals who work at the treatment center at Freedom From Fear. These include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors.

"My experience with this aspect of the program is one I will never forget. My first experience sitting in on a patient’s session was exciting and educational all at the same time. I was able to sit in on a session in which the patient suffered from selective mutism. Selective mutism is a communicative disorder in which a person, most often a child, who is normally capable of speech, is unable to speak in given situations, or to specific people. Selective mutism often co-exists with social anxiety disorder. From this one session, I was able to witness how a mental health counselor goes about treating a patient of this kind. I took notes the entire session, trying to write down every detail. This was a great experience for me because I had only been able to imagine what a therapy session would be like. I concluded that day; there is only so much a textbook can teach a person. With the field of mental health, I feel sitting in on a session was more informative then reading about it." - Lauren E. Parks Summer 2011/Fall 2011 Intern

The graduate students spend 20 hours a week for two full semesters at the facility. Graduate students are able to work with patients in therapy, evaluate new patients and work hand in hand with the therapists and psychiatrists on treatment plans for patients. A licensed Social worker, who is part of the staff, supervises them. The focus is to see patients and learn the art of being a mental health therapist.

Many interns have expressed what a positive experience it was interning at Freedom From Fear. They feel the experience was educational and that it motivated them to want to pursue a career in the mental health field. Several of the graduate students now work full-time as therapists at Freedom From Fear.

Here are some statements from past interns, expressing their feelings towards the program:

“For me, the most beneficial aspect of interning at Freedom From Fear was learning the interdisciplinary approach to mental health, in which therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, and psychologists worked together to provide for clients.”
Cassandra Lenza. 2010 Summer Intern

“Over the course of three months, I was able to meet and interact with many interesting patients with various mental health conditions. I was able to interact with an amazing staff consisting of social workers, mental health counselors, and psychiatrists….I appreciate the staff including Mary Guardino, the founder, and the excellent psychiatrists and therapists who helped me along the way and I hope our paths cross again”

Danielle Caputo. 2011 Fall Intern

“My experience at Freedom From Fear exceeded my expectations. Writing articles for the website on various mental disorders has allowed me to acquire knowledge while also educating others. Once a week, I was allowed to sit in on sessions with consent of the patients. I witnessed the application of cognitive behavioral therapy and gained a perspective on how therapy can motivate a person to heal”

Rachel Fisch. 2011 Summer Intern

Written By:

Lauren E. Parks

Summer 2011 & Fall 2011 Intern

Administrative Assistant 2011-present