Program Intern, Selective Mutism Service

Job Description

Job Description

About Child Mind Institute

We’re dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.

Position Details:

As part of the Selective Mutism Service team, you will report to the Directors of the Selective Mutism Service. You will participate in an unpaid part-time internship designed to provide students and trainees with supervised, hands-on learning experiences in children's mental health. Interns participate in structured training, observation, and guided practice with children with selective mutism in the Brave Buddies Program. All activities are educational in nature, and licensed staff maintain responsibility for clinical services.

In addition to two hours of online trainings completed at home, Program Interns must be available in person for 15 hours each week starting September 8, 2026 through August 31, 2027 . Program Interns are required to be available Thursdays from 1:00pm-6:30pm, as well as additional times arranged more flexibly with supervisors.

Furthermore, participation in Brave Buddies, our group-based intensive treatment program for children with SM, is a mandatory component of the internship. See below for tentative 2026-2027 Brave Buddies program dates. Interns are expected to attend the entirety of each program, except for those who have a religious observance exemption:

1. November 2026 One-Day Brave Buddies
   • November 11th: 11AM-6PM
2. February 2027 Four-Day Brave Buddies
   • February 11th: 11AM-6PM
   • February 12th: 11AM-5PM
   • February 13th-February 16th: 8AM-3PM
3. April 2027 One-Day Brave Buddies
   • April 9th: 11AM-6PM
4. June 2027 One-Day Brave Buddies
   • June 5th: 8AM-3PM
5. August 2027 Five-Day Brave Buddies
   • July 29th: 11AM-6PM
   • July 30th: 11AM-5PM
   • August 2nd-August 6th: 8AM-3PM
     

Learning Opportunities:

• Gain exposure to evidence-based behavioral treatment for selective mutism in both individual and group program models
• Observe licensed clinicians implementing Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM)
• Implement foundational behavioral techniques with clients in a supervised, educational setting
• Receive structured training focused on PCIT-SM principles and group adaptation

You Will:

• Attend and actively participate in all required training, preparation, and program sessions
• Engage fully in educational and training activities and demonstrate openness to feedback
• Apply skills learned in training during supervised program activities for educational purposes

You Have:

• Bachelor's degree (completed or in progress) in psychology, education, human services or related field.
• Prior experience working with children and young adults and/or in a clinical setting.
• Passion for the Child Mind Institute's mission.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle conflict and sensitive information with discretion and integrity.
• Professional demeanor with the ability to work collaboratively with families, clinicians, senior leadership, and staff.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage tasks efficiently and adapt to patient needs.
• Positive, energetic attitude.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Pay Range

This is an unpaid position. Reporting directly to the Directors of the Selective Mutism Service, Anxiety Disorders Center, this is a highly competitive unpaid, part-time internship position located at our NYC headquarters. We strongly encourage applicants to investigate stipend programs through their college placement offices and to pursue independent college study credits for this experience. We can provide any requested documentation to assist students in getting stipends and college credit.

ADA Related Qualifications

This position is based in a professional office and school environment. It requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods, operate standard office equipment (including computers, phones, copiers, and printers), perform repetitive tasks, and communicate effectively with others. Interact with Occasional lifting of up to 15 pounds may also be required.

• Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods throughout the workday.
• Ability to frequently transition between standing, sitting, kneeling, crouching, squatting, and sitting on the floor while interacting with children.
• Ability to actively participate in children's play and therapeutic activities, including running, walking quickly, climbing stairs, and moving rapidly in response to children's needs and safety.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment, and occasionally lift up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to bend, reach, twist, and maintain a range of physical positions required to support classroom and clinical activities.

#LI-on-site

EEO Disclaimer

Child Mind Institute is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

In compliance with California law, we also prohibit discrimination based on reproductive health decision-making, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other category protected by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). In New York, we extend this prohibition to include status as a victim of domestic violence, familial status, or any other characteristic protected by the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL).

Child Mind Institute is dedicated to ensuring accessibility and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or medical conditions. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application process or perform your job, please contact our HR Department at View email address on ziprecruiter.com

This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.