Welcome to Gustavus Adolphus College’s Student Stories Series!
Behavioral Health Unit Intern at Nicollet County Health and Human Services
Major: Psychological Science & Public Health
Minor: Communication Studies
What was/is your career opportunity/experience (i.e. internship, shadowing experience, research)?
I had the opportunity to intern for the Behavioral Health Unit at Nicollet County Health and Human Services. My position allowed me to shadow all of the units that the team collaborates with, allowing me to gain knowledge of the services the county/community has to offer (like information on food assistance, housing, finding resources for clothing and personal care items). Case managers from the unit allowed me to participate in client visits by letting me read client files and co-led client visits where I would help lead discussions detailing the client’s mental health and assist them with food forms. I was able to learn about community resources by taking tours of counseling and crisis centers, where I was able to sit down with owners/employers and pose questions I had about the organizations.
How did you get the opportunity/experience? What steps did you take to achieve this?
I found the link to apply to the internship on the company’s website. I applied for the opportunity and communicated with the administrators at the company and The Center for Career Development at Gustavus in order to understand the credit/hour guidelines that I would need to be eligible for the internship. Once I was given that information I submitted my application, had an interview with four individuals from the behavioral health team and was then offered the position.
Tell us more about your accomplishment (include title, role, location, program, etc.)
During my time with Nicollet County, I was able to participate in leading mental health groups at Lighthouse on Marshall, one of the county’s resources for individuals with mental health diagnoses, which allowed me to reflect on skills learned during coursework and apply them to my current role. My job is to help facilitate activities that bridge connections between myself and the group through a series of sessions on budgeting, medication, cooking, and job support. Other projects I completed during my experience included creating a document listing details for psychiatric medicines to give to the case managers to refer to, and designing a needs assessment survey with my supervisor for individuals to take that will reflect on the mental health services offered in the county.
Who were some of the people who helped you most at Gustavus to get this opportunity? What did you learn from them?
Gustavus Center for Career Development: The Center helped me to gain credit for the internship using SigX. The specialists were super helpful in explaining the process and guiding me through the registration.
How did the Engaged Learning Funds help you be able to complete this experience?
The engaged learning fund helped me complete my experience by allowing me be supported financially throughout the semester when I was unable to work many hours at my other three jobs. They will also allow my schooling to be more affordable and also allow me to save up for graduate school.
How have you applied things you’ve learned here at Gustavus to this opportunity? (i.e., Career & Self Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, Technology)
My education at Gustavus helped prepare me for the opportunity by offering me a plethora of resources to utilize. I have leaned on The Center for Career Development to help me develop a strong resume and prepare for interviews. Studying psychology, public health, and communications helped me engage in assignments that allowed me to think critically on topics regarding human behavior and social systems and how they effect our society while strengthening my communication skills through various group projects. Involvement in extracurriculars such as Gustavus Empowered Leaders, Social Justice Club, and Psychology Advisory Board allowed me the space to discuss current issues and design inclusive events for the student body to attend.
