Internships
Expand your experience. Nurture authentic relationships. Strengthen our communities.
St. David’s offers a range of opportunities that allow you to build clinical skills in working with children through early intervention services, families struggling with barriers to care, or adults striving to live with independence and joy. Throughout, you will be surrounded by a circle of professionals who truly care. For 60 years, St. David’s has been rooted in relationship—and that goes for our interns too. We are here to equip you with the kinds of foundational skills and clinical experience you need to build authentic, impactful relationships with clients and families, for years to come.
At St. David’s, you’ll receive rigorous clinical training, ongoing reflective supervision, and a community of colleagues who truly care—about you, about every individual we serve, and about working toward a world that includes us all. Here, you’ll learn therapeutic approaches that are rooted in trust, and that look beyond surface behaviors to build relationships that can allow for, and sustain, real change. As the Midwest Regional Training Center for Greenspan Floortime,™ we integrate this child-led, play-based methodology into many of our service areas. With deep history and experience in Developmental Repair, SCERTS, and other evidence-based approaches that center human connection, no matter the program, people come first.
We’re honored to be considered a placement of choice by many universities and colleges — and we’re proud of the generations of professionals who have launched their careers here.
Hear From Our Team
Undergraduate Internships
Our undergraduate internships offer hands-on experience in therapeutic settings that support children’s social, emotional, and developmental growth. These roles are ideal for students pursuing careers in psychology, special education, therapeutic recreation, or related fields.
Preschool Autism Day Treatment
Interns will support an interdisciplinary team in a half-day classroom program for children ages 2–6 with autism or related diagnoses. Using the child-led, play-centered Greenspan Floortime™ approach, interns will help foster connection and growth through care that looks past surface behaviors, to build the kinds of authentic, trusting relationships where healing happens.
Therapeutic Recreation
Interns in Therapeutic Recreation (TR) are active members of our TR team from day one. You’ll work alongside Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists to plan and lead therapeutic activities that promote social and emotional development. You’ll also gain experience in goal-setting, documentation, and program design—building skills that align with NCTRC standards. While TR majors are preferred, we welcome students in psychology, special education, or related disciplines.
What You’ll Experience
- Direct service experience in therapeutic classroom and recreation settings
- Team collaboration with therapists, educators, and recreation specialists
- Training in relationship-based, evidence-informed models
- Opportunities to design and facilitate interventions
- Professional development in program planning, documentation, and client support
Graduate Internships
We offer immersive, relationship-based internships for graduate students pursuing clinical degrees in mental health. Our programs are grounded in culturally responsive, developmentally informed care and provide rich opportunities for learning, collaboration, and growth.
Early Childhood Mental Health Day Treatment (Family Place)
An intensive, half-day therapeutic preschool day treatment program for children ages 3–6 who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences, like significant loss, domestic violence, or disruptions in care. Our integrative, person-centered approach draws from Psychodynamic Theory, Attachment Theory, and Developmental Repair, helping us create a safe, stable, attuned environment for emotional growth and resilience.
Preschool Autism Day Treatment
An integrated, half-day program for children ages 2–6 with autism or related neurodevelopmental diagnoses. Therapy is relationship-based and interdisciplinary, with mental health, speech, and occupational therapists working together in the classroom. We utilize the Greenspan Floortime™ approach, and partner with families to support growth and connection, for life.
East African Responsive Day Treatment
We are proud to run Minnesota’s first Culturally Responsive East African Day Treatment program—developed in partnership with the community it serves. Interns will join a multidisciplinary team that honors cultural values, builds trust with families, and supports children through play-based, developmental therapy. This is a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful, community-rooted work, in partnership with East African families.
Latino Responsive Day Treatment
This bilingual, culturally attuned program was developed in partnership with Latino families and clinicians. Interns will join a diverse team that centers language access, family engagement, and cultural humility in every aspect of care. This is a unique opportunity to learn from and contribute to a program shaped by the community it serves.
We also offer internships during the academic year in School Based Mental Health, as well as in Outpatient Mental Health, year round. Contact us to learn more.
What You’ll Experience
- Training in evidence-based, non-behaviorist models such as Greenspan Floortime™, Developmental Repair, and SCERTS
- Reflective supervision with experienced, committed clinicians
- Immersive, relationship-based care with children and families
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams including speech, occupational, and mental health therapists
- Access to professional learning opportunities: clinical Grand Rounds, case consultations, and cross-program collaboration
View Current Internship Openings
Frequently Asked Questions
In line with industry standards, our internships are currently unpaid.
Interns receive weekly reflective supervision with experienced professionals, plus additional case consultation and ongoing mentorship and team support.
Yes, though in-person presence at one of our campuses or partner sites is required for most roles.
We partner with a wide range of universities and colleges nationwide.
Learn more about employee rights under the Family Medical Leave Act, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, and Equal Employment Opportunities.
St. David’s Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.