Joining Psychology Mental Health Volunteer and Internship Programs in Counseling Center of Addiction and Substance Use Disorder

Last Updated: January 01, 2023

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Substance use disorder is a mental disorder that leads to an inability to control the use of legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Psychology plays a very vital role in learning and even overcoming our addiction. As a counselor for substance abuse, you need to be able to provide support for people recovering from drug and alcohol issues, gambling issues, eating disorders, and other issues.

When joining as a volunteer or an intern in counseling centers, you should be capable of building trust with your patients and providing support and judgment-free guidance that can help on the patient’s road to recovery.

Psychology Volunteering in  Counseling Center of Addiction and Mental Health

Participating as a volunteer in the counseling center that treats the addiction issues or substance use disorder (SUD) can be an opportunity to explore your ability to serve in the psychology field while helping people in need. In these counseling centers you will help the client with inability to control their use of substances like drugs, alcohol, medications and gadgets.

Internship in  Counseling Center of Substance Use Disorder

Internship in the clinic to deal with the clients with substance use disorder is an opportunity to exercise your academic knowledge in psychology in the real professional arena.

Who Can Volunteer at the Counseling Center of Addiction and Mental Health

Anyone with the concerns to help the psychological issues in the people can join the volunteer program for the counseling center.  Normally the participants are students or professionals  of psychology, mental health, counseling or social work.

Who Can Intern in Counseling Center of Addiction and SUD

Anyone who is studying or practicing psychology, mental health, counseling or social work services can do the internship in the counseling center of addiction and SUD.

Activities the Psychology Volunteers and Interns Can Enroll In

Providing treatment and counseling against depression, anxiety disorder, psychosis, OCD, PTSD and other mental health issues

Therapists work closely with the patients while counseling them for depression, anxiety disorder, psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Counselors create tailored treatment plans and execute the required sessions. As a volunteer or intern you will help the therapists and counselors in all these activities.

Providing counseling and therapy sessions for different kind of addiction issues or substance use disorder

Substance abuse counselors provide all the required help systems for the people trying to get recovered from addiction problems from different substances like drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and digital gadgets. Volunteering and interning for the clinics or counseling centers to help the people with these disorders can be a platform for you to exercise your skills and knowledge.

Providing clinical treatment and therapies for the mental health issues caused by addiction of alcohols, marijuana and other narcotic drugs.

People with alcohol and drug addiction often have one or more consequential health issues. From the issues of heart diseases to the damage of lungs, from cancer to the different mental health issues, there are several negative effects caused by addiction of alcohols, marijuana and other narcotic drugs. Helping as a volunteer or intern in providing clinical treatment and therapies can be a way of exploring your skills.

Providing counseling for the mental health issues created by natural disasters like earthquake, landslide and floods

Frequent disasters like earthquakes , landslides and floods can cause mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety and depression. Participating as a volunteer in the health camps of such disaster affected areas or helping the counseling centers with the patients affected mentally because of natural disasters can be a way to contribute your knowledge and skills as a psychology aspirant.

Providing counseling and therapy for the psychological and mental health issues caused by pandemic like COVID-19 and other diseases.

COVID 19 pandemic has caused years long lockdowns and restrictions. People could not travel or even could not go out of their home. Social isolation, financial crisis, economic uncertainty has caused different psychological issues like depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress. Helping as a volunteer or intern to the people having psychological issues due to pandemic can be something you want to do as a psychology student or professional.

Providing counseling for the self-punishment and suicidal thoughts.

Suicidal thoughts are complex outcome of accumulated mental and psychological issues of a person. Counseling for self-punishment and suicidal thoughts is very sensitive issue and difficult one as well because people normally do not talk about having these kinds of thoughts. Volunteering and interning with the counselors or the therapist who are helping people with suicidal thoughts in a way can be way to save lives.

Dealing with the issues caused by old aged psychological issues like delirium, depression and anxiety

Delirium is a problem with change in mental abilities, it creates the confused thinking and lack of awareness of someone’s surroundings. Depression is an issue associated with the elevation and declination of someone’s mood. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, scare and uneasiness.  There are several old aged people having psychological issues like delirium, depression and anxiety. Helping as a volunteer these old aged people can provide you with a unique opportunity to serve humanity.

Dealing with child psychology issues like ADHD, Autism, Intellectual Disability

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood; autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in brain and intellectual disability is a limitation in a child’s ability to learn at normal level. Working in a counseling center to deal with these psychological issues of children can be a moment of learning and helping for you.

Benefits of Joining Psychology and Mental Health Volunteering or Interning in Counseling Center of Addiction and Substance Use Disorder

There are many benefits of volunteering in a counseling center helping the people with substance use disorder. As a volunteer or intern to such an institute, you will have hands-on experience, you can serve humanity, you can learn from different case studies, you can practice your knowledge.

Volunteering and interning in such counseling centers that can bolster your resume (CV) and strengthen your profile to achieve your career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is volunteer in psychology?

Helping people and community with your knowledge and skills as a psychology student or professional is volunteer in psychology.

What are the best psychology internships?

Volunteering with a clinical psychiatrist, helping in counseling centers, helping in schools, working with the local organizations are some of the best psychology internships.

How can I get involved in psychology volunteer and internship?

If you meet the motive, skills and qualification required, you can search for local and abroad opportunities and join the psychology volunteer and internship program accordingly.

How Volunteering is good for mental health?

Psychology volunteering will provide the volunteers to work for the wellbeing of the mental health condition of the community.

What does a psychology intern do?

Psychology interns help the psychiatrists, clinics and counseling centers in their everyday work.

Which internship is best for college students?

It depends on your interest in which area of psychological health issues you want to work with. Every opportunity that matches your skills and interests is the best internship for you.

Conclusion: Psychology Mental Health Volunteer and Internship Programs in Counseling Center of Addiction and Substance Use Disorder

Are you a psychology student or professional? Do you want to help the people with Addiction and Substance Use Disorder and other mental health issues? Then joining a counseling center which is dealing with the people with Addiction and Substance Use Disorder can be a way to address these issues meanwhile exploring your academic knowledge and professional abilities as an aspirant in the field of psychology and mental health.