Name: Amal Imtiaz
Pronouns: She/Her
Semester of Internship: Summer 2025
Major: Psychology
Current Class Level: Senior
This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Child and Family Therapy Clinic (Kennedy Krieger Institute)
Location of the Organization (City, State): Columbia, MD
Title of position: Undergraduate Intern
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities: During my internship at the Child and Family Therapy Clinic, I was able to learn about clinical psychology by learning and observing from the daily routine of the clinic. On a day-to-day basis, I would check if any standardized psychological assessments needed to be scored, including the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, 2nd Edition (MASC-2), the Children’s Depression Inventory, 2nd Edition (CDI-2), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2). Additionally, I observed both live and recorded clinical sessions involving clients with diverse diagnostic profiles, including trauma-related disorders, OCD, ADHD, and ASD. On a weekly basis, I participated in individual supervision sessions with post-doctoral fellows, focusing on their case conceptualization and treatment planning. Additionally, I attended clinic-wide group supervisions that emphasized evidence-based interventions such as Functional Family Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I heard of my position via Handshake and applied through the application option on Handshake. I submitted my resume in Fall 2024, and went through an online group interview before final selection for a Summer 2025 internship.
What resources did you use to find your current experience?
UMBC Career Center, Handshake
What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
I enjoyed the chance to directly observe clinical sessions and learn from the thoughtful, skilled clinicians who were always open to answering my questions! It’s rare to be given access to sessions with clients before graduate school, and I was genuinely grateful for the trust my supervisors placed in me. Being able to see clinical work in action gave me a deeper understanding of the field and only strengthened my commitment to pursuing a career in clinical psychology.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I feel that by expressing a genuine curiosity for the work and making myself readily available to staff, I was able to provide assistance for special projects as needed. For example, I was one of only two interns who served as a role-play patient to train doctoral interns on how to conduct a patient safety screening. These types of trainings are crucial for effective doctoral training and I am happy I was able to assist!
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
For students seeking a similar experience, I recommend keeping your resume and Handshake regularly updated. Additionally, make sure your applications highlight why you are specifically interested in clinical work and what relevant prior experience sets you up to contribute at a clinic (i.e. research experience, coursework in psych assessment, etc . . .)
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
I truly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about clinical psychology through observing real patient sessions! I appreciate how the Career Center connected me to this experience and helped me make the most of it through their CAHSS stipend and summer practicum!