During the Fall 2024 through Spring 2025 semester, we accepted Heather and Sara, two master’s level social work interns from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, into our intern program. These interns have successfully completed our program and are now an extension of the Help in the Home family in the mental health field!
Enjoy this interview where our interns give you insight into the inner workings of Help in the Home and what sets us apart.
Our Interview with our 2024-2025 Interns!
Q: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD?
Heather:
“I decided to pursue the mental health field as a career change after reflecting more on my values, personal and professional goals. Due to my own experiences I have seen the impact that competent mental health care can have, and I saw myself fitting within that field. I feel grateful for the opportunity to be there and empower others during challenging times in their lives. I specifically choose social work because of its focus on how identity and other structural systems impact our clients.”
Sara:
“I chose the mental health field because I genuinely care about helping people feel seen, supported, and empowered. As a parent, partner, and someone who values connection and growth, I’ve come to understand how essential mental and emotional well-being is, not just individually, but for families and communities. I love learning, thinking critically, and understanding people deeply, and the mental health field allows me to do all of that while making a real difference. Working with clients at Help in the Home has strengthened my belief in person-centered, informed care, and my experience here has shown me how healing happens in relationships, not just in therapy rooms. I’m committed to walking alongside people on their journey, especially those who’ve experienced complex challenges. Social work gives me the opportunity to support others while continuing to grow and reflect as a person myself.”
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR INTERNSHIP WITH HELP IN THE HOME?
Heather:
“One of my biggest take aways from my internship at HITH is how to build impactful relationships with clients. A key part of this is to set goals collaboratively with a client, rather than projecting or assuming your idea of success onto them. Similarly, I have learned the importance of individualized relationships through paying attention to each client’s interests and strengths. I’ve found that I really align with strengths-based and humanistic approaches which I will be taking with me in my social work career.”
Sara:
“A takeaway from working at Help in the Home is that I gained a deeper understanding of how person-centered care makes a real difference in the lives of people with serious mental health challenges. I learned to meet clients where they are, respect their autonomy, and support their lives without judgment. I also received hands-on experience with collaborative care, working closely with clients, families, and interdisciplinary teams to promote stability and healing.”
Q: ANY TIPS THAT YOU’D GIVE INCOMING SOCIAL WORK INTERNS?
Heather:
“One piece of advice I would give future interns is to deconstruct your idea of what a “productive” session with a client may look like. As an intern, there may not always be a specific objective when meeting with a client, and that is when it’s important to rely on your relationship to determine what care would be most beneficial for them. Much of mental health support is provided through community connections and will not always be “clinical” in the ways you’d expect. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask questions or speak up if you want to be involved in something during your internship. HITH staff are extremely supportive and want to provide you with meaningful learning experiences!”
Sara:
“Get to know the staff and lean on them for support. Help in the Home is incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable team across the SLC, ISS, and clinical services. Take the time to connect with them—ask questions, observe, and build relationships. I’ve learned so much about social work and how to provide thoughtful, effective care for this population simply by developing and deepening my connections with the people who work here.”
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS? GOALS FOR THIS CAREER PATH?
Heather:
“This spring and summer I plan on continuing to work for the domestic violence shelter I’m employed at outside of my program. I am still in the process of selecting my field placement for next year, but I would like to work in a community mental health setting providing therapy! After graduating with my MSW in Spring 2026 I plan on starting to work towards my LCSW-C license. I primarily would like to pursue a career as a licensed therapist, but I am also interested in research or other “macro” social work down the line.”
Sara:
“I’m excited to share that I’ll be staying on part-time with Help in the Home, continuing to support clients through our ISS services and at the SLC. In addition, I’ll be starting my advanced-year internship with the Barker Adoption Foundation in Bethesda, where I’ll be training with their clinical services team. I plan to graduate from UMD in Spring 2026 and will be pursuing my LCSW-C so I can provide therapeutic services to individuals and families in my community.”
Thank you again to Heather and Sara for their commitment to excellence during their internship with Help in the Home. Please join us in wishing them a lifetime of success in their future endeavors!
Get even more inspired by reading the interview from last year’s cohort of interns and learn more about how the internship program and partnership with the University of Maryland School of Social Work came to be.
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