During the Fall 2025 through Spring 2026 semester, we accepted Aisha and Kate, two master’s level social work interns from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, into our intern program. These interns will successfully complete our program next month and will be 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 2025-2026 Interns!
Q: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD?
Aisha:
“I feel drawn to the field of mental health because I believe that dedicating yourself to supporting others is one of the most meaningful ways to serve others in life. Many individuals move through the world feeling misunderstood or unseen, and I want to help create spaces where they feel truly heard, understood, and safe to be themselves. Being able to walk alongside someone as they heal and grow is work that feels fulfilling to me.”
Kate:
“I believe service to others is the highest calling, and I believe quality mental health care is one of our greatest unmet needs in the U.S. It was a privilege over the past year to witness a high quality of care delivered thoughtfully to individuals on their terms, something rare and special in our healthcare system.“
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR INTERNSHIP WITH HELP IN THE HOME?
Aisha:
“My biggest takeaway from my internship at Help in the Home is recognizing a gap that has long existed in the mental health care system. Many individuals need consistent, day-to-day support while managing their mental health, but that level of care is often missing once someone is outside of a treatment setting. Help in the Home fills this space by supporting clients in their everyday lives, ensuring they do not feel like they have to navigate their challenges alone. The organization has built a warm and thoughtful community that genuinely cares about the people it serves. They are continually working to better understand and respond to the needs and experiences of their clients. It’s been a pleasure working alongside people who made high quality support an option for those who face the many barriers that come with severe mental illness.”
Kate:
“Many of our peers are working in contexts where caseloads are high and opportunities to provide meaningful, long-lasting support can be challenging or even unattainable. We are interning in a context designed intentionally and much closer to social work ideals than most services for folks with severe mental illness tend to be. It’s been a gift to see what can be accomplished for individuals living with severe mental illness or disability diagnoses with personalized, thoughtful care and expert connection to resources.”
Q: ANY TIPS THAT YOU’D GIVE INCOMING SOCIAL WORK INTERNS?
Aisha:
“As a Help in the Home intern, take full advantage of the wide range of opportunities they intentionally create for you, as these experiences build valuable skills that any social worker can benefit from. The team is incredibly supportive and always willing to answer questions, listen to concerns, and provide guidance along the way. They also leave space for you to share what you hope to gain from your internship so they can help tailor experiences that support your learning and growth, within their capacity.“
Kate:
“Take every chance you can to pick the brains of the smart staff and leadership at Help in the Home – there is a ton of cumulative expertise here, across treatment strategy, patient advocacy, and the constantly changing landscape of mental health care in Maryland and the DMV.“
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS? GOALS FOR THIS CAREER PATH?
Aisha:
“For my advanced year internship, I hope to work with children and youth, focusing on their mental health needs and general well-being through early intervention and trauma-informed practices. After graduation, I hope to explore and gain experience in holistic psychology, integrating insights from developmental psychology, somatic psychology, and brain development to support children, adolescents, at-risk youth, and folks on the autism spectrum.“
Kate:
“I intend to work as a hospital social worker, a goal important to me to develop as a social worker specialized in integrated care and the support of clients navigating chronic illness. My advanced year placement will be in a medical setting. Down the road, my goal is to open my own individual therapy practice in Montgomery County.”
Thank you again to Aisha and Kate 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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