Support
I began my internship in the summer of 2026 at Greenwich Central School District. On my very first day, I was able to observe a guidance counselor make a CPS call regarding a student. From that experience, I understood the appropriate language you must use to communicate effectively, and that calming strategies and grounding techniques are crucial in this field.
Throughout the internship, I visited several classrooms called Resource Rooms. Resource Rooms are class periods for students to receive extra support academically and emotionally from a special education teacher. These periods are crucial for ensuring students are keeping up with assignments and advocating for their Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plans. One of the special education teachers explained the data collection methods used to track students’ academic progress and how they use that data to communicate with parents and guardians.
I spent a few days in the K-2 building where I observed the daily routine of a School Psychologist. I sat in on several counseling sessions, and after each session, the psychologist would include me in her post-session debrief and observations. One of the most exciting experiences from this internship was observing an evaluation of a first-grade student who had displayed signs of a learning or developmental disability. I learned about the assessment process, the tools that are used, and how those tools differ across age groups. A couple weeks after the evaluation, the school psychologist followed up with me over zoom to discuss what her next steps would be.
I am incredibly grateful for this internship opportunity, as I have learned the roles of different positions under the mental health services umbrella. I plan to apply the skills and tools I was given from this opportunity to my future education and any journey I take hereafter.