Howdy, hounds! This week we are highlighting senior Gemma Gabrielli ’25 and her internship at UMass Memorial Hospital in the Emergency Mental Health Department, a critical hub for individuals in crisis. By working primarily with children and adolescents, Gemma had the opportunity to collaborate with skilled clinicians, conduct intake interviews and assess treatment needs. In this blog, she shares insights from her experience, the skills she developed, and how this internship has deepened her passion for mental health advocacy and shaped her career aspirations. Read more to learn about Gemma’s blend of routine and unpredictability in this experience, which presented her with diverse challenges and profound learning experiences!
Give a brief overview of the company that you work for, and your position.
My internship last spring semester was at UMass Memorial Hospital in the Emergency Mental Health Department (the University campus). I worked with the clinicians there to do intake interviews, gather collateral information, and assess the proper treatment level for clients. My supervisor was one of the pediatric clinicians at UMass EMH, so she and I mostly saw children and adolescents. However, depending on the day, we could see many adults as well.
Describe a typical day in your position. What are your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
Something I loved about this internship experience was that every day was a little different from the last. Sometimes, we saw up to four clients in one day. Other days, it would take hours upon hours to finish helping one client. The basic process, from start to finish, is essentially the same for every case, though. First, my supervisor and/or I would go to a separate, private space to interview the client. We would ask them for some basic background information, family history, and to describe their main reasons for being at the hospital. The goal of these interviews was to assess clients’ risk levels, in terms of them harming themselves or others, and to determine what level of care they would most benefit from. After these intake interviews, we would gather collateral information over the phone from anyone we believed could have important information regarding the client. This typically meant calling the client’s parents, teachers, or counselors. The next step was the lengthiest– filling out the intake paperwork and finding an inpatient facility with an open bed if needed. The process was finished by the client being discharged home with a safety plan in place or being discharged to the proper facility.
Were you involved in any major projects or accomplishments as an intern? Have you been involved in any major projects or accomplishments in your new position?
This internship did not really entail major projects but was more of an accumulation of small goals and challenges. When I first started as an intern, I strictly observed and shadowed the clinicians around me for about a week before I felt ready to jump in and help. I started by just asking one or two questions during the intake interview, or making one phone call to gather collateral information. As the semester went on, I began gaining independence and knowledge that allowed me to conduct intake interviews entirely on my own. I also improved on and eventually mastered the process of writing intake reports. In a sense, being able to complete the intake process from start to finish was a huge project and accomplishment in itself!
What are your career goals? How will this experience help you reach those goals?
I went into my internship last spring with some confusion about my career goals. After talking with my supervisor about the possible paths a psychology major can take, I decided that getting my master’s degree in social work and pursuing a clinical path would be right up my alley. My goal is to work in a hospital setting again where I can help people with mental health crises. Another goal of mine is possibly having a private practice of my own where I can be a therapist for adolescents and emerging adults. Ultimately, I want to help people who are struggling mentally, and this internship solidified that goal for me. The exposure to so many people with different struggles and life stories really opened my eyes and fueled my passion for mental health advocacy.
What are your key takeaways from your experience? What skills did you gain from this?
I learned a lot through my internship at UMass EMH. Of course, I become more skilled at technical matters, such as taking phone calls and writing reports in a professional medical setting. Most impactful, though, was getting the opportunity to listen to people from diverse backgrounds and hearing their stories. I left my internship every day with a newfound understanding of the larger issues that lead to mental health problems. It was empowering to play a role in so many people’s intake processes and to know that, even as an intern, I was making an impact on their lives. I talked to so many clients who were visibly in an intense emotional and mental state; knowing that I could provide even an ounce of relief to them by helping form a treatment plan was a great feeling. Overall, I completed my internship with an even stronger desire to help those who need it, and I learned that anyone from any background can be struggling mentally– you never know what people are going through behind closed doors.
Why did you apply for this job? What aspects of the position/company interested you?
When I was thinking about what kind of internship I wanted to have, I knew I wanted something that was quicker-paced and provided variety. I talked with Professor Cirillo, and she thought I would be a great fit for the internship position at UMass EMH. I am so grateful for this opportunity that Professor Cirillo opened up for me because it really was a perfect fit. I was interested in working with and helping those who are in crisis, and who are in need of urgent help. I liked that each day would be different in terms of the clientele and treatment plans. I think there is no better way to be immersed in the field of psychology, as the EMH setting is an intersection of so many different psychology-related institutions– I worked with school counselors, therapists, BCBAs, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and more.
How has your Assumption career prepared you for this position?
My supervisor for this position was pleased with the level of psychology knowledge I had coming into the internship, which I accredited to the amazing psychology courses and professors here at Assumption. The classes I had taken before this internship gave me a rich background of information that helped me catch on to the intake process more quickly. Specifically, Professor Cirillo’s classes prepared me well for this position since she includes a lot of examples and anecdotes relating to her experiences in the clinical world as she teaches.
What advice would you give to a student who wants to participate in an internship?
Prior to starting my internship, I was incredibly nervous. It can be intimidating as an undergraduate student to apply for internships and jump into a job-like position relating to your anticipated career, especially if all you’re used to is learning in a classroom. I felt like I would struggle to apply everything I’ve learned at school in an actual professional setting. That being said, I am so glad that I decided to participate in an internship despite my nerves. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, and I walked away with a wealth of knowledge that can’t always be acquired in a classroom. My internship proved to me that growth happens the most when you go outside of your comfort zone. So, I would tell students who are curious about internships that it’s very much worth the nerves. There is so much potential that lies in an internship– you can strengthen your skills, develop new ones, and discover if the path you’re pursuing is something you truly enjoy!
How did your experience from working at the Plourde Recreation Center translate into this position?
Working at the Plourde Recreation Center as a building supervisor may seem like it could not be more different from working in an emergency mental health setting, but my campus job definitely helped to prepare me for my internship. Working at the Plourde the past couple of years has helped improve my people-skills tremendously. I’ve also become better at taking professional phone calls as well as working with a sense of heightened responsibility for others. Of course, supervising the building staff at the Plourde has much lower stakes than helping assess the level of care someone needs for a mental health challenge, but I could build off of the former experience in order to do the latter more effectively. Being a building supervisor means that I must be ready for an emergency at any point and have to be able to make smart decisions in such events. There have been a few times at the Plourde where a student has gotten injured, and it was my job to provide first aid care and call Campus Police if needed. The exposure to more high-stress situations at the Plourde translated well into the fast-paced and unpredictable environment of the EMH.
If you are interested in being featured on Highlighting Hounds or know of any students who would be a good candidate, please email us at careerdevelopment@assumption.edu!
