Making the Most of Supervised Experiences or Internships

May 20, 2025 | Sarah Kent | skent@uwf.edu

Hi everyone!

Internships or supervised clinical experiences are more than just certification requirements. These opportunities are your chance to build soft skills, make professional connections, and grow in confidence as an emerging professional. Whether you're in education, behavior analysis, or a related field, these real-world placements are where theory meets practice. Here are some tips to help you make the most of them.

Learn from Every Mentor You Can

When I was an intern as a special education major and when I was a student in behavior analysis, I had the opportunity to gain clinical experience in multiple settings. I value my varied experience now. It had a long-lasting impact on my perspectives as a teacher, behavior analyst, and colleague. 

You may be assigned a primary supervisor, but that doesn't mean they're the only person you can learn from. Watch how different professionals manage situations, communicate with families, handle documentation, or lead a team. If you're in a school or clinic setting, you may come across specialists, coordinators, or seasoned teachers or analysts with years of wisdom to share. Introduce yourself. Ask if you can observe or shadow them. Each person brings a unique lens to the work. You may even ask to rotate across different classrooms, supervisors, or locations depending on what is available. The more perspectives you take in, the more well-rounded your professional toolkit becomes.

Ask Questions. Lots of Them!

One of the most powerful ways to grow is by asking questions. These can be questions related to new knowledge or clarification of something that just doesn’t seem to make sense.

 No one expects you to know everything and demonstrating curiosity shows that you care and want to improve. If something doesn't make sense, ask for clarification. If you're wondering why a specific strategy was chosen, inquire about the decision-making process. Most supervisors appreciate a student who wants to learn and reflect, especially when those questions are asked thoughtfully and respectfully. 

This can also be an opportunity to hone your soft skills with managing conflict or disagreements. There will be times when a supervisor seemingly makes a mistake or misstep and this is a great opportunity to practice respectful communication. As a supervisor, I really appreciate and enjoy when my supervisors respectfully question decisions. I take that opportunity to explain or even catch myself doing something that could be improved. Every supervisor is a little different, however, so make sure you get to know the teaching style and expectations. This is great practice for your professional career!

Stretch Beyond Your Comfort Zone

There’s almost always a moment when you're invited to do something that feels just a little bit beyond your current comfort level. This may be running part of a session, leading a small group, presenting data, or writing part of a report for the staff or faculty meeting. Say yes (safely and with supervision, of course). Those are the moments where your confidence will grow the most. Internships are designed to help you build real-world readiness, so take advantage of the opportunities, even when they make you a little nervous. Many times, I have been able to reflect on how new and uncomfortable situations stretched me in ways that made me a much better teacher, colleague, and clinician. 

Be Proactive with Planning and Documentation

Keeping track of your hours, assignments, and reflections is essential. You should do this not just for program requirements, but for your own organization and growth. Your future self will thank you if you ever get audited or simply need to review your progress. Here are a few tips to help:

• Start a physical binder or digital folder: Include tabs or sections for signed hour logs, supervisor feedback, observation notes, and relevant resources (like intervention protocols or data sheets).
• Use consistent tracking tools: Whether you're using a paper log or an online system, update it regularly. Don’t wait until the last minute. Get things signed during regular meetings and make it a point to store/save these items before the end of the month as part of a routine. Trust me here - it is no fun to realize you’ve lost several hours or important paperwork!
• Back up everything: Save your documentation in more than one place. Google Drive, an external hard drive, or an approved cloud drive is a good idea. Technology issues happen, but your work doesn’t need to disappear because of them. Just make sure that you are meeting FERPA and HIPAA requirements for anything with identifiable information.
• Know the rules: Make sure you understand your program’s requirements for supervised hours, including what counts and what doesn’t. Ask early, not at the end of the semester! Keep a copy of the contract or any other requirements.

Final Thoughts

Internships and supervised experiences can shape the way you approach your career for years to come. Be intentional. Be reflective. Be willing to step into new experiences and learn from the people around you. With the right mindset and a bit of organization, you’ll leave your placement with more than just hours. You’ll leave with skills, insight, and a clearer sense of the professional you’re becoming. If you need any advice - just reach out to your advisors!

Topic coming soon! Time Management!