6 answers
Bella
Student
Miami, Florida
3
Questions
Asked
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Who can I shadow if I plan to get a job in psychology of some sort?
I am hoping to shadow somebody in my career path (hopefully psychology) before I graduate high school. However, I understand there is liability concerns for students to shadow doctors of any field. It is a requirement for us to shadow somebody, so I just want the closest thing that can still give me experience. If it helps at all, I do hope to get a pediatric job in the field.
6 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Bella !
You stated that you wanted to shadow so you could obtain experience - shadowing will not give you experience, but volunteer work would definitely give you insight and can be put on a resume.
Here's how the HIPAA procedure goes if shadowing a doctor or a mental health professional (which I do not recommend doing). You'd have a day that would be set for you to come in to shadow. Each patient the doctor or mental health professional has that day, each one of them would have to sign permission for you to be in the room while the professional works with them. It is the patient that gives you permission in that provider's office to be there. Some patients may not want someone they do not know from the community to be present during their session/visit. Also, this experience of shadowing may inadvertently give you the wrong impression and sway you one way or the other. You already know you're interested in Psychology and without a substantial understanding of human behavior first, shadowing may be daunting for you or may cause the patient to hold back or act out if they usually do that.
If you want to observe quickly and in your own set time, you can go to You Tube and type in the search "Simulated Patients or Standardized Patients during a psychology/psychiatric session" in which you can watch students work with an actor patient. Volunteer work will be more help to you by exposing you to patients as well as the routine of how mental health places are run. You'd get lots of observation and hands on experience by doing volunteer work.
Ask your school social worker or guidance counselor for a list of community, social services and mental health services that you can contact to do volunteer work at. Also contact City of Miami Department of Human Services and Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department to ask about doing volunteer work. You do not have to start out with a heavy duty mental health arena. You'll get that in college.
I would ask if you could be exempt from Shadowing due to the confidential nature of your career choice. Also, I am not sure why it would be required if you ALREADY know what career you want. If you do end up shadowing, remember, your career IS NOT going to be the way you see it in one day sitting with a doctor and patient. Try not to anticipate that it is the experience you will have in the future. Ask whomever is requiring it if you can do volunteer work instead.
Just wanted to give you a different perspective on this and I hope that you can do volunteer work soon.
You stated that you wanted to shadow so you could obtain experience - shadowing will not give you experience, but volunteer work would definitely give you insight and can be put on a resume.
Here's how the HIPAA procedure goes if shadowing a doctor or a mental health professional (which I do not recommend doing). You'd have a day that would be set for you to come in to shadow. Each patient the doctor or mental health professional has that day, each one of them would have to sign permission for you to be in the room while the professional works with them. It is the patient that gives you permission in that provider's office to be there. Some patients may not want someone they do not know from the community to be present during their session/visit. Also, this experience of shadowing may inadvertently give you the wrong impression and sway you one way or the other. You already know you're interested in Psychology and without a substantial understanding of human behavior first, shadowing may be daunting for you or may cause the patient to hold back or act out if they usually do that.
If you want to observe quickly and in your own set time, you can go to You Tube and type in the search "Simulated Patients or Standardized Patients during a psychology/psychiatric session" in which you can watch students work with an actor patient. Volunteer work will be more help to you by exposing you to patients as well as the routine of how mental health places are run. You'd get lots of observation and hands on experience by doing volunteer work.
Ask your school social worker or guidance counselor for a list of community, social services and mental health services that you can contact to do volunteer work at. Also contact City of Miami Department of Human Services and Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department to ask about doing volunteer work. You do not have to start out with a heavy duty mental health arena. You'll get that in college.
I would ask if you could be exempt from Shadowing due to the confidential nature of your career choice. Also, I am not sure why it would be required if you ALREADY know what career you want. If you do end up shadowing, remember, your career IS NOT going to be the way you see it in one day sitting with a doctor and patient. Try not to anticipate that it is the experience you will have in the future. Ask whomever is requiring it if you can do volunteer work instead.
Just wanted to give you a different perspective on this and I hope that you can do volunteer work soon.
It is required to shadow somebody in my high school! With these interests, we don't always need to shadow the direct job we want to get more just things that are similar. Where i live, there's tons of great families and areas but there is also bad areas. I believe they make it a requirement to give the people who are struggling a better chance at a job. Thank you for the volunteering recommendation though, I will definitely check this out!
Bella
You are very welcome for the advice !
Michelle M.
Paul Marcel-Rene
Property Manager
20
Answers
Akron, Ohio
Updated
Paul’s Answer
It’s great that you’re already thinking about gaining experience in psychology before graduating high school. While it’s true that shadowing licensed psychologists—especially in clinical or pediatric settings—can involve liability concerns due to confidentiality laws like HIPAA, there are still valuable alternatives that can help you explore the field. Start by reaching out to local community mental health centers, school counselors, or university psychology departments. Even if you can’t sit in on therapy sessions, you may be able to assist with administrative work, observe non-clinical aspects of the practice, or conduct informational interviews with professionals.
Since you’re interested in pediatric psychology, consider volunteering with programs that serve children, such as after-school tutoring, youth mentorship, or organizations that support children with special needs. These experiences demonstrate initiative and give you insight into how children think, learn, and interact. You can also explore online programs or webinars related to child psychology to build your foundational understanding. Your school counselor or psychology teacher may help connect you with professionals willing to guide or mentor you virtually. Even observing how psychological principles apply in educational or recreational settings can shape your future career path. Stay proactive—every experience counts and shows your commitment to the field.
Since you’re interested in pediatric psychology, consider volunteering with programs that serve children, such as after-school tutoring, youth mentorship, or organizations that support children with special needs. These experiences demonstrate initiative and give you insight into how children think, learn, and interact. You can also explore online programs or webinars related to child psychology to build your foundational understanding. Your school counselor or psychology teacher may help connect you with professionals willing to guide or mentor you virtually. Even observing how psychological principles apply in educational or recreational settings can shape your future career path. Stay proactive—every experience counts and shows your commitment to the field.
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Bella! You raised a valid point about liability concerns. A small psychology practice may not be able to afford adequate insurance coverage. If they will accept the liability risks of a student shadowing them, fine. A remote internship would obviate these risks and widen your geographical search area. I see multiple possibilities for work.
INTERNSHIPS AND SHADOWING IN-SITU AND REMOTE :- [Four Work Genres]
Approach these academic research departments in psychology in these local colleges:-
https://www.uthflorida.us/
https://www.albizu.edu/
https://www.mdc.edu/padron/
All Psychologists in Private Practice and Government Health. Start with those local to Miami, FL. In Psychology you can do remote work with search engines like PubMed:- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
GOD BLESS.
INTERNSHIPS AND SHADOWING IN-SITU AND REMOTE :- [Four Work Genres]
Approach these academic research departments in psychology in these local colleges:-
https://www.uthflorida.us/
https://www.albizu.edu/
https://www.mdc.edu/padron/
All Psychologists in Private Practice and Government Health. Start with those local to Miami, FL. In Psychology you can do remote work with search engines like PubMed:- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
GOD BLESS.
That makes a lot of sense. I will try to contact more places to find some that will let me shadow.
Bella
Emily Anne
Manager, Technical Support
25
Answers
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Updated
Emily’s Answer
That’s a really thoughtful approach, and you’re right—shadowing in psychology (especially with pediatric patients) can be tricky because of privacy and liability rules as the others mentioned. But it’s awesome that you’re already thinking ahead and looking for ways to get experience!
Here are some ideas and advice to help you get as close as possible to the real thing:
-Reach Out to School Counselors or Psychologists:
Sometimes, school counselors or psychologists are open to having students shadow them, at least for the non-confidential parts of their day. You could ask if you can observe meetings that don’t involve private student info, or help with general tasks.
-Volunteer with Kids:
Look for volunteer opportunities at after-school programs, summer camps, community centers, or organizations that work with children (like Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, or local libraries). While it’s not clinical psychology, you’ll gain experience working with kids and see how adults support their development.
-Hospital or Clinic Volunteer Programs:
Some hospitals have teen volunteer programs where you can help out in pediatric units (even if it’s not directly with psychologists). This gives you exposure to the healthcare environment and lets you see how different professionals interact.
-Contact Local Universities:
Psychology departments sometimes have research studies involving children, and they may need volunteers or research assistants. Even helping with data collection or observation can give you insight into the field.
-Online Shadowing or Webinars:
Since COVID, a lot of professionals offer virtual shadowing, Q&A sessions, or webinars. Look for psychologists who do talks or panels about their work with kids. You can learn a lot from these, and sometimes they even offer certificates of participation.
-Informational Interviews:
If shadowing isn’t possible, try setting up a short interview (in person or virtual) with a pediatric psychologist or counselor. Prepare some questions about their day-to-day work, challenges, and what they love about their job. Most people are happy to share their experiences!
-Check with Your School:
Since shadowing is a requirement, your school might already have a list of approved sites or alternative experiences that meet the criteria. Ask your guidance counselor or career advisor for suggestions.
You may also want to consider to keep a journal of your experiences, reflections, and what you learn. This will help you later when you apply to college or jobs. Don’t be discouraged also if you can’t shadow exactly where you want—any experience working with kids or in a helping role will be valuable. Stay curious and open-minded! Sometimes the “side doors” into a field teach you the most.
And by the way, it’s super cool that you already know you want to work in pediatric psychology. Good luck!
Here are some ideas and advice to help you get as close as possible to the real thing:
-Reach Out to School Counselors or Psychologists:
Sometimes, school counselors or psychologists are open to having students shadow them, at least for the non-confidential parts of their day. You could ask if you can observe meetings that don’t involve private student info, or help with general tasks.
-Volunteer with Kids:
Look for volunteer opportunities at after-school programs, summer camps, community centers, or organizations that work with children (like Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, or local libraries). While it’s not clinical psychology, you’ll gain experience working with kids and see how adults support their development.
-Hospital or Clinic Volunteer Programs:
Some hospitals have teen volunteer programs where you can help out in pediatric units (even if it’s not directly with psychologists). This gives you exposure to the healthcare environment and lets you see how different professionals interact.
-Contact Local Universities:
Psychology departments sometimes have research studies involving children, and they may need volunteers or research assistants. Even helping with data collection or observation can give you insight into the field.
-Online Shadowing or Webinars:
Since COVID, a lot of professionals offer virtual shadowing, Q&A sessions, or webinars. Look for psychologists who do talks or panels about their work with kids. You can learn a lot from these, and sometimes they even offer certificates of participation.
-Informational Interviews:
If shadowing isn’t possible, try setting up a short interview (in person or virtual) with a pediatric psychologist or counselor. Prepare some questions about their day-to-day work, challenges, and what they love about their job. Most people are happy to share their experiences!
-Check with Your School:
Since shadowing is a requirement, your school might already have a list of approved sites or alternative experiences that meet the criteria. Ask your guidance counselor or career advisor for suggestions.
You may also want to consider to keep a journal of your experiences, reflections, and what you learn. This will help you later when you apply to college or jobs. Don’t be discouraged also if you can’t shadow exactly where you want—any experience working with kids or in a helping role will be valuable. Stay curious and open-minded! Sometimes the “side doors” into a field teach you the most.
And by the way, it’s super cool that you already know you want to work in pediatric psychology. Good luck!
Thank you so much! I used to think I wanted to be a pediatrician, but my recent interest with mental health really encouraged this dream. I will definitely have to ask my school counselor about some of the stuff you mentioned.
Bella
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
833
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
Psychology is such a wide field and I’m willing to bet you can find someone who would let you shadow them. There are many associations tied into the study of psychology. I’d recommend connecting with one of them or reaching out to the alumni Association for the psychology department at a local college. There are many people out there willing to get back and through one of these two options I think you could locate a possible mentor.
Thank you!
Bella
Alissa Combs-Draughn, Ph.D.
Psychologist
2
Answers
Catawba, VA
Updated
Alissa’s Answer
I think it is an excellent idea to participate in job shadowing prior to attending college - or even while you are in college. A convenient place to begin would be with your school district’s school psychologist; that role does a little bit of everything and also works with a variety of age groups so it would give you an idea of what age groups you might like to work with. You may also have a community service board (CSB) that offers mental health services in your community (if you are not already aware of this, you could find out by asking your guidance counselor). Also, your primary care doctor may know of additional resources, such as private practice psychologists, who you could speak with.
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