
Shaylan Ahearn
Elite Performance Psychology Intern, Elite Performance Psychology
Major: PSYC & COMM
Class Year: 2023
What was a typical week like in your internship position?
A typical week of my internship involves content creation, content posting, meetings, blog writing & editing, and recruiting. I spend at least two hours a day on one or more of these tasks, but each day looks different depending on my class and practice schedules. My Tuesdays and Thursdays are longer than most because I have an hour meeting with the EPP staff and my supervisor, and this is where I am assigned my tasks for the week. I then create an organized schedule for what the rest of my week's work will look like.
For all of my work, I have a lot of autonomy and freedom to write about my research interests and athlete experiences. I come to my supervisors with prospective organizations or teams that I feel are a good fit for EPP and get their permission before contacting them. They are very democratic and collaborative when it comes to their leadership style and it has allowed me to be creative, learn, and adapt.
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
What I enjoy most about my internship is the autonomy that I have while also being given some direction from my supervisor. I am trusted to create content for the business while also having a supervisor to observe me and answer questions. Learning and becoming independent play a significant role in private practice as well. I am so glad that I get to learn and get feedback from some of the best counselors and psychologists in the field of mental performance.
How did your coursework help you in your internship?
The biggest thing that has helped me in my internship is the helping skills class I took in the psychology department. This class gave me knowledge of the different tools and skills that are involved in counseling and therapy. I have been able to reference these skills when communicating with my supervisors and participating in group conversations. I also have done some work with lacrosse athletes on mental performance barriers and how to move past them. The research I used for those presentations has been very helpful when creating Instagram posts and blog content.
How did you locate your internship position?
I located my internship position through a family friend. A person in my mom's lacrosse organization had told her a player on one of the teams was seeking help for mental performance after a knee injury and that she found Elite Performance Psychology. My mom then told me about the practice after hearing I was looking for an internship in the field of sports psychology. I reached out and got a response within days.
Advice for students:
I would say to go into the internship with an open mind and willingness to explore and learn. Finding a business that is open to an intern is hard to find, so take advantage of the opportunities you are given and know that the experience you gain from any internship will help you in the future. I would also suggest trying to find an internship with a smaller, more intimate business if you are looking to play a significant role. Normally smaller businesses have more time to really help coach and invest in their interns and allow you to help with real issues and creations instead of just putting you in busy work.
Have fun and know that if you don't like the. the internship you are in, it was still worth it because you gained insight about your likes and dislikes.