Networking During A Pandemic: Tips for Graduate Students and Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns

Networking and making professional connections are important in just about every career. Graduate Student and Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns are no exception. Networking with Licensed professionals may seem out of reach or a bit intimidating, however, it is a critical aspect of one’s career. While busy with taking classes or accruing the necessary hours for graduation or internship, adding something else to one’s plate might seem a little overwhelming, especially during a pandemic. Rest assured, there are plenty of ways to network and connect with your colleagues, even from the comfort of your own home.

Remember the interview most of us had to do with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at the beginning of our Graduate program? The person you connected with to do that interview is still a good resource. Having been interviewed about 30 times, I would appreciate a follow up from anyone who has ever interviewed me. You could reach out to that professional in order to follow up and share where you currently are on your professional journey. Perhaps that professional could recommend other professionals you could connect with in the specialty in which you are interested? Instead of having to search for connections on your own, this established connection could be very helpful to you.

Your professors are another valuable resource. Develop a relationship with your professors. Even if their office hours are virtual, you can go with questions or simply to get to know them better. Professors can be a terrific resource to you beyond just teaching your classes. Additionally, some colleges and universities offer mentoring programs. Joining a mentoring program can be a great way to network. Your local FMHCA chapter may offer mentoring as well. Feel free to share both on-line or at an in-person meeting that you are seeking a mentor.

If you are currently or recently in a study group you set up for the state exam, your group could continue to meet even after the exam. Many of us start peer groups for supervision, education, collaboration, and/or simply connecting. Your study group could transition into a networking or peer supervision group or the like.

Another way to network is by connecting with your local inpatient mental health hospitals. The inpatient treatment programs in my area, Central Florida, offer networking, programming, and even meet & greets and tours both virtually and in-person. Inpatient programs are often looking for new therapists and referrals. It can be mutually beneficial to take them up on their marketing opportunities. If you have these programs in your area, I highly recommend taking advantage of these as you can network with the inpatient facility sponsoring the programs, the therapists there, as well as the other attendees.

Many of us miss the in-person social and networking piece of our professional associations, and plenty members have given feedback to that effect. Our organizations have responded by creating new ways to connect with each other. As you may already know, FMHCA is a state chapter of our national organization, The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). Both AMHCA and FMHCA have created virtual ways to connect with each other. (For those of you reading this who are outside of Florida, you can find a list of AMHCA’s chapters here. For example, AMCHA has a Forum where any member can post questions, quandaries, or information for other members. FMHCA also has a Forum where members can post these as well.

Your local FMHCA chapter can be a great resource to you. You can locate your local chapters here. Local chapters of FMHCA throughout the state have also implemented new ways to connect during the pandemic. For example, the local chapter in my area, The Mental Health Counselors of Central Florida, (MHCCF), added random breakout rooms for the purpose of networking as a part of their regular monthly virtual meetings. Chapters may currently be meeting entirely online, like the Central Florida chapter; or may have gone back to meeting in-person; or may be offering a combination of on-line and in-person. You can choose whichever you are most comfortable with.

AMHCA, FMHCA and its chapters have been very creative during the pandemic, and they have come up with and implemented other ways to create opportunities for networking and connecting with our colleagues virtually. FMHCA regularly offers a free online networking event for all members called “Alliance.” The purpose of “Alliance” meetings is to help us connect with each other. Additionally, some chapters are offering in – person meetings, and if you feel comfortable, you can go there to meet people. Students and Interns are always welcome. Arriving early and staying late, whether on-line or in-person, can help you maximize opportunities of networking time. You also can take advantage of any networking events your National or Local Chapter may be offering.

Another member resource available to you is the FMHCA Graduate Student and Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern Committee. As the Chair of the committee, I can attest that there are plenty of Licensed Mental Health Counselors who love to mentor students! The FMHCA office sends out a Doodle poll to all who have expressed interest in the committee, and the committee members decide what days and times the meetings will occur. FMHCA also has an online Forum on the website which is available to all committee members. Committee members can post questions, resources, and information important to students and registered interns. It is never too late to join the committee! If you would like to join the committee, please email our administrative office at Office@FLMHCA.org.

FMHCA’s annual conference will be held February 4th & 5th 2022. (Pre-Conference workshops will be held February 3rd.) FMHCA will be offering a hybrid conference: in-person and online. Students and Interns are encouraged to attend, volunteer, and network along with the licensed professionals. Even though I did not need the credit, I enjoyed attending conferences as a student, because it was both educational and a great networking opportunity. Conferences and workshops may still be primarily online, but there are many ways participation will benefit your career. If you attend a workshop or conference breakout session you particularly enjoy, I suggest initiating a connection with the presenter by requesting a connection on LinkedIn within a day or two of the training. Presenters appreciate hearing participants enjoyed their presentation.

Volunteering in our professional associations is another great way to network. There are plenty of roles for both graduate students and registered interns to fill at the local, state and national level. You could network on a national, state and local level. When I was a registered intern, I volunteered with my local chapter and got to really know my local colleagues. I also ended up with multiple job offers! Volunteering, “forces” one to get know one’s colleagues personally. I find that when I am an attendee, I do not get to know, or remember, as many people as when I volunteer. There are opportunities to serve in elected board positions, and/or serve on committees. You can contribute articles on a topic you are passionate about or an issue important to you for the FMHCA In Session magazine. You could even write about the challenges you and your peers are facing having been a Graduate Student or Intern during the pandemic.

Let’s not forget online platforms and social media for connecting. You likely already have a LinkedIn profile. If not, know that LinkedIn is a free professional networking platform. Are you new to LinkedIn and don’t have any connections? FMHCA has a presence on LinkedIn, and you can get connected there and end up with plenty of professionals with whom to connect. Additionally, FMHCA also has a presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and Pinterest. You can connect on any of those platforms. Different platforms attract different professionals. As for FMHCA’s social media, as a student or Intern, you can submit posts or comments and check for others responses to your post – perhaps you’ll start a conversation? Additionally, through social media sites, you can learn about networking opportunities, educational opportunities, office space for rent, new therapy tools, learn from others’ ethical dilemmas and questions, and so much more! In addition to connecting with FMHCA on these platforms, your local chapter may also have a presence on social media as well giving you even more professionals to connect.

One last tip – if you feel concerned about sharing possible germs while networking, whether you are a Graduate Student or Registered Intern, I recommend you have some business cards printed. Business cards can help keep your hands germ free by avoiding entering your contact information directly into a colleague’s smart phone and also helps by avoiding the sharing of pens. There are plenty of low-cost printers to be found online. I recommend flat stock, as opposed to glossy, and leave the back blank so others can write notes on them. If they write notes on them, your colleagues are more likely to hold onto them. All of us started from the beginning, so please know as a student, it is okay to simply list your name, preferred means of contact (i.e., phone number and/or email, and/or social media links) and “Graduate Student” or “Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern.” The cards do not need to be expensive, and simple designs which area easy to read, are best. If you do not want to order business cards, I recommend jotting down colleagues’ names right after you meet them and later that day or next day, send a connection request to them via LinkedIn.

If you have any other ideas about how to network during a pandemic, please feel free to share them on our FMHCA Member Forum. Please also consider joining and sharing your ideas with our Graduate Student and Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern Committee either by attending a virtual meeting or submitting to the Graduate Student and Intern committee page on FMHCA’s website. Simply visit FMHCA’s website, go to the “home” button in the upper left-hand corner and a drop-down menu will appear. Scroll down to “committees” and the Graduate Student and Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern Committee. Then you will be taken to the committee’s forum page and will be able to read existing posts or create new a new post.

Remember- FMHCA is here to serve you!

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FMHCA www.fmhca.org

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Written By: Laura Peddie-Bravo, LMHC, NCC

Laura Peddie-Bravo, LMHC, NCC is the current President Elect of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, FMHCA. Laura graduated from The University of Central Florida’s CACREP accredited Counselor Education program in 1998. She obtained her NCC credential in 1999 and obtained her license in 2001. Laura owns a private practice, The Bravo Counseling Group, LLC, in Winter Park, Florida. She is married and the mother of three young adult children, one of whom has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Among her specialties are Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Bi-Polar, OCD, Domestic Violence, and Personality Disorders. Working with clients and families with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a special passion for her. Laura also enjoys serving the profession of counseling, and she has been a member of and volunteered for professional associations since she was a graduate student.