PSY Internship Spotlight with Alina Acosta

August 19, 2025 - Shelly DeJong

Meet Alina Acosta, a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in Youth and Development. This summer, Alina is an outreach intern at End Violent Encounters (EVE), a domestic violence shelter that supports women and children by providing emergency housing, legal advocacy, trauma-informed care, and community education. 

Continue reading to see how psychology plays a role in Alina’s internship, what has surprised her the most in this internship, what advice she has for others, and more! 

 

What kind of things are you doing at this internship?  

I lead community outreach efforts, including event planning, networking, and managing public education campaigns. I help coordinate programs that teach about power and control dynamics, the psychology of abuse and trauma, and the healing process. A big focus of my work has been on expanding EVE’s reach into rural communities, where access to support is often limited. I also work on creating tools that teach people how to support survivors in compassionate and informed ways. 

 

What do you like most about your internship?   

I’ve been volunteering with EVE for nearly two years, and I’ve seen the deep impact this organization has—from helping survivors secure housing to assisting with personal protection orders. Being able to advocate for people during some of their most vulnerable moments is what drew me here and continues to motivate me. 

 

How has your psychology education prepared you for this internship?  

My psychology coursework has helped me understand the complex dynamics behind intimate partner violence, why someone might stay in a harmful situation, and how trauma affects behavior. It’s also helped me learn how to approach others with empathy, openness, and support. As someone planning to become a mental health care provider, this hands-on experience has been incredibly valuable. 

 

What has surprised you the most about your internship so far?  

What’s impressed me most is the sheer scale and scope of EVE’s impact. Even while focusing on just three counties—Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham—they support thousands of individuals each year. Their work goes beyond domestic and intimate partner violence to include survivors of elder abuse and other forms of harm. I hadn’t fully realized how comprehensive their services were, and seeing the depth of their outreach has made me even more proud to be part of the team. 

 

Do you have advice for others looking for an internship?  

Start early and be intentional. I began volunteering at EVE the summer after my freshman year simply because I cared about the mission. If you’re doing an internship, don’t just do it to fulfill a requirement—find something that matters to you. When the work is meaningful, it fuels you. 

 

What are your hopes for the future?  

I’m applying to medical school and hope to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist. My time at EVE has shaped how I plan to show up for my future patients—with patience, humility, and an understanding of trauma that I wouldn’t have gained in the classroom alone.