Psychology Internship in Jamaica

Gain psychology work experience at a mental health clinic or during community-based outreach work

Destination

Jamaica

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You should be studying towards a psychology or social work degree, or have a qualification in guidance counselling.

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,950 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Support mental health patients

Interact with patients, engage in play therapy, and provide supervised home visits or counselling sessions, contributing to their wellbeing.

Observe clinical assessments

Gain insight into treatment processes by observing clinical assessments and therapy sessions, enhancing your understanding of psychology practices.

Raise mental health awareness

Lead educational sessions in schools and communities, raising awareness about mental health issues, and breaking stigmas through engaging workshops.

Help local mental health advocates

Contribute to planning workshops and events, participate in research and data analysis on mental health in Jamaica, and support policy development.

Embrace the rhythm of Jamaica

Live with a host family, explore Mandeville, enjoy Jamaican cuisine, and visit cultural sites like the Bob Marley Museum, immersing in local life.

What you need to know

Overview

Are you a current psychology student, or a recent graduate? Looking to gain psychology work experience in Jamaica? Then this internship is ideal for you. You’ll be able to put your theoretical knowledge into practice while helping people in need of treatment for mental illness.

In order to join this project, you need to be studying social work, psychology or guidance counseling, or have a qualification in one of these fields.

You will work alongside qualified local professionals during your time in Jamaica. Furthermore, you will have a Projects Abroad supervisor who will ensure that you get the most out of your placement. You will receive a thorough induction upon arrival, to ensure you are prepared before you begin working with patients.

A Day in the Life

Wake up in the home of your host family, and enjoy a delicious breakfast before you start your working day. You’ll travel to your placement via taxi. On your first day, our staff will travel with you to show you the way.

A typical day on this internship runs from 8.30am – 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. Your daily activities will vary, depending on the placement you choose.

If you have chosen to intern at a mental health clinic, you will you will work directly with young children and adults with various mental health issues. This will take place under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. On any given day, you may find yourself interviewing patients, observing assessments or assisting with research.

For those who have selected the community-based option, you’ll spend much of your time on outreaches. These may involve individual or group counselling, conducting classroom guidance sessions, and supervised home visits. Please note that this option is not available during July and August.

Once you’ve finished work for the day, it’s time to explore your temporary home. You can join in on our weekly activities, which are a great way to have fun, meet your fellow volunteers and learn about aspects of the local culture. You should definitely sample some Jamaican cuisine from one of the local restaurants. Or why not enjoy a home cooked dinner with your host family?

Aims & Impact

There are two main aims to this internship: to provide you with a practical learning experience and to support those with mental illness.

Many of the interns who join us are looking for practical work experience in an international environment. Here at Projects Abroad, we encourage the cross-cultural exchange of knowledge. You will learn from qualified local staff, and gain insight into mental health practice in a different country.

On this internship, you will also work to benefit those in the local community. There is a growing number of people being diagnosed with mental illness, such as depression, schizophrenia, and sleeping disorders. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding these kinds of conditions.

You will assist the local psychologists with their work, helping with the treatment of patients. It is also important for interns to raise awareness around mental health disorders. This helps to break the stigma, and helps people to identify these conditions for early treatment.

Join us on a Psychology internship in Jamaica, which provides you with practical work experience and benefits the local community.

Activities

There are two different options on this internship. Depending on your skills and experience, you can either work in a mental health clinic and hospital, or take part in outreach work in the local community. Tasks will include:

Interact with and support patients
Observe clinical assessments and play therapy
Conduct educational sessions about mental health issues
Assist with planning for different events
Conduct research and data analysis

Interact with and support patients

Whichever internship option you choose, you’ll get the chance to interact with patients who have a variety of different conditions. At the mental health clinic, you will spend time interviewing patients, engaging children in the reception area, visiting patients in the hospital, and taking part in play therapy. If you choose the community-based option, you’ll take part in supervised home visits, and conduct conducting individual or group counselling sessions.

Observe clinical assessments and play therapy

At the mental health clinic, you will have the chance to observe clinical assessments of patients. This gives you great insight into how psychologists diagnose and treat people with mental illness. You may also have the opportunity to observe play therapy sessions, or take part in them, as mentioned above.

Conduct educational sessions about mental health issues

Raising awareness about mental health is important when it comes to breaking stigmas and helping people to identify signs of mental illness. Those who choose to work in the local community will conduct classroom guidance sessions, as well as parenting workshops, at a local high school. Topics will include self-esteem, anger management, conflict resolution, child abuse, and adjustment issues.

Assist with planning for different events

At the mental health clinic, you may also spend time planning and conducting workshops and presentations. Interns based in the community will also do something similar, assisting with the planning and running of seminars and special events. The overall aim is to educate people about mental illness, from treatment options to prevention.

Conduct research and data analysis

For interns at the mental health clinic, you may find yourself helping with research and data analysis. This research will focus on mental illness in the Jamaican context. You will examine risk factors and the affected or at-risk population, for example. The data will be then used for policy drafts or designing mental health programmes.

Map & Location

Feel the rhythm of Jamaica, an incredible Caribbean nation renowned for reggae music, the laid-back “irie” lifestyle, and breathtaking scenery. Beyond the famous beaches, find beauty in the mountains and historic plantations all over the island.

Jamaica is also known for its coffee production and unique English-based Patois, which is distinct enough to be considered an entirely separate language. You’ll be welcomed with open arms in Jamaica and encouraged to enjoy the culture to the fullest!

Mandeville

Mandeville, nestled in the hills of central Jamaica, offers a blend of laid-back charm and rich culture. This town of around 50,000 people enjoys a cooler climate than the coastal areas and has a long history, evident in its colonial-era architecture and busy town square.

The town provides easy access to nature trails, waterfalls, and coffee plantations. You will also experience the lively atmosphere of the local markets and enjoy the friendly hospitality of the Jamaican people.

Food & Accommodation

You’ll have everything you need for an incredible experience in Jamaica, starting with a welcoming host family. They will be carefully vetted and will provide you with a comfortable bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water. Our team will also handle your daily transport to and from your placement.

Your home away from home will be safe, secure, and clean. It is the perfect place to experience Jamaican culture first hand, giving you the chance to live and speak with local people, enjoy traditional home-cooked meals, and see the sights of Mandeville.

During your stay, you may share a room with another volunteer. If this is the case, they will be of the same gender and a similar age, giving you the chance to make friends, share stories, and have a once-in-a-lifetime journey together.

Free Time and Leisure

When you think of the tropical Caribbean, Jamaica is one of the first countries that comes to mind. With its white-sand beaches and vibrant culture, this island nation has a lot to offer. It’s an amazing location to volunteer in, and explore during your free time.

The local cuisine is definitely worth trying, with tasty dishes like Jamaican patties and jerk chicken. You can enjoy these at seaside restaurants and then head down to the sea for a cooling swim in the ocean.

With a rich culture and friendly locals, exploring markets and museums is a must. Visiting the famous Bob Marley Museum in Kingston makes for an enlightening weekend trip. While you’re there, you can also tour Fort Charles and the National Heroes Park.

There will be other volunteers working on different projects in Jamaica while you’re there. This means you can choose to explore independently or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Jamaica Arrival Procedures page.