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Psychology in Cape Town, South Africa

Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Language requirements

English, well enough to independently conduct counselling sessions

Availability

All year 

Age

18+

Price starts with

860 EUR 

Type of program

Volunteering or Internship

In Cape Town, we offer psychology internships with two nonprofit organizations offering psychological counseling and therapy. After completing training, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct counseling sessions yourself and receive professional feedback and support from your internship supervisors.
Description

Mental Health in South Africa

It is estimated that in South Africa, only one in four individuals in need of mental health support receives it in any form. Various challenges, such as the persistent stigma around seeking help, long waiting times at public clinics, and the high cost of private psychological services, make it difficult to access the necessary support. Both centers we collaborate with offer free or highly affordable services aimed at marginalized individuals and groups who would otherwise have limited access to psychological care.


Psychological Counseling Center in Woodstock, Cape Town

The center in Cape Town is run by a nonprofit organization, providing affordable and accessible psychological counseling as well as workshops on wellbeing and mental health. The goal is to bridge the gap between the demand for mental health services and the availability of such services in disadvantaged and marginalized communities. The center is centrally located in Woodstock and serves neighboring areas such as Zonnebloem, Salt River, and Observatory.

Many of the counselors are psychology students who are trained and supervised by team members with BA and MA degrees in psychology and social work. Services are offered both on-site at the center and remotely (e.g., via WhatsApp). They include short-term individual counseling and group workshops on topics such as basic life skills, addiction support, gender and sexuality, loss and separation, trauma, and personal crisis counseling.

Another aspect of the organization’s mission is to raise awareness about mental health. They regularly hosts workshops and talks on mental health topics at the center in Woodstock. Additionally, the organization has a program to train teachers and managers in stress management, providing them with tools to help students and employees manage stress effectively.

Internship placements are available for psychology students, supported by qualified supervision to enhance your learning experience. You’ll receive initial training and then conduct counseling sessions with clients. You’ll also have the chance to discuss your experiences and challenges with the center's leadership and receive valuable feedback. There’s also the opportunity to assist with other tasks at the center, gaining further insights into different areas of work. The internship supervisor is a UK-trained psychotherapist specializing in existential psychotherapy, trauma therapy (NATAL, TAU), and PTSD (Harvard University).


Psychological Counseling in Blaauwberg, Cape Town

This counseling and therapy service provides psychological support for individuals of all ages. Common issues addressed include the loss of a loved one, separation/divorce, depression, and addiction. For children aged three and older, play therapy is often used. Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdowns, online psychological support has also been offered.

The organization has a Christian background but employs a psychological and scientific approach in its counseling and therapy services, welcoming individuals of all religions. The counseling is free, though clients can choose to make an anonymous donation.

The organization operates three centers, with 90 local volunteer counselors currently active, all of whom hold at least a counseling diploma following a two-year training program. Volunteers are regularly trained in additional courses, which you can also attend during your internship. English-speaking internships are only available at the Blaauwberg center, but if you speak Flemish or Afrikaans, you can also intern at the Kuils River location.

Internships are available for psychology students in their third year or beyond. You will receive qualified supervision during your internship. After an initial orientation phase, you’ll independently counsel or provide therapy to one or more clients for an hour each week. You’ll then discuss your insights and challenges with the center manager. If you feel confident, you can continue the sessions independently. Observing or assisting in counseling sessions conducted by local volunteers is not possible. Additionally, you’ll help with other tasks at the center as needed.Counseling and therapy are typically conducted in English. The Blaauwberg center also has a collection of specialist literature available for your use.

Qualified professionals can also volunteer at these facilities.


About the Boooking Process

If you meet the requirements (being a psychology student for the center in Woodstock; being at least in the third year of psychology studies for the center in Blaauwberg), you can book online through this page. Please also send us your English CV/resume and a motivation letter outlining your learning objectives so we can coordinate your internship with the organization.

Program details

FAQs

Is accommodation really not included? How do I get accommodation? What costs should I expect?

Accommodation is not included in our placements in Cape Town. One reason for this is the large availability of hostels, guest houses, and other accommodations in Cape Town, and many participants prefer the flexibility in choosing their accommodation. Additionally, the exchange rates between the South African Rand and the EUR/USD fluctuate significantly, making it difficult for us to provide fixed rates in these foreign currencies. You can get cheaper accommodation by booking directly with accommodations in Cape Town.

You can book accommodations online yourself. We will send you a list of recommended accommodations based on their proximity to your project site.

For a bed in a dormitory room, you should expect costs of approximately 15-20 EUR/USD per night for stays of less than a month and 10-15 EUR/USD for longer stays. For a single room, the cost is estimated at about 40 EUR/USD per night.

Rates

Who can join

You should be a psychology student or recent graduate, or studying a related field.

Program start

Program start is flexible all year round. The exact date must be confirmed with us upon constultation with the placement.

Getting there

You will fly to Cape Town (CPT), which is very well connected with direct flights or one to two stopovers at relatively low prices from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Your flight should land between 8 am and 8 pm (planned arrival time). You book your flight and provide us with your flight details. We will pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

If your flight arrives outside the time window (8 am-8 pm) (or departs during the return journey), we can still pick you up, but we would charge an additional 25 EUR/30 USD for the night transfer.

Visa

A visa is available upon arrival at the airport free of charge to many nationalities, allowing a stay of up to 90 days.

Accommodation Options


Self-booked Accommodation in Cape Town

In Cape Town, we offer our placement and support services independently from accommodation.

The reason for this approach is twofold. Firstly, many participants prefer more flexibility in choosing their accommodation. Secondly, the prices charged by accommodation providers in South African Rand (ZAR) fluctuate significantly, making it challenging for us to guarantee fixed prices in EUR or USD.

Depending on the location of your placement, we will suggest various accommodations, typically backpacker hostels, and provide you with the booking links. You will then book the accommodation yourself online. If you prefer, you can also book accommodation independently through platforms like Airbnb.

We are happy to advise you in finding the accommodation that suits you best. For example, if your placement is in Table View, you can choose between quieter accommodation in a green area near the beach, close to your placement, or accommodation in the city center, where there is more nightlife but a longer commute to the placement via city bus. We will gladly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different accommodations with you.

We have a list of recommended accommodations in the neighborhoods of Table View, Downtown, Woodstock, Oranjezicht, Muizenberg, and Hout Bay.

Extras

Read more

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What is included?

VM_WHAT_IS_INCLUDED?
  • Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
  • Access to the World Unite! Knowledge Base which has preparation materials including intercultural preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (Videos)
  • Preparation Session via Zoom; together with further participants
  • Pick-up and Transfers from/to Cape Town (CPT) Airport on arrival and departure
  • Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
    Orientation and Introduction in Cape Town
  • Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
  • 24 Hours emergency support by local support team
  • Contribution for internship supervision to your host organization
  • Local SIM Card with 100 ZAR air time
  • Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
  • 15% Discount for Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Excursions and Watersports Activities offered by "Budget Safari Tanzania"
  • Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro

Not included?

VM_WHAT_IS_NOT_INCLUDED?
  • Accommodation and Meals
  • Travel to/from Cape Town (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
  • Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
  • Personal Expenses
  • Vaccinations
  • Local Transport in Cape Town

INSIGHT

5 REASONS why to join
this program
 

You’ll get hands-on experience as a counselor!

 

Comprehensive training and introduction.

 

Professional feedback.

 

Exciting location.

 

Support from our on-site team.

contact kareen

Questions?

your consultant for this program is

Kareen Leodgard

(she/her)

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Did you know that you can earn academic credits by joining any of our volunteering abroad programs? Read more.