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.