Electives, internships, & psychology placements abroad

Gain real world experience on psychology placements in Africa

for practitioners, graduates, undergradutes, researchers, and managers

Volunteer with registered psychologists and their departments in established multi-agency partnership work in Kenya or Uganda.

Our psychology volunteering destinations

Discover more about each professional psychology placement

Psychology Electives Uganda

with mental health teams

1-4-8 pax│age 18+│2-12 wks│2 wks from $880 pax

4-6/24 │4-5/7

Project Overview

This incredible psychology internship in Uganda is a unique multi agency opportunity provided with government recognised organisations, a teaching hospital, a local university, and led by our mental health partners leading on community support!

You can tailor your experience in the 3 fields of psychology recgonised in Uganda:

Community.
Counselling
Clinical (hospitals.)

You will have hands-on experience, gaining cross-cultural awareness and developing your approaches, as part of the transformative movement shaping the future of Uganda’s mental health care, and community support.
The work of the 3 pschology disciplines
Clinical Psychologists - play an important role in assessing people and referring them where necessary for psychiatric interventions. They work in the hospital with patinets and families.
Counselling Psychology provide support in hospitals and communities, helping individuals and families navigate challenges.
Community Psychologists provide grassroots support making interventions accessible to all.
What You’ll Be Doing As a psychology intern
You’ll be actively contributing to the work of the psychologists and supporting them. Opportunities could include:
• Participate in the running of well-being clubs in schools, promoting mental health awareness among students.
• Conduct home visits, support individuals with mental health issues and their families, ensuring they receive continued care after hospital discharge. (In Uganda, psychiatric patients whose needs cannot be managed and supported effectively in the community are supported in hopsitals)
• Assist in counselling sessions for individuals and groups, providing crucial support.
• Engage in peer-support groups for psychiatric patients, fostering resilience and recovery.
• Help run self-help groups and community outreach programs, empowering people with knowledge and access to mental health resources.
• Work with suicide survivors and their families, creating safe spaces for discussion and healing.
• Support psycho-social training programs that equip local professionals and communities with essential mental health skills. During your placement, you will work alongside these professionals in hospitals and community settings, gaining firsthand experience of both the challenges and solutions in Uganda’s mental health landscape.
A Life-Changing Experience Awaits! This psychology internship in Uganda is more than a learning opportunity—it’s a chance to make a lasting impact while developing your own skills and knowledge.
Whether you’re interested in clinical work, counselling, or community-based psychology, this placement offers an unparalleled experience that will shape your understanding of mental health in a global context.
Read more about the processes you can be involved in in Uganda
Our psychology volunteering program is managed by respected local partners, integrating the work of 8 local organisations, hospital, and university.
Our partner’s work began in 2006 to address rates of local youth suicide, their success leading to the current set up, and international recognition.

Apply

Psychology Volunteering Kenya

with a women’s empowement team

1-12 persons│age │2-12 wks│ 2 weeks $750 pax

4-6 hours/day │4-5 days per week

Project Overview

Our partners in Kenya have pioneered multi-agency collaboration for 20 years, empowering women living with HIV to build independece and stronger futures for themselves and their children.

One key to success is their ongoing collaboration with professionals, including the psychologists you will be placed with.

These support the women in work identified under the following psychology disciplines:

Community
Clinical

We can work out a bespoke program for you based on their calendar of work, and available psychologists when you are in Kenya
The work of the Psychologists that you can support when you join them.
Hospital-Based Psychologists
- Assess patient needs and recommends interventions
- Provide individual counselling, group therapy for emotional and mental health support
- Document psychosocial histories and collect vital information
- Conduct home visits for follow-up care after patients leave the hospital
- Deliver education programs to raise awareness of mental health issues
- Deliver creative therapies (art, writing, music) to develop self-expression
Community-Based Psychologists
- Design programs supporting mental health, well-being, and rehabilitation in the community
- Promote mental health awareness and good practices
- Support vulnerable women to improve their quality of life
- Raise awareness of mental health challenges and their management
- Assess individual and community needs that negatively affect mental health
Through these combined efforts, our partners are transforming lives by helping women regain their independence and well-being, while also fostering a more supportive and understanding community.
The managers of the women’s cooperative work closely with government agencies, and hospitals, their NGO being set up by a social worker, which you can read about here.
You will stay at their dedicated hostel, where groups or individuals can be provided for.

Apply

The work you can join on your psycholgy internship in Uganda

This outlines what your psychology placement can involve

Roles

Community

Counselling

Hospital

Assessments

The assessment of people who come to their notice.

Referrals are made to

psychiatrists where appropriate

Counselling, Community Therapies

Services

Psychologists provide

Counselling
Community support
Therapies
Home & Family support

Outreaches

Psychologists provide support in schools to pupils, and to university students

Hospital

Psychologists provide a valuable link between the hospital, family, and community.

Policy Advisory

Our work can involve us being asked by government to advise on policy issues on mental health