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Explore our Psychology & Social Work Internships

These psychology and social work internships are a great way to develop your knowledge and skills, gain valuable work experience, and offer support to people and communities who desperately need it. As an intern, you’ll join one of our partners in the field and assist with program development and planning, along with providing support to individuals in various ways (depending on your skill level). You’ll have the opportunity to apply your specialized knowledge to real-world situations, offering a stepping stone to a fulfilling career in these fields.

Not only do psychology or social work internships contribute to the mental health and well-being of vulnerable individuals, but they also contribute to your personal and professional growth. By interning with a nonprofit, you’ll work with people from all walks of life and be inspired by the stories you hear and the dedication of those working to further the mission of the organization. Take the chance to live and work in a beautiful country, immerse yourself in different cultures, and explore a new part of the world.

Read more about our Psychology & Social Work Internships options

Why choose Roots Interns for Psychology & Social Work Internships?

Grassroots work

You’ll join an organization that works directly with their community to solve problems on the ground and make a real impact.

Matchmaking

We’ll help you find and prepare for an internship with the organization that’s right for you and your skills, background, and passions.

Academic placements

Working abroad is an experience like no other and your internship will be tailored to your studies and interests.

Browse All Psychology & Social Work Internship Projects

A group of children sitting at tables in a classroom

Open for applications

Social Work Internship

  • Min. 8 weeks
  • Arequipa, Peru
  • YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL WORK
Embark on a mission to assist vulnerable youth facing disabilities in Arequipa, promoting inclusivity and fostering positive social impact.
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peruvians

Psychology Internship

  • Min. 8 weeks
  • Arequipa, Peru
  • REPORTING, PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION
Generate a profound and enduring impact on the lives of youth and women in Peru through active participation in community development efforts.
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Woman holding her baby

Open for applications

Mental and Physical Health Development Internship

  • Min. 3 months
  • Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION METHODOLOGY
Empower through health development with the opportunity to independently design care programs for mental and physical well-being in Cambodia.
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Mental health research internship

Open for applications

Remote Mental Health Research Internship

  • Min. 8 weeks
  • Remote
  • DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS, REPORTING, RESEARCH, PUBLIC HEALTH
Make a valuable contribution to the fight to improve mental health support, conducting research and implementing strategies for lasting impact.
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Youth social Work Internship

Open for applications

Youth Social Work Internship

  • Min. 4 weeks
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL WORK
Make a positive impact on young lives through meaningful activities, support programs, and community engagment initiatives in Cape Town.
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Psychology Internship

Open for applications

Psychology Internship

  • Min. 8 weeks
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK
Participate in a range of counseling sessions and observe experienced professionals, acquiring valuable insights into the field of psychology.
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Other Academic Focus Areas

Benefits of Psychology & Social Work Internships

Practical experience

A psychology or social work internship will allow you to gain hands-on experience working with families, communities, and individuals through various mental health programs.

Network growth

As an intern, you’ll work alongside a diverse and experienced team, enabling you to expand your professional network and improve your interpersonal skills.

Mental health promotion

By joining one of these psychology or social work internships, you’ll be advocating for mental health awareness and promoting initiatives that aim to improve accessibility to care and reduce stigmas.

Community engagement

Connect with the populations you aim to serve and understand their unique needs as you engage with organizations and local communities.

Ethical factors

In a psychology or social work internship, you will practice and understand the ethical factors that go into mental health and social work in an international context which include factors related to client confidentiality and boundaries.

Skill development

Build up your assessment, intervention, and counseling experience, along with your teamwork and communication skills, which are essential to roles in these career paths.

Best Places for Psychology & Social Work Internships

Why Choose Roots Internships in Psychology & Social Work

Find out from our previous interns how internship positions in Psychology & Social Work can boost your professional career and grow your interpersonal skills.

During my time in Cape Town, I worked with groups of children in various morning projects and with the children at the Ubuntu Center in the afternoon. I planned the activities for the younger and the older children at the center to bring in more structure around their day. It was a great chance to see all the differences in the development of each project. My work was always different and there was always something new for me to explore. It became a great challenge for me to experience all those parts of working in and for the township, but I am proud of all the challenges I had to face everyday. I stayed strong and I gained a lot of self-confidence during my time in South Africa. Also, all the people in the accommodation have different values to get along with, which was a good challenge for me and important for my personal development. All in all, I contributed to good work and I can see the difference I made. I’m grateful for my time in Cape Town and because of this internship I was able to gain new perspectives and to change my outlook on a lot of things.

Paula, Katharineum zu Lübeck, German – Youth Social Work Internship, South Africa

I was able to truly get an internship that fit my learning desires. My supervisor set up a program for me to work in a women’s safe house twice a week, and once a week at a recovery center. The other days I spent at a youth center in a township working with around 80 kids daily. I’m proud of the work I did which required focus, commitment, self-reflection, and handling challenging environments. The diverse program had me doing tasks that helped me gain more experience in the field of psychology that I want to have a career in.

Mallorie, Louisiana State University, American – Psychology Internship, South Africa

I am very proud of all the work I have done over the past couple of months. However, I myself have learned so much from the community in which I worked. I enjoyed building a great connection with the community of Masiphumelele and I really am glad to have met so many amazing people here. The children that I worked with taught me so much about love and happiness, despite the difficult conditions they may live in. I feel like this internship has given me a new outlook on life and will help me to look at things with more positivity and gratitude.

Matthew, DePauw University, American – Youth Social Work Internship, South Africa

Blogs about Psychology & Social Work

mom and daughter hugging each otherPsychology and Social Work
September 27, 2023

How to Get a Psychology Internship

Want to gain hands-on experience in the field of psychology? Want to build skills, expand your knowledge, and expose yourself to networking opportunities? There’s a great way you can do…
social work internship in AfricaIntern experiencesSouth AfricaPsychology and Social Work
November 30, 2022

What to expect from social work internships in South Africa

Read about one of our past intern's experiences and learn what to expect from social work internships in South Africa
Youth social workNonprofit InternshipsSouth AfricaPsychology and Social Work
January 27, 2020

Projekt Ubuntu’s Social Impact Interns in Cape Town

Social Impact Interns in Cape Town: find out how our partner organisation Projekt Ubuntu is benefiting from having skilled interns on board.

Psychology & Social Work FAQs

What can I expect from a Psychology Internship?

As a psychology intern, you’ll get practical work experience in counseling and supporting a variety of mental health programs while being guided by a professional psychologist. The internship will be tailored according to your level of experience and your specific academic background, which ensures that you’ll hit the right balance between challenging yourself and staying within your ability level. Your work can include working in rehabilitation facilities, safe houses, and abuse victim support groups. No matter what, you can expect to get guided hands-on experience in the psychology field.

What can I expect from a Social Work Internship?

Our partners are based in countries that deal with a great deal of social issues, and the work you do as an intern can make a true impact on people’s lives. Depending on the internship you join, you’ll be working with children or adults who deal with certain traumas and may not have access to the proper assistance if it wasn’t for the nonprofit initiative you’ll be part of. Mental health support is not widely available around the world, and offering the right kind of counseling to victims of abuse – or people with otherwise troubling backgrounds – is incredibly impactful and rewarding.

Who can apply for these internships?

Our various psychology and social work internships require a relevant academic background, and some require a level of experience so be sure to check each individual listing. It’s also important that you are willing to adapt to different cultures and are excited by the idea of working in a nonprofit setting. You should be able to approach your work with a proactive and flexible attitude and be keen to learn about your chosen field and about yourself. Most importantly, you should be passionate about using your skills to support others and we’ll help you narrow down which internship will allow you to do this best.

Why should I consider doing my Social work or Psychology Internship Abroad?

We might be biased, but we think that international internships offer a uniquely wonderful opportunity to live and work abroad. It’s a chance to challenge yourself in a foreign environment, immerse yourself in different cultures, and learn how to be adaptable. It’s also a chance to add international work experience to your resume. When it comes to social work and psychology internships, there’s also the fact that you might be able to get more in-depth, broad, and hands-on experience than when you stay at home. That’s especially the case in developing countries, where mental health facilities are scarce, and you are likely to take on an active role as an intern.

HOW TO APPLY

If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:

APPLY

Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.

GET STARTED

SPEAK WITH AN ADVISOR

We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.

INTERNSHIP MATCHING

If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.

PAYMENT

If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.

CONFIRMATION

Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.

NEED TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY FIRST?

Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!