Mental health stigma runs deep in Jamaica. Despite growing awareness, a significant proportion of Jamaicans who experience depression, anxiety, trauma, and other psychological disorders never seek or receive professional support. The ratio of qualified psychologists to population is far below international recommendations. Schools go without counselors. Community mental health programs are under-resourced. And the social and economic pressures — poverty, crime, unemployment, family fragmentation — that generate psychological distress in Jamaican communities are real and persistent.
Our psychology internships abroad program places you inside this landscape — at mental health clinics, schools, community organizations, and social service programs where psychological support is genuinely needed and the presence of a skilled, motivated psychology intern makes a tangible difference. Depending on your level of training, you might be supporting qualified psychologists in clinical sessions, running mental health awareness workshops in schools, contributing to community counseling programs, assisting with psychological research, or helping deliver group support programs for at-risk young people.
Whether you are an undergraduate psychology student building your first clinical exposure, a graduate student completing a formal supervised placement, a counseling or psychotherapy trainee looking for international hours, or a qualified psychologist seeking meaningful cross-cultural practice experience, our international psychology internship is designed around what you bring and what you want to achieve. Apply now and begin one of the most professionally formative experiences available in Caribbean mental health.
The Caribbean offers psychology interns something that most Western placements cannot — a mental health landscape shaped by a completely different set of cultural, social, and economic forces, in a setting where your contribution is genuinely scarce and therefore genuinely valued. Here is what makes our program stand out:
In-person psychology internship placements are based at mental health clinics, schools, community organizations, and social service programs in Kingston and St. Catherine. The remote psychology internship option — for research, mental health education content development, and non-clinical projects — is available to participants worldwide with no travel required.
This program is designed for anyone at or beyond undergraduate level in psychology, counseling, social work, mental health nursing, or a closely related field. Undergraduate psychology students gain early clinical and community exposure. Graduate and doctoral students in clinical, counseling, or educational psychology complete formally supervised placement hours. Qualified practitioners access international cross-cultural experience.
Qualification requirements vary by role. Direct clinical involvement — participating in therapy sessions, conducting psychological assessments, providing counseling support, or working directly with patients in clinical settings — requires that you be enrolled in an accredited graduate or doctoral psychology, counseling, or psychotherapy program, or be a qualified practitioner. Undergraduate students and those earlier in their training are placed in community mental health outreach, mental health education, research support, and program facilitation roles that do not involve direct clinical client contact. Please describe your training level clearly in your application so your placement can be matched appropriately and safely from the start.
The minimum age to enroll independently is 18 years old, given the sensitive nature of mental health work. Once your application is accepted, submit the following before your internship begins:
When you apply, your Project Advisor discusses your training level, your specialty interest, and your academic or licensure requirements to identify the most appropriate track. The main internship tracks available within our program:
For graduate and doctoral students and qualified practitioners. Working within mental health clinics and hospitals alongside Jamaican psychologists — supporting patient assessment, treatment planning review, therapeutic sessions, and clinical documentation under formal supervision. Direct client contact requires appropriate enrollment or licensure.
Working within Jamaican schools alongside teachers, guidance counselors, and school administrators. Supporting student mental health assessments, running group resilience and emotional wellbeing programs, contributing to behavioral intervention planning, and helping build mental health literacy among students and staff.
Working with community organizations and social service programs to deliver mental health awareness, reduce stigma, support at-risk populations, and connect community members with professional mental health services. Open to undergraduate students and those without formal clinical training.
For counseling and psychotherapy trainees. Working alongside Jamaican counselors in NGO and community settings — supporting group work, facilitating psychoeducational sessions, and contributing to individual support programs under qualified supervision.
Contributing to Jamaican mental health research — survey design, data collection, literature review, qualitative interviews, and program evaluation. Suitable for research-focused students and those completing dissertation or thesis projects with a cross-cultural or Caribbean mental health component. Available as a remote placement option.
Prior to your arrival, your Project Advisor will hold a detailed planning session covering your training level, your academic institution’s supervision and documentation requirements, the specific placement site you will be working within, and the activities that are appropriate to your role. For students pursuing academic credit, supervised hours, or licensure documentation, we work with your program coordinator or supervisor to ensure the placement meets all required criteria before you arrive. Clear planning from the start protects your time and maximizes what you come away with.
All activities are matched to your training level, agreed with your placement site and academic institution, and confirmed before you arrive.
Your Project Advisor accompanies you to your placement on day one. You will meet your clinical supervisor and the wider team, receive an orientation of the facility and the patient or client population you will be working with, be briefed on all confidentiality requirements, client safeguarding protocols, and documentation standards, and — where applicable — sign any required supervision agreements. The first day of a psychology internship abroad is about foundation-building: getting the professional relationship with your supervisor right sets everything else in motion.
Clinical and program sessions typically run through the morning and into early afternoon. After that, Jamaica opens up. Our partner adventure company offers experiences across the island — beach days, mountain hikes, cultural visits, and local food. For psychology interns, living inside a Jamaican community during your stay provides ongoing professional insight: understanding how Jamaicans talk about mental health, cope with stress, support each other through difficulty, and relate to professional psychological services is context that makes your clinical work richer and more culturally informed.
You receive a formal Psychology Internship Certificate signed by our Managing Director, a letter of recommendation from your clinical supervisor, and complete documentation of your supervised hours and clinical activities — formatted for your program’s submission requirements. For doctoral students completing predoctoral internship requirements, or practitioners applying for licensure, we work with your supervising psychologist and placement site to produce the most detailed and formally compliant record possible.
It may, depending on your institution and licensing body. We are experienced in producing the documentation that psychology programs, counseling departments, and professional boards typically require — detailed activity logs, session records, supervisor sign-offs, competency assessments, and formal completion certificates. Whether hours are recognized toward licensure or academic credit is always your institution’s or board’s decision, so involve your program director or coordinator before you apply to confirm the format and content they need from us.
By paying the enrollment fee, you are guaranteed a placement within our project and your dates are secured
Placement Only Enrollment Fee
One-Time Fee
1-Day Enrollment Fee
Start at
$150
Full projects include accommodation, meals, transportation and in-country support
$1,210
Total
$2,800
Total
$795
Per Additional Week
within an organization in Jamaica where you will volunteer or intern
at your project work site to support your project and make an impact
Di Real Jamaican membership is a mini course that teaches you about Jamaica
Full breakfast and dinner each day, and we cater to all diets or allergies
Live like a local in a shared dorm or private room with modern amenities
Daily project transfers and airport pickup and return
before your project begins, during your project and after you depart.
Throughout your project, enjoy outings to museums, ice cream, beaches & more
Project certificates & verification of your work hours after project completion
Shared dorm or private room with A/C
Clean bathrooms with hot shower
Free cable TV and Wi-Fi at your homebase
Secure home with cameras & panic button
Quiet family homebase to live like a local
Clean towels, washrags, pillows & bed linen
Rooms and common areas cleaned daily
Nightlife like games night & cooking classes
Welcome giftbag with goodies from JIP
Our primary accommodation is Barnett’s Homestay, located in the quiet community of Portmore, St. Catherine. You will stay with Jomo Barnett, the Director of Jamaica International Projects, and his family during your project. This is your chance to live with a Jamaican family and learn our culture.
From your first supervision session to your final hours log, here is the structure and support in place throughout your placement:
When you are ready to apply for our psychology internships abroad in Jamaica, you can begin our simple enrollment process. Our team is always just a quick call or message away. Follow these steps to start planning and preparing for the most professionally formative internship of your psychology training.
Read this page carefully. Identify which internship track matches your current training level, confirm that the activities described align with your institution’s placement requirements, and think clearly about what you need to document and take away from this placement for your academic or licensure progress.
Read about us, browse reviews from past participants, download our brochure, and check our FAQ. Understanding how Jamaica International Projects operates will help you assess whether our program is the right fit for your goals.
Talk through this placement with your psychology program director, practicum coordinator, or clinical supervisor. Bring your institution’s supervision and documentation requirements into the conversation early — before you apply, not after. Share our brochure or this page with your academic team to facilitate the conversation.
Reach out to our team and we will pair you with an advisor who reviews your training background, identifies the most appropriate internship track for your level, and walks you through the full process from application to your first day in placement.
Submit your application including your CV, a personal statement describing your training background and internship goals, and — if applicable — confirmation of your program enrollment. Applying is not a commitment — it is the starting point that allows us to match you to the right psychology placement and advise you accurately. We respond to every application within 48 hours.
Book a virtual meeting with your internship advisor via Zoom, Google Meet, or phone. This is where we go through your training level in depth, discuss your clinical goals and academic requirements, and agree on the shape of your placement. All applicants must be 18 or over to participate independently.
After your meeting, you receive a personalized offer email with your total cost, a sample internship schedule, a full breakdown of what is included, and a checklist of documents to submit before your start date.
Pay your Enrollment Fee and Program Tuition to lock in your placement and start date. Full payment upfront or a payment plan — let your advisor know which works best for you.
Once payment is confirmed, gather and send the following:
About a month before your start date, we hold a 30-minute onboarding session on Zoom or Google Meet. You receive a formal welcome, a virtual orientation of Jamaica and your specific placement site, an introduction to your clinical supervisor, and access to our online Jamaican culture, language, and travel safety courses to complete before you leave home. We also take time to discuss the emotional preparation relevant to mental health internship work.
Confirm your passport is valid for your full trip duration. Check visa requirements for Jamaica based on your nationality. Purchase a travel medical insurance plan covering your internship dates. Book your flights into Montego Bay or Kingston.
Confirm all fees are paid and all documents submitted. Ensure any supervision forms or academic placement agreements are prepared and ready to bring with you. Pack your professional materials, your reflective journal, and your curiosity. Your clinical team and your Jamaican community are waiting.
We accept applicants from undergraduate level upward. Undergraduate students are placed in community mental health, school-based, and research roles that do not involve direct clinical client contact. Graduate students and doctoral trainees are placed in supervised clinical roles appropriate to their training level. Qualified psychologists and counselors are placed in more advanced cross-cultural practice roles. Tell us your level clearly in your application and we will match you correctly.
It may be possible, depending on your licensing board and jurisdiction. We provide detailed documentation — supervision logs, session records, supervisor sign-offs, and formal certificates — that many licensing boards accept. Whether hours count toward your specific licensure track depends on your board’s rules and your supervising psychologist’s credentials. Verify this with your licensing board before you apply.
It may. We produce the documentation that psychology programs typically require for practicum or placement credit — detailed activity records, supervision logs, academic supervisor sign-offs, and formal completion certificates. Whether your program grants academic credit depends entirely on their policies and approval process, so involve your program director before you apply.
A graduate student on a clinical track might spend the morning observing and assisting in therapy sessions, contributing to case documentation, and participating in clinical team discussions, and the afternoon supporting a group psychoeducation session and completing supervision hours. An undergraduate on a school or community track might run a resilience workshop with a student group in the morning and assist with a community mental health awareness event in the afternoon. Your specific schedule is agreed with your placement supervisor before you arrive.
In-person clinical placements include direct supervision from a qualified Jamaican psychologist or counselor at your placement site, plus regular check-ins with your JIP internship coordinator. The frequency and format of supervision is confirmed during your pre-arrival planning session and matches whatever your training program requires. We can accommodate weekly individual supervision, group supervision, or a hybrid model depending on your institution’s specifications.
Yes. Remote placements are matched to research, mental health education content development, and program support roles where physical presence is not required. You contribute to live Jamaican mental health projects with real outputs — not simulated tasks. The documentation, supervision, and certificate you receive are identical to in-person participants.
Yes. All placement sites are vetted, transport is handled by licensed drivers, accommodation is in a secure family home with cameras and a panic button, and a first-aid certified Project Advisor is available throughout your stay. You will complete our online travel safety course before arriving. More on our safety standards is available on our website.
Flights, daily lunch (~$3–5 USD), personal spending money, optional weekend excursions, travel insurance, visa fees where applicable, and personal professional materials such as a laptop are all outside the program fee. A full, itemized breakdown is included in your offer email.
Yes. We welcome groups from the same psychology department, counseling program, or training clinic. Each intern is placed according to their individual training level and goals, but you can be based together at the homestay and share the cultural experience. Contact us to coordinate group applications and documentation.
Our fundraising guide walks you through crowdfunding, departmental travel grants, psychology association bursaries, and employer support options. Many university psychology departments, professional associations, and international health organizations offer grants for cross-cultural training placements that go unclaimed each year. It is always worth applying.
All Year Round
1-12 Weeks
Placement Only and Full Project
