More Than Just Hours
When I first signed up for a one-week therapy volunteer trip with Therapy Volunteers, I expected to gain clinical hours, check off a resume booster, and maybe explore a new country. What I didn’t expect was to come back with something far more valuable—clarity on the kind of therapist I want to become.
Finding Myself Outside the Classroom
College teaches you theory. Practicum gives you structure. But being in another country, working directly with children in real-world situations, pushes you to grow in unexpected ways. I quickly realized that therapy isn’t always about having the perfect tools or scripted plans. It’s about presence. Adaptability. Compassion.
In just a few days, I saw professionals working without a full clinic setup, using simple, creative solutions to connect with children in meaningful ways. I watched kids thrive in environments that looked nothing like the therapy rooms I was used to—and I started to reflect on what really matters in this field.
Learning Through Connection
One of the biggest lessons came when a child who had remained nonverbal during group sessions grabbed my hand and pulled me toward a picture card. That moment of communication—small, simple, but deeply intentional—was a breakthrough. It wasn’t about how polished my technique was; it was about being there, listening, and responding.
Volunteering abroad showed me that my voice as a therapist doesn’t come from mastering every modality—it comes from the moments of connection I create with my clients.
From Uncertain to Inspired
Before this trip, I wasn’t sure what population I wanted to work with, or what setting I fit into. Now, I know I want to be the kind of therapist who:
- Works with flexibility
- Builds trust with families
- Embraces creativity when resources are limited
- Leads with empathy, always
That vision was shaped not in a classroom, but on a clinic porch in Belize, with the sun setting and a child smiling up at me.
This Week Changed Everything
It’s hard to believe one week could have such an impact—but it did. I came home with a better understanding of who I am, what I value, and what kind of professional I want to become.
If you’re thinking of joining a Therapy Volunteers trip, know this: you’ll gain skills, yes. But more importantly, you might gain yourself.
