Looking to sharpen your skills as an international Psychology intern? Check out how Lauren, an aspiring Psychologist, interned in Greece. From stepping outside of her comfort zone, to coming up with creative ways to interact with clients, foster positive relationships, expand her skillset and build a global outlook in the field - learn how the internship was an eye-opening experience.
Hi Lauren! What was it like to do your internship in Greece?
Although I have been to Greece before, I am by no means fluent in the language. I also wasn’t too sure how advanced my supervisor or the people involved within my internship would be, which left me feeling a little insecure. Luckily, I was easily able to connect with my placement colleagues as well as the frequent comers of the nonprofit organization that I was interning at. One thing that we can all understand is the importance of kindness, so practicing acts of kindness carried me a long way in getting to know the people that depended on my placement. While it definitely took me a while to get out of my shell, I enjoyed being out of my comfort zone and seeing how well my peers and clients reacted to my efforts.
What did your Psychology internship involve?
My internship was with a nonprofit NGO that provides therapeutic, counseling and psychosocial support to people in need. As an intern, I assisted in developing creative activities and exercises that helped clients in opening up and talking about their needs. Many of my tasks involved finding or creating ways to interact with clients, in both indoor and outdoor settings.
My involvement as an intern allowed for the clients to engage in more discourse and participate in more program-made activities, as they enjoyed being presented with new ideas and became more open to trying them. It’s been inspiring and heartwarming to see that a place like this exists, where people get to share their experiences and stories with those who can help them, and improve their mental health and well-being.
How has your internship abroad left you feeling more empowered in your field?
One of my favorite things about the internship was the fact that it aligned with both my personal values, and it allowed me to express my creativity, which I almost never get to combine with my interest in psychology. I feel more empowered knowing that I have strengthened certain skills, and have successfully completed an internship abroad, which forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I feel more confident in seeking opportunities that will require me to absorb my environment, and learn as I progress in a role.
I’ve also learned to appreciate the differences in my own culture and Greek culture. While different in so many ways, I can definitely appreciate the welcoming and friendly attitudes of the Greek people (which is very different to the culture back home for me in New York). The experience allowed me to stay open minded abroad and appreciate the little things.
My favorite memory from the program had to be my first time interacting with clients at my placement. While at times I found my inability to speak Greek led to miscommunications, everyone I interacted with did their very best to speak to me in English, which I really appreciated. Thankfully, there are translators that are always willing to help, despite not being entirely fluent in English. I felt very welcomed, knowing that they were excited to meet me, a total stranger! Everyone was nothing but supportive of my ideas and welcomed me with open arms, making my contributions feel important and impactful.
How has the internship had a positive impact on your long term career goals?
My internship placement has opened my eyes and helped me to distinguish what privilege and what scarcity looks like abroad.
Long term, my current internship role forced me to avoid seeing everything as black and white. While this sounds like something everyone should aim for, it’s not easy and requires a greater understanding and a willingness to learn more about the people and environment around you.
In future I would like to focus on community work, in particular with incarcerated youth. In the future, regardless of where I decide to spend time in and who I decide to work with, I will need to set my biases aside, and remember that I have to learn how to become part of the community I’m trying to learn about and help, as an outsider.
Now that your internship is complete, what’s next for you?
I think the hardest thing about re-entering my regular lifestyle will have to be my expectations and curiosity over what I will learn next, as I won’t be somewhere so new anymore. I do however want to put my skills to use, and seek more opportunities like this. Whether big or small, opportunities that revolve around interning and traveling abroad allow us to gain more insight into what we want to contribute as people in society. I want to continue learning about the mind, and how we all are affected by our environment. I learnt a lot about the people I engaged with in Athens, and took into consideration the fact that we came from very different places.
Ready to get started with your own internship experience?
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