Psychology Internship in Palermo - by STSicily

Psychology Internship in Palermo - by STSicily

Location
  • Italy
    • Palermo
Length
4 to 12 weeks
Industry
Psychology
Need-based funding, Payment plans

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Fall Spring Summer Winter
Housing
Apartment
Language
English
Weekly Hours
26
Age Min.
19
Age Max
29
Qualifications
  • Motivated
  • Enrolled in a psychology bachelor
  • Speaking english

Pricing

$3,500
Price Details
This is what you get with our program:
- A guaranteed internship in a clinical environment.
- Soft Skills workshops.
- Airport pick up.
- Housing during your entire stay abroad with the program.
- Welcome Orientation.
- Welcome Dinner.
- Transportation to and from work, if needed.
- Planned weekend activities.
- Soft skills workshops and courses.
- 24/7 Professional on-site assistance
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Transportation Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Some dinners

What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
Jul 20, 2026
Jul 15, 2026
1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

Are you a US or UK student ready to bridge theory with real-world clinical practice? At STSicily, we offer immersive clinical psychology internships focused on family and systemic therapy within a rich multicultural environment.

Since 2016, we’ve empowered 900+ students from top institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami. We manage all on-site logistics—from housing to transportation—so your focus remains entirely on your clinical growth.

Your Experience:
Clinical Immersion: Observe and support therapy sessions under the guidance of licensed psychologists.
Cultural Context: Master systemic and family therapy dynamics in a diverse, cross-cultural setting.
Skill Building: Participate in transformative workshops to sharpen your empathy and active listening.
24/7 Support: Benefit from round-the-clock assistance and expert clinical tutoring.

Unlock your potential with a trusted, hands-on professional journey designed for future clinicians

Program Highlights

  • Start dates in January, April, May, June, and July
  • Learn, Work, Discover, Grow, Connect, Diversity.
  • Gain that international experience that would be impossible to gain at home
  • Travel freely around the city and visit locations like Palermo Cathedral, Politeama, and so much more
  • Work within a reknowned clinic in Italy

Enrolling for Summer Camp and Fall 2026!!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

At STSicily, we know that true cultural immersion requires emotional and physical safety. Having hosted over 900 students since 2016 from institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami, our approach to supporting our BIPOC participants is built on three holistic pillars:

Pre-Departure Cultural Grounding: We prepare students for the specific cultural landscape of Italy. We facilitate candid conversations about local social dynamics to set realistic expectations, ensuring students feel equipped to navigate their identity in a new environment.

Holistic On-Site Mentorship: Processing cross-cultural intersections can be complex. Our on-the-ground team utilizes active listening and regular check-ins to create a safe space for students. We provide dedicated support so they always have an advocate in their corner.

Intentional Professional Placements: We rigorously vet our local partners across all industries to ensure participants are placed in work environments that respect their identity and actively value their diverse perspectives
At STSicily, we believe a truly holistic internship experience requires every student to feel completely safe bringing their authentic selves abroad. Having facilitated placements for over 900 students since 2016 from institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami, our approach to supporting our LGBTQIA+ participants is centered on three core pillars:

Pre-Departure Context and Grounding: We provide transparent, localized guidance before arrival. We discuss the realities of Italian culture — including navigating a gendered language and understanding regional social norms — so students are fully prepared and never caught off guard.

Holistic On-Site Mentorship: Our on-the-ground team serves as an active, empathetic support system. Through regular check-ins and active listening, we create a secure space for students to process their cross-cultural experiences, ensuring they always have a trusted advocate.

Inclusive Professional Placements: We carefully evaluate our host organizations to ensure they foster inclusive, respectful professional settings that honor our students' identities, regardless of their specific internship field.
At STSicily, we recognize that thriving in a new culture requires an environment where cognitive differences are actively supported. Having guided over 900 students since 2016 from institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami, our approach to supporting neurodivergent participants is built on three core pillars:

Pre-Departure Routine Mapping: We proactively discuss what daily life in Italy actually looks like — from sensory environments to changes in cultural pacing. We help students anticipate schedule disruptions and co-create strategies for executive functioning and sensory regulation before they ever board a plane.

Structured On-Site Mentorship: Our on-the-ground team provides consistent, predictable support. We utilize active listening and clear communication frameworks to help students process sensory or social overwhelm, ensuring they always have a secure space to recalibrate.

Structured Professional Placements: We collaborate closely with our local partners to ensure placements provide clear expectations, structured roles, and a professional setting where our students' unique cognitive strengths are supported and valued.
At STSicily, we believe that physical and logistical barriers should never stand in the way of a meaningful international experience. Having facilitated placements for over 900 students since 2016 from institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami, our approach to accessibility is built on three core pillars:

Pre-Departure Logistical Auditing: We do not leave accessibility to chance. Long before arrival, we conduct a transparent assessment of the student's specific needs against the realities of Italian infrastructure. We map out accessible housing, evaluate commute routes, and secure necessary local medical or logistical accommodations to ensure a seamless transition.

Holistic On-Site Advocacy: Navigating a historic environment with accessibility needs can be exhausting. Our on-the-ground team acts as continuous advocates. Through active listening and regular check-ins, we troubleshoot daily physical barriers and provide the emotional support necessary to prevent accessibility fatigue.

Accessible Professional Placements: We rigorously vet our host organizations to ensure their facilities and operational structures are as accessible as possible, allowing our students to focus purely on their professional development rather than logistical hurdles.

Impact 🌎

At STSicily, we believe that international education must positively impact both the student and the host community. Having facilitated placements for over 900 students since 2016 from institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami, our approach to sustainable programming is built on three core pillars:

Pre-Departure Resource Education: We actively shift students' mindsets before they arrive. We provide transparent guidance on local resource management in Italy — from strict municipal waste regulations to energy conservation in historic buildings — ensuring students adopt sustainable daily habits from day one.

Holistic On-Site Economic Impact: We deliberately design our operations to keep economic benefits local. From utilizing regional public transportation to partnering with locally owned vendors and community-based enterprises, our on-the-ground team ensures our cohorts actively support the Sicilian economy.

Ethical Professional Placements: We rigorously vet our host organizations across all industries to ensure they demonstrate social responsibility, ethical practices, and a commitment to their community. We place students in environments where their professional development yields a net positive impact for the region.
At STSicily, we believe that an international internship must be built on mutual respect and reciprocity, never extraction. Having facilitated placements for over 900 students since 2016 from institutions like Harvard and the University of Miami, our approach to ethical impact is built on three core pillars:

Pre-Departure Cultural Humility: We dismantle the 'savior complex' before students even arrive. We train our cohorts on the principles of ethical engagement, setting clear expectations that their role is to listen, learn, and collaborate alongside local professionals rather than to 'fix' cultural differences.

Holistic On-Site Engagement: Navigating new socio-economic realities can be challenging for students. Our on-the-ground team utilizes active listening and guided reflection sessions to help students process these complexities, ensuring they interact with local civic initiatives and social cooperatives with deep respect and understanding.

Reciprocal Professional Placements: We rigorously vet our host organizations to guarantee that student placements never displace local labor or burden the host. We carefully design roles that foster a genuine, two-way exchange of skills and perspectives, ensuring our presence provides a direct, ethical benefit to the Sicilian community.

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Program Reviews

4.75 Rating
based on 8 reviews
  • 5 rating 75%
  • 4 rating 25%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.75
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.75
  • Housing 4.25
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Louis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible internship in Sicily

What made my experience incredible is the exchanges with the other students, and discovering a different way of working from that of France.

The football World Cup allowed us to spend incredible moments with the students, but also with many people in the city. I'm thinking of a Norwegian family in Balestrate, or many French people present for France's match against Spain in Palermo.

Cultural outings like Agrigente, Etna my permission to discover incredible things about Sicily, for my part in 2 months I had time to discover the island well. My favorite cities are Taormine and Catania

What was your funniest moment?
My favorite moment was during the discovery of Erice it is a beautiful city and discovering it with the other students was even better
Pros
  • meetings
  • climate
  • Sharing of culture
Cons
  • Kitchen equipment
  • shared room
  • Public transportation
Elie
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best experience of my life

This experience felt "right" on so many levels. Everything from the start to the end of my internship, both during and outside of work, made me feel like I belonged. I made so many friends, had so many amazing moments (at the beach, on weekend outings, during workshops, etc.), I felt myself becoming more independent day after day, and I was even able to celebrate my birthday here! Suffice to say, I absolutely recommend this experience, for the amazing moments, such as watching the sun setting behind the mountains and into the sea ; for the growth and independence you will develop ; and most important of all, the food !!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Getting out of my comfort zone. As an AuADHD person, I always preferred to stay within the limits of what I know, but during this experience, I went to the beach and into the sea multiple times (despite my disgust for sand and my fear of the sea), I went to bars with other people many times, usually late into the evening (which I usually never do), I hung out with people many times, without it taking as much energy as it usually would,... There are many other examples but those are the main ones, and I'm really happy to have experienced that.
Pros
  • I became more independent & got out of my comfort zone
  • The food was amazing (#pizzaromanaforever)
Cons
  • The accommodation could sometimes be improved
Aribah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ST Sicily

ST Sicily was a very fun and unforgetable experience. One that I will cherish for a long time. Andrea was very kind and helpful whenever we needed anything and went out of his way to make the experience memorable and one of a kind. So a big thank you to him. I enjoyed all the fun excursions and trips. We did a lot of sightseeing and took amazing photos. In particular I enjoyed the community aspect of the program, as it really felt like we were apart of something. I would recommend this program to other students 100%.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
To enjoy every moment as the time will fly by very quickly.
Hanan Saleh Profile Picture
Hanan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

STSICILY

I really enjoyed the internship. I learnt a lot about systematic therapy that I wouldn’t have otherwise. The teachers at the clinic were amazing, the taught me a lot. They work as therapists at the clinic and taught us a lot about how they work which was really interesting. Other than the clinic I had a grad experience exploring Balestrate and Palermo. Andrea was so great in helping with anything we needed and did his best to make sure we had the best experience which I really appreciated . All in all it was a great experience and I would definitely recommend. The people were amazing both interns and staff, they really help make the experience memorable.

4 people found this review helpful.
Tatiyanna Howard Profile Picture
Tatiyanna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Best Decision I've Made... Genuinely

I absolutely loved this study abroad. This was my first time taking an international trip ever. I did this trip for psychology and I stayed for 4 weeks. Everyone was so helpful the entire time, the apartment was beautiful, the experience at the clinic was unforgettable. The town was very safe and I felt welcomed by everyone I interacted with. We went to the Clinic 3 times a week and learn the Milan Model from a training school attached to the Milan School for Psychotherapy. I would love to come back and stay longer!

3 people found this review helpful.
tierney troughton Profile Picture
tierney
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An unforgettable experience

Completing a one-month internship in Sicily has been one of the best things I have ever done. Not only was it an amazing opportunity to explore a new island, but it also gave me the chance to experience living abroad in a country rich in history and culture, while learning high-level clinical psychology content at the family therapy clinic in Palermo.

The experience was very well organised and offered the perfect balance of learning, relaxing, and exploring. I felt safe throughout my time there and really supported by the ST Sicily team. I stayed in a lovely apartment in the beautiful seaside town of Balestrate, where the ST Sicily office is based, sharing with one other student. We travelled into Palermo three times a week, from Tuesday to Thursday, to complete our clinical hours at the clinic, taking the morning bus in and returning in the afternoon.

The teaching at the clinic was of a very high standard. We learned about the theoretical foundations of the Milan School, how to build and interpret genograms, and how to develop hypotheses by watching recorded family therapy sessions and discussing them together. We also had the opportunity to take part in psychodrama activities and use practical therapeutic tools such as the Coconut Card Game. On Fridays we would attend personal development workshops, learning mindset skills and soft skills which further enriched the experience.

On the weekend, we had enough time to go to be beach, go hiking, visit historical sites as well as complete our weekly homework.

Overall, it was an incredibly enriching experience that helped me grow both personally and academically. Since then I have been learning Italian and become an ambassador for the programme and will be going back this year to work as their student liaison. I would highly recommend ST Sicily to anyone interested in psychology, family therapy or one of the other subject areas they specialise in and experience life in Sicily in a meaningful and well-supported way.

34 people found this review helpful.
Prithiga
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Practical, rewarding & memorable!

My psychology internship with ST Sicily was hands-down a rewarding experience. As my first time travelling and living alone, I initially felt anxious, but I’m very glad I took the leap; it quickly became one of my most memorable experiences.

The programme strikes a strong balance between academic learning and cultural experience. Time in the clinic was especially valuable, offering practical exposure that goes beyond university teaching and giving a clearer sense of what a future career in psychology could look like. The staff were supportive, and the environment felt both professional and welcoming.

Sicily itself adds so much to the experience. It’s incredibly beautiful, peaceful, and rich in culture. I felt safe throughout my stay, which was particularly important as a solo female traveller, and I found the locals to be friendly and welcoming. It’s a place where you can genuinely relax while still gaining meaningful experience.

The accommodation was comfortable and well-maintained, with no issues during my stay, and having a balcony was a great bonus. The food was another highlight (especially the gelato, which is not to be missed).

If possible, I would recommend staying longer (2–3 months) to fully benefit from both the internship and everything Sicily has to offer. Overall, this experience is both professionally valuable and personally enriching, and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering it.

What would you improve about this program?
One area I’d highlight for improvement is simply increasing awareness of the programme. During my stay, it was a quieter period with fewer participants, which gave me a more independent and personalised experience. While I really valued that, I think having more students at the same time would add another great dimension, allowing for more social interaction, shared experiences, and peer learning alongside the clinical placement.

It’s genuinely an underrated programme, and with more visibility, I believe many more students would take advantage of it. Expanding awareness and encouraging larger cohorts would only enhance what is already a very strong and rewarding experience.

So if you’re reading this, go for it, you won’t regret it!!
Pros
  • Hands-on clinical experience
  • Good balance of learning + travel
  • Safe & welcoming environment
Cons
  • Smaller cohorts -> more personalised, less social
  • Underrated programme -> needs more awareness
  • Short stays -> longer duration adds more value
28 people found this review helpful.
Logan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Psychology Internship

Overall, I enjoyed my experience with this program. ST Sicily collaborates with the Sicilian Center for Family Therapy (SCFT) in Palermo to provide the opportunity for students from around the world to study and learn about the Milan approach to psychotherapy. I arrived from the United States on June 2 and departed on July 31. My experience involved classes and instruction at the clinic three days a week along with readings and projects outside of class. I stayed at an apartment in the city of Balestrate with roommates from France and the UK and commuted to Palermo by bus. There were some complications with the apartment accommodations, but it was largely out of ST Sicily's control. This was my second time in Italy and my first time in Sicily. In addition to academic instruction I was able to experience and learn about Italian and Sicilian culture. I also met students from Spain, Germany, and Slovenia. Thank you everyone for such a great experience!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I toured the salt flats in Trapani and practiced harvesting the salt, I also tasted it straight from the pile and it was surprisingly tasty.
Pros
  • cultural immersion
  • supportive team
  • interesting classes
Cons
  • distance from the clinic
  • roommate conflict
78 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers