Program Reviews

This was such an amazing trip! I truly felt like we made a difference in Belize. We were able to provide speech therapy in a variety of schools and connect with the community. The staff were always so helpful and the area was very safe! I felt very welcomed throughout the trip. This program had the perfect balance of hands on experience and exciting excursions! We were also able to fit in some fun little activities such as Zumba! I would 100% go on a trip like this again! It was so inspirational and I have learned so much.

I had the best experience studying abroad in Belize for 10 days. I was able to learn about the country and culture of Belize while also making memories of a lifetime. It was well planned out between having time for excursions and also having time to provide speech therapy services. It was also nice to have some downtime throughout the stay. I would recommend this trip to anyone willing to go out of their comfort zone to travel to a new place and provide a community support services they need. Studying in Belize was a unique experience that I will cherish forever.

This is one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. As an older student with a family of my own, I wasn't too sure that I would fit in with a predominately undergraduate crowd. However, I got to experience an amazing country and culture while branching out my developing clinical (SLP) skills. The excursions were absolutely amazing, informative, gorgeous, and fun! The accommodations and extended staff are an absolute delight and have absolutely wonderful food. Internet access is available, but spotty at best. My only complaint would be the tempo of the schedule. There were certainly some overwhelming days after evaluations that I didn't know when I would be able to complete all of my report writing.

This was truly an amazing experience! The best part was definitely the people we met! You will build life long relationships with people in your field, and that is priceless. It was truly the bridge connecting the context we learned in school and what we will be doing everyday in our profession, plus a lot of other exciting activities like surfing, boat rides, hiking, cave exploring and many other things. We obtained plenty of hands-on experience that reassured me that this is where I want to be at. Everyone was so supportive, I learned more there in two weeks than what i learned for a whole year in school. I definitely feel like now I have an advantage over people who didn't get to have this experience.

I am so grateful to have had the experience to volunteer in Belize this past summer. I signed up for this trip not knowing a single person, which was a huge step outside my comfort zone. However, once I arrived at the airport and was greeted by the staff and other students with rice and beans, I was excited for the two weeks ahead.

We received incredible academic instruction and I feel my cultural competency is what developed the most over the course of the trip. The supervisors were really good at sharing their own experiences to teach us what to do (and even admitting their mistakes to teach us what not to do). I had never treated a client before, so it was so helpful to have their feedback at all times throughout the day, while also hearing the perspective of our other supervisors who were from San Ignacio and surrounding areas. Not going to lie, it is hard work and you will be tired at the end of the day, but it is well worth it and I wouldn't trade my experience for the world.

We had lovely buffet-style breakfasts made fresh by the hotel owner. Every day was a different combination of eggs, bread products, fruit, bacon, or other breakfast meat, etc. They made sure to accommodate all food allergies/sensitivities while still giving us a taste of numerous cultural dishes. The watermelon juice was incredible- definitely drink it to stay hydrated. And take your water bottle everywhere you go. It is very hot!

I definitely recommend branching out and trying to get to know almost everyone in the program because each university teaches in a slightly different way and there is a lot we can learn about the field (and about life) from others. Keep a journal and write not just about what you learned, but about how you felt and the progress you and your client made. Do not hold back- say yes to things that scare you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

I can say that the only real complaint I have is that we did not always follow the itinerary and I feel some things were missing due to COVID. We were unable to complete home visits or conduct speech and hearing screenings which were two things I was really looking forward to. It would have been very educational to see what home life is Iike in Belize, but despite the strict laws surrounding covid in Belize, I feel the program directors did an incredible job making sure our experience was worthwhile.

If you are hesitant about committing to Therapy Abroad, don't be. The experience is unlike any other, you are able to gain hands on SLP experience and explore a beautiful new country. I learned so much about Belizean culture, the history and diversity of the country is astounding, and I also was able to apply this new understanding of cultural differences within our therapy sessions. The knowledge I gained while in Belize will definitely help me as I move forward in my career as a speech pathologist. The SLP supervisors are very involved and great mentors, I am so thankful for their help. The other students were also amazing, and made the trip even more fun.

If you are looking for some amazing experience with speech therapy, go on a trip with Therapy Abroad! I have never had the opportunity to actually be the one doing speech therapy until this program. I really felt like the students were entirely in charge of the speech services camp for kids. We planned all the activities for each day and were each given a child to specifically work with. We were responsible for that child and worked on a team to help reach each individual child's goals. I definitely was nervous at first since I had never done speech in action, but the SLPs there were amazing mentors and everything turned out great! I loved being with real clients and helping out in such a grateful community! I also really enjoyed the educational discussions on the culture and therapy strategies.

The adventures were also really fun! I felt like I did not get exactly what I thought I was getting at times because they had to make a few adjustments with COVID the last year, and they did not communicate those changes very well before the trip. However, they made sure to still have amazing experiences that I do not regret! My favorite activities were canoeing through caves and snorkeling at Caye Caulker (We swam with sharks and a manatee!). I really loved the trip and would do it again! (side note: I personally really enjoyed having an entire island to ourselves since there were not many tourists this year due to the pandemic)

My trip to Belize with Therapy Abroad was one I will never forget! Going into this trip, I was unsure if being an SLP was for me. However, the mentor staff and the children I got to work with reaffirmed my passion for this field. I learned so much about how to be a great clinician, I am so thankful for all of the experiences this trip gave me: working one-on-one with a client, ziplining through the jungle, swimming with sharks, and snorkeling! While the beginning of the trip is a bit of a learning curve to prepare for camp, it was all worth it when I got to see improvement in my clients therapy goals! I hope to go back someday to continue work for Therapy Abroad. This trip is SO worth it!!

I was worried about the changes in this trip due to COVID, but it met every single expectation I had and more! The staff was flexible in the quarantine situation and provided us with Thai classes so we could familiarize ourselves with the culture before being immersed in it which I really enjoyed. They had so many activities for us that we wouldn't get anywhere else and everyone we met was so friendly, attentive, and professional. I learned a lot about the OT field through interacting with the kids & getting to know them personally so we could create activities suited for them. This was a trip of a lifetime and I will not forget the people I met through it!

This was the most amazing learning experience for me. Although this program was geared towards Health and Sports Science, I have to say there were so many opportunities for individual growth. I completely enjoyed it when locals were excited to showcase their traditional healing methods and culture. Of course, I had to see some of the beautiful temples in Chiang Mai. I also did some trekking through the mountains and caving which had some challenging moments, but I had such an awesome time. I felt so proud of myself for overcoming those obstacles. From learning how to cook Thai food, Muay Thai Boxing, and Nuad Thai Massage my days were constantly filled with hands-on learning experiences that I would never forget.
Chad and David were able to provide some of the best Thailand experiences during a global pandemic while keeping everyone safe and healthy at all times! This experience opened up many avenues for career and personal development. This Therapy Abroad program helped and touched so many people and their families during these hard times and I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity to take part. There is something very special about Thailand and its people that has humbled me and made me a better person going forward. I could not have asked for a better experience, better staff, or accommodations and the people I encountered have touched my heart forever. Thank you to Chad, David, P, and everyone else that made this trip memorable and kept us all safe!

P.S. The Progression Group experience is a must for this and any other education or leadership program! If you have never heard of it, google it!