Program Reviews

Choosing to travel with Therapy Abroad was easily one of the best decisions I have made to enhance my educational experience in PT school. I actually have more experience working with the Geriatric population, but I still felt as though I was far enough in my education (5/9 semesters complete) to clinically reason through diagnoses and presentations. I was also fortunate enough to have one of my professors serve as my supervising PT, which was helpful because she had an idea of what I have been exposed to in didactic work and how to present new information to me in an effective manner. I couldn't have asked for better SLPs and SLP students to work with! They took the time to explain what they were doing, but it was also fun to see the the individual growth as they worked with their clients throughout the week. The support from the Turks and Caicos government was incredible and I look forward to staying connected with Therapy Abroad for future opportunities as a student or clinician!

I really was not sure what to expect when first signing up for this program. But I have been pleasantly surprised each step of the way. I learned so much about the culture and history of the Turks & Caicos Islands and met some amazing people who live there. The camp was such an amazing experience. I was honored to share my skills with these kiddos and they, in turn, left their marks on my heart. The government support is unlike any I have ever experienced. The location and beaches speak for themselves. It was so nice to have the opportunity be able to walk right into the ocean post camp! I am so excited to see this program flourish once they get all the tiny kinks of a new program in a new location worked out. I am excited to have made friendships that I can continue to grow and have made connections in multiple disciplines living in multiple states to further grow my professional network. Thank you for this incredible experience!

I was unsure how this trip was going to go. I knew my instructor (whom had invited me to join her on this opportunity) and a classmate from the cohort ahead of mine. I can say without a doubt that this trip changed me for the better. I have had little experience working with young children, even less experience working with children with special needs. We were only there treating the children for 5 days, but it was nothing shy of amazing seeing the progression these children had in such a short amount of time. This program was a win for all parties involved. It encouraged interprofessional collaboration that allowed for me (DPT student) to learn about what SLPs do. Unfortunately there were not any OTs that had signed up, but this would add to this valuable aspect even more. A wonderful benefit of this program was that it brought 3 groups of us together, some from Pennsylvania, some from Oklahoma, and us from Iowa. I can say without a doubt that I made some friends that I fully intend on staying in touch with. It should be noted that this trip was not all work, it was a wonderful opportunity to experience a different culture and food that I simply cannot get here in Iowa. I will never forget the absolutely stunning beaches that I was able to visit multiple times per day. I would be honored to go back or go elsewhere in the future if the stars align.

It was overall a great experience. The housing, activities, and camp were all wonderful! The government liaison were wonderful and treated us great! It was fun to try all the new foods! It was so rewarding to work with the kiddos there and see their lifestyle. It was cool to see Grand Turk (More remote) and Providenciales (more popular tourist area)- both were great! Turks & Caicos is a great place to start up a new program! Once the program is more established, a more structured itinerary would be helpful! 😊.

This is the second trip to Turks and Caicos I have been on with Therapy Abroad as an OT/PT consultant and faculty supervisor. I have taken students on multiple international volunteer trips through the years and Therapy Abroad offers the best professional hands on experience I have ever been involved with. Chad is a great communicator and gives excellent support to the faculty and students. Therapy Abroad makes sure everyone’s needs are met with safe clean accommodations. We are given plenty of resources to provide quality therapy interventions. The focus on sustainability and building local capacity is also why I will continue to work with Therapy Abroad.

My experience with Therapy Abroad has exceeded my expectations in every way possible! It was the perfect balance between gaining hands on clinical experience and exploring the beauty and culture of Thailand. The amount of support that was provided during this trip and the friends that came along with it made me feel safe and at ease all the way on the other side of the world. It is amazing how many activities this program fits into just two weeks: snorkeling, kickboxing, cooking thai food, visiting temples, walking around local villages, shopping on walking streets and getting hugged by an elephant in addition to clinical components such as practicing thai massage and learning about traditional medicine, observing OT and PT sessions, planning and implementing Tykes camp, and spending a day at an incredible day program in Chiang Mai, there is so much to do and learn! Words cannot describe just how amazing this trip was - Am, Dome, and Toon (three Thai folks) met us in Phuket upon our arrival and didn't leave our side until we were through security inPhuket two weeks later. The people are fun, knowledgeable, and make your safety and enjoyment the upmost priority.

I absolutely loved attending this trip with Therapy Abroad. The overall program was very organized and each day was filled with fun events and delicious food. We always had three meals a day of food native to Belize, including homemade dressings and desserts by one of the leaders. I was able to learn a lot about the culture in Belize as we attended numerous cultural events. I loved being able to immerse myself with the native people of Belize to understand how they live and their ancestors lived. I also learned more about speech-language pathology, especially through the knowledgeable group leaders that helped guide us during the entire trip. In addition, the other students in the same group were all very nice and open to learning new things in a new country. I enjoyed giving back to the community through providing speech and hearing screenings as well as administering speech services to local children. This experience allowed me to not only appreciate the country of Belize but provide services that the natives would not have otherwise received. I highly recommend students attend a study abroad with Therapy Abroad. The amount of support, organization, guidance of experts in the field, and cultural awareness one will receive is above par. You will surely experience another country at a more deep level and begin to appreciate it more.

The ‘22 Dominican Republic Therapy Abroad trip was an unforgettable experience. Coordinators Alejandro and Bridget were extremely accommodating and proactive to ensure safety, comfort and ease into the country. They were a wonderfully diligent team that provided a positive educational experience for students. Their commitment to their work and mentorship as well as their dedication to getting to know each student created an opportunity for student development and educational growth. Their guidance and support was truly unparalleled and incomparable to that of other professionals in the field. Bridget provided an essential sense of security and support in a new environment while Alejandro ensured structure and ease into the expectations of the program. Karla, liaison between our team and the kids, conducted efficient work prioritizing the needs of the kids as well as providing us feedback onto how best to work with each child. She was a huge resource when talking/translating to parents, working with other teachers and providing us the materials we needed to conduct therapy at our fullest. Angel and Bright served as our global travel liaisons as we navigated the island. They invited us to take a step into their culture through unforgettable travel excursions, language/cultural education, and support navigating and learning about the children. These individuals and their commitment towards creating a unique learning travel experience defined the positive impact of my trip. Would ABSOLUTELY recommend.

This experience was opened my eyes to the provision of therapy services outside of the US, and how culture and background play a role in how we as professionals are to provide care to those in our communities. Therapy Abroad provided an immersive experience in Belize, teaching about the people, the country, and their need for more therapy resources and services. It was a beautiful and memorable trip, and an amazing way to start the rest of my career as an SLP! I got to know 10 other students and 2 professionals with the same goals for providing quality care to others, and gained hands-on and observational experiences!

This was an amazing trip that I cannot recommend highly enough! It was perfect for our diverse group of students. We had many first time international travelers and it was awesome getting to see them flourish with the staff's help (especially Chad and Katie)! This trip was also great for experienced travelers. I wasn't too sure how much I'd enjoy a large group experience but Therapy Abroad was able to find an excellent balance between collaboration in the schools and encouraging independent exploration during our free time.

The program coordinators understand the importance of building relationships in the communities we were working in and it made all of the difference. The food, housing, transportation, and cultural education were all provided by local Belizeans. All of the little details add up when traveling and this program was thoughtfully and intentionally built around the little things.

I walked away feeling like a more culturally competent clinician and even more confident in my ability to travel in the future. I would highly recommend Therapy Abroad and I hope to travel with them again next summer.