Program Reviews

Traveling to Puerto Rico had always been on my bucket list, so when the opportunity to study abroad over the winter break came up, I decided to sign up. The trip was exciting, educational, adventurous, and well thought out! Special shout out to Matt and Chad for all of their planning and hard work to see this trip come to life. Visiting the university and being able to interact and share therapy resources/techniques with the other SLP students was a great experience. I am so thankful I was able to participate in this study abroad group and make new memories with my classmates!

Participating in the speech therapy abroad program was an unforgettable experience that surpassed all my expectations. It was an incredible blend of learning, cultural immersion, and personal growth. The program coordinators did an outstanding job of ensuring our safety, comfort, and integration when in Puerto Rico. They organized cultural excursions and activities that complemented our learning, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the local culture. I would highly recommend the Therapy Abroad program for all those who may be interested! Thank you to Chad & Matt for the incredible experience!

Chad and Matt were super helpful throughout our entire time in both locations of Puerto Rico in San Juan and Mayaguez. There was never a dull moment and they always made sure that the activities were in the interests of the faculty and students. When a bump in the road came along, both Chad and Matt were able to quickly provide solutions to the group. When it came to food and dining, they were both also very accommodating to the choices and times at which everyone wanted, or did not want, to eat. Very accommodating and very professional individuals!

One of the most memorable trips I have ever taken in my life. I was looking for new ways to challenge myself as a Hispanic/bilingual graduate student and saw this opportunity as a way to get out of my comfort zone. The study abroad program in Puerto Rico has strengthened my skills as a bilingual therapist and improved my ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking communities. Hats off to Chad and Matt who made this trip one of the most memorable moments in our journeys, careers, and lifelong memories.

Traveling has always been a goal of mine. When I discovered the opportunity to study abroad, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. Being able to mix my passion for exploring the world with my love for the field of speech and language pathology was an absolute dream experience! Not only have I gained lifelong colleagues, but also forever friends.
I enjoyed learning more about the history of other cultures and immersing myself in it.
Thank you to Matt and Chad for making this process so enjoyable by accommodating to our needs!

Chad&Matteo were the leaders of our group, in my experience with them. They both did an excellent job of having tourist spots picked out such as food reservations or historical site options relating to the cultural experience within the country visiting, while keeping in mind of the group/students interest.
From getting to know the group leaders establishinig a good rapport with the group leaders then transitioning to activities planned out for made the experience even better. By going on this study of abroad trip this has easily been one of the best experiences of my life.

I had the most amazing experience with Therapy Abroad!! Not only were these two countries incredible, but the hands on experience was like no other. All of us got to work with adult and child patients in Bulgaria and really enhance our basic skills in speech pathology. Though it was hard with the language barrier, our supervisors and staff were so supportive and I learned so much in such a short amount of time. I would recommend therapy abroad to any student, it is an experience like no other!!!

I absolutely loved going to Belize with Therapy Abroad! The staff were friendly, accommodating, and helpful. I got to experience another culture, gain valuable knowledge about my field, and meet others going into the same program as myself. This was my study abroad experience and I wouldn’t want to travel with any other company. This trip is worth every penny and the experiences you gain are unforgettable. I did not know how much I would learn, but I’ve used what I learned in graduate school already. I would highly recommend this program to anyone going into this field!!!

I participated in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program in Belize in May of 2022. Here, students ran a Tykes Camp, in which we planned STEM, gross motor, and linguistic activities for child clients. The camp provided me with an accurate simulation of a what a future therapy session may look like. That program was the first hands-on opportunity I had received in my undergraduate learning and I am forever grateful. I enjoyed it so much that I recruited students from my university (Penn State) to create a custom program. Therapy Abroad assisted me in narrowing down dates, providing information and flyers, and meeting with me to discuss the best way to increase participation. I traveled with Therapy Abroad again in May of 2023 for a Custom Communication Sciences and Disorders program in Belize.

Therapy Abroad did a great job of introducing us to cultural differences, and providing Belize's history during our orientation. The town of San Ignacio is a cultural hub with markets, restaurants, shops, and activities. Not to mention, the people are extremely friendly in town. I felt safe throughout the entire trip and the safety measures taken by Therapy Abroad exceeded my expectations. The visit to Helping Hands helped me learn more about the culture, the importance of communication in everyday life, and the opportunities the center provides to the community. During this program, we also had the opportunity to visit a few local schools and engage in speech and hearing screenings for children. The diverse caseload ranged in age, ability, and needs which made each session unique and interesting. We assisted our supervisors in report writing, by sharing our data and notes. The SOAPS note skills I gained on both programs have helped me greatly at the graduate school level. We also visited the archeological site of Cahal Pech, led by knowledgeable, passionate tour guides. My favorite excursion activities were canoeing in the caves and snorkeling on the island of Caye Caulker. Therapy Abroad does a fantastic job of providing balance between learning and fun. I appreciate the skills I have taken with me and will be more aware of cultural differences in my future practice.

After traveling with them on two programs, I will attest that no program is exactly the same. I loved that I had the opportunity to interact with different "clients," established new friendships, and participated in another type of excursion. Therapy Abroad has made a lasting impact on my life and my future career. The first program I went on reinforced my decision in pursuing speech-language pathology and the second solidified my career goals of becoming a travel SLP. I hope to participate in a future program.

Having the opportunity to travel to Belize in the speech-language pathology program was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Going into this trip as a recent graduate, I hardly knew any of the girls I was traveling with. Ultimately, this was the best case scenario; I established meaningful relationships and learned how to connect with those I wouldn't have had a chance to otherwise. While being in a new country can seem scary, the level of organization provided an overarching sense of safety and security. The accommodations--which were charming and comfortable--exceeded my expectations. Everyone was very welcoming and the people I encountered elevated the trip through diverse culture and language. I especially loved how the program focused on the rich cultural heritage of the country, and the amazing and hard-working people who dedicate their lives to molding the children of their community with love and attention. Everyday was packed with exciting experiences, which I accredit to Therapy Abroad's amazing ability to blend service and fun. Besides our time working with children in Belize, my favorite activities involved Zumba in the park and canoeing through a history-rich cave. I accrued greater perspective at every turn and our time working directly with the local population provided a glimpse of the global impact I can make as a future speech pathologist. Overall, this experience solidified my passion for speech therapy by promoting cultural-linguistic diversity---while inspiring me to continue down this path as I move forward with my career.