Bulgaria & Greece: Pre-Occupational & Speech Therapy Programs
Select A Program To Learn More And Book Your Trip Today! We intentionally keep group sizes small to ensure personalized mentorship, meaningful hands-on experiences, and strong connections with peers and local communities. This limited capacity, combined with high demand from students seeking impactful global health and service opportunities, means spots don’t last long.
Eastern Europe Speech & Occupational Therapy Destination Details
Bulgaria, located in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, is known for its rich history and diverse culture, blending Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences. Its picturesque landscapes include the majestic Rila Mountains, the Black Sea coastline, and the historic towns of Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo. It is one of the oldest states in Europe founded in the 7th century. Bulgaria joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004 and of the European Union (EU) in 2007. The country is famous for its traditional music and dance, colorful folklore festivals, and its delicious cuisine, which features specialties like banitsa and shopska salad. With a unique Cyrillic alphabet and a vibrant cultural heritage, Bulgaria offers a fascinating experience for visitors and a sense of warmth and hospitality to those who call it home. Bulgaria will be your home base for the clinical portion of your program. Finish your journey by traveling to the neighboring country of Greece to take in the sites of Athens & Santorini. Taste your way through traditional markets and wonder the historical cities, explore the ancient town of Akrotiri, explore the acropolis and more!
eligibility Criteria for Speech & Occupational Therapy Program
Undergraduate students, graduate students, recent graduates, and post-bacc students. There are no prerequisites to join. This program is designed for any student interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy or speech-language pathology (speech therapy). As an interdisciplinary program, you will have the opportunity to work with licensed speech pathologists and occupational therapists!
Why Should I Travel with Therapy Abroad to Europe for Speech & Occupational Therapy
More than ever, Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program selection committees are looking for well-rounded students who have a thorough understanding of their respective fields of interest and the ability to work collaboratively across cultures. You will work with and learn from a distinguished group of professional Therapists in a cross-cultural setting.
We created this program specifically to help participants not only grow in the above areas, but also gain hands-on experience that’s hard to duplicate in the classroom: professional observation hours, one-on-one time with OTs, SLPs, and other professionals in formal and informal settings, direct experience in public and allied health, and a chance to support local children and families with special needs.
What Will I Do in Bulgaria and Greece?
The focus of this program is to collaborate with government organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private clinics, and our local community partner organizations to bring sustainable and culturally relevant therapy services to a variety of populations. Your group will learn from professional SLPs and OTs, and participate in a large range of amazing activities. With an intentional focus on cooperative learning and capacity building for both visiting and hosting professionals, our licensed Occupational Therapists and ASHA-certified Speech Therapists will take you through a cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-cultural program that will change the way you develop within your field.
Therapy Abroad students will work directly in the pediatric day center alongside a local logopedic providing services and running a camp for kids with special needs. In addition, students will have the opportunity to visit and provide services in a local long term care geriatric facility. In addition to your supervisors, you will have interpreters and guides with you during your entire trip. Each day, students will have group reflections as well as one-on-one time with SLPs, OTs and other professionals.
During your time in Bulgaria there will also be opportunities for fun, cultural experiences and excursions. Examples of places you may visit in Bulgaria include the Devetashka Cave and Krushina Waterfalls, city tour of the capital of Sofia, the Veliko Tarnovo and Tsarevets Fortress, a monastery, and more.
See the full itinerary below.
Excursions: While you will earn observation and clinic hours, there will also be opportunities for fun, cultural excursions. Places you may visit in Bulgaria include the Devetashka Cave and Krushina Waterfalls, city tour of the capital of Sofia, the Veliko Tarnovo and Tsarevets Fortress, a monastery, and an oasis.
Will I Get Observation And Volunteer Hours?
Yes! If you are interested in becoming an SLP or OT, observing and volunteering are essential to providing you with first-hand experiences within the profession and helping you build your application for graduate school and beyond. Our programs are a perfect way to diversify your experience working in different settings and gain needed observation, clinical, and volunteer hours. Because you will be completing observation hours and clinical hours with a licensed SLPs and OTs on all of our programs, these hours may also count towards clinical competencies for students planning to pursue graduate education in speech-language pathology.
Bulgaria and Greece Program Accommodations
Bulgaria is an amazing place filled with rich history, excellent food and warm generous people. You will stay in boutique hotel accommodations with communal areas to relax and hang out, meeting rooms for group discussions or presentations, and comfortable rooms for getting shut-eye. You will share a room with 1-3 other students and all rooms have private bathrooms and private beds.
Every day you will have access to Wifi, fresh drinking water, western style toilets and showers, and laundry services (laundry will be on site or nearby). Meals will be a combination of Bulgarian and Western cuisine. We have a 100% guarantee that you will have plenty of amazing food! We can cater to specific dietary needs as long as you let us know ahead of time. In addition to Bulgaria’s many scenic charms, the warmth and hospitality of the people and culture will make you feel at home in no time!
Benefits and Learning Outcomes For Students of Pre-Occupational and Speech Therapy Program Inlcude
- Hands-on experience
- Build experience and resume for graduate school admissions
- Gain observation and volunteer hours
- Materials, tests and diagnostic tools
- Therapy Abroad tee-shirt
- Cultural responsiveness
- Learn from professionals in small discussion based groups: Topics include disorder vs difference, oral motor and feeding techniques, applied behavior analysis, working with culturally & linguistically diverse groups and more.
- Learn to compare and contrast speech-language pathology and occupational therapy services in developing countries with that in the United States.
- Intercultural exchange in creative learning environment
- Increased skills of intercultural communication
- Experience in research and collaboration
- Practice skills in a multicultural environment
- Greater international understandings of social issues
- Better understanding of global social change
- Greater understanding of inequalities and differences in world systems
- International travel experience
What’s Included with your tuition for Pre-OT and Speech Therapy Program?
- Pre-departure support
- Group flight booking assistance
- Flights team support staff
- Professional and licensed staff (practitioners and academics)
- 24-hour emergency support staff and in-country support
- Airport pick-up in Bulgaria
- Private transport throughout the country
- Experienced facilitators
- Shared, comfortable accommodations
- All meals
- Snacks and drinking water
- Orientation and curriculum
- All necessary equipment, materials and supplies
- All activities listed in the program itinerary
- All domestic transport
- Flights from Sofia to Athens
- Materials, tests and diagnostic tools
- Therapy Abroad tee-shirt
