Psychological counseling

The children at NNSC carry histories that do not close easily. This track asks for someone who understands that, and who knows how to sit with a child in that without trying to fix it too quickly. The work is slow, relational, and deeply meaningful. Thus, it is for volunteers with a background in psychology, counseling, or child development who want to contribute directly to the emotional wellbeing of children at NNSC. You will work alongside our professional counselor, as a considered extension of the support already in place, attending to the specific and individual needs of the children in the home.

Weekly structure

Counseling sessions

• Assist the in-house counselor in individual and group sessions with children
• Observe, support, and where appropriate, lead sessions under supervision
• Contribute to documentation of children's emotional progress and needs

Relationship-building

• Spend unstructured time with children through meals, activities, daily routines
• Build the kind of trust that makes formal sessions possible
• Collaborate with NNSC staff to flag and respond to specific needs as they arise

Your role

• Work alongside NNSC's professional counselor in a structured, supervised capacity
• Provide emotional support to children individually and in groups
• Contribute to the home's broader mental health culture in daily life
• Document observations and participate in regular check-ins with NNSC staff

This track offers something that clinical training rarely does: sustained, daily proximity to children navigating real circumstances, in a real home, in a cultural context that will ask you to leave assumptions at the door. You will leave with a deeper understanding of child psychology across cultural settings.

We expect a minimum commitment of 6 weeks because the work requires time to build trust, and anything shorter does not serve the children well.

Cultural activities you can access here during your stay include monastery visits in and around the Kathmandu Valley, cultural and heritage site visits to Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, and Bouddhanath, hiking with children in the hills surrounding Bhaktapur, and community engagement with local families.