Interactive Map: Psychology Internships, Volunteering and Work Sites in Montreal

Whether you're looking for an internship, a volunteer position, or paid work under supervision, finding the right site is one of the hardest parts of building a career in psychology or counselling. The information is scattered across university portals, clinic websites, and word of mouth. This guide brings it together, an interactive map of public and private sites in Montreal and across Quebec that accept students.

Who this is for

This guide is for anyone who needs supervised experience in a mental health setting. That includes graduate students in clinical or counselling psychology looking for a practicum or paid work, and undergraduates building clinical experience before applying to grad school.

Three ways to get supervised experience

Internship. A required component of your graduate program. Your university assigns or approves the placement, and the hours count toward your degree. Most doctoral programs require a full-year internship; master's practica are shorter. These are the most structured placements, and most public institutions and many private clinics offer them.

Volunteering. You offer your time in exchange for clinical exposure. This is common among students who haven't yet started a graduate program but want to strengthen their application by gaining hands-on experience. Volunteering roles often involve co-facilitating support groups, assisting with intake, or shadowing senior clinicians.

Work. A paid position where you deliver clinical services under the supervision of a qualified professional. This is legal in Quebec because you are working within the scope of an authorized supervisor's practice. Some private clinics hire students this way, particularly at the advanced doctoral level.

The map

The map below shows sites that accept psychology and counselling students for training in Quebec. Blue markers are public institutions. Purple markers are private clinics. Click any marker to see what they offer, who they serve, and whether the position is paid.

Public vs. private

Public institutions (CIUSSS networks, teaching hospitals, school boards) offer the majority of training positions. Expect structured supervision, diverse caseloads, interdisciplinary teams, and more paperwork. You will train alongside medical residents and other health trainees, which matters if you are considering hospital-based practice.

Private clinics are different. Smaller caseloads, more session-by-session autonomy, and direct exposure to how a practice runs (intake, billing, scheduling). For students planning to eventually open their own practice or join a group clinic, a private rotation is a useful complement.

Tips for reaching out

• Start early. A short introductory email 6 to 8 months ahead gets you on the supervisor's radar, even for sites with formal application windows.
• Name the supervisor. If there is a specific clinician whose work you want to learn from, say so.
• Be specific. "I'm hoping to build experience treating anxiety with CBT" lands better than "I want clinical experience."
• Attach a one-page CV. Training history, relevant courses, languages spoken.