Training Program

McGill Counselling and Tutorial Service Training Program

General Information & Training Model

About the Center

The McGill Counselling and Tutorial Service (MCTS) is located in the Brown Student Services Building, at 3600 McTavish Street, in Suite 4200.  The center provides counselling, psychotherapy and support services to the McGill community. The primary aim of MCTS is to help students realize, develop, and fulfill their personal potential in order to maximally benefit from their university experience.  MCTS also acts as a resource to faculty and staff of the university.  MCTS strongly emphasizes wellness and diversity of the university community as an important source of excellence, enrichment and strength.  To achieve this aim, MCTS offers a range of preventative and therapeutic programs as well as short and long-term individual, couple and group counselling sessions. 

The MCTS Staff

We are a staff of eight psychologists with backgrounds in counselling psychology, four licensed professional counsellors, and a social worker, as well as six (part time) MA level interns, and six (part time) PhD level interns.  The majority of staff time is devoted to the delivery of direct clinical and counselling services. Clinical staff members are also involved in training and supervision, consultation and outreach, staff development, administrative responsibilities, teaching and clinical training in the Department of Counselling Psychology as well as research and program evaluation.

The theoretical orientation of our staff is firmly rooted in the scientist practitioner integrative model with Counselling Psychology values. Most staff members are theoretically integrative and match modalities to each client’s unique needs. Staff theoretical orientations range greatly within a context of strong humanistic and multicultural values.  Significant interest and expertise exist in mindfulness based treatments, schema therapy, self-compassion therapy, psychodynamic, existential-humanistic, feminist, interpersonal, and cognitive-behavioral models.

MCTS Training Program

MCTS prioritizes the integration of training and research in the delivery of effective psychological services.  Utilizing the latest knowledge on effective assessment and treatment interventions enables the provision of state-of-the-art services. MCTS also encourages professional development through supervision, didactic seminars, and case conferences.  Trainees are encouraged and mentored in the process of integrating current theoretical and empirical research into their treatment conceptualization, planning, and implementation and will learn to apply their skills within a multicultural and ethical service delivery environment. 

Our goal is to train interns in a variety of clinical domains.  The majority of interns direct client hours will be accrued through individual personal counselling, yet experience is also gained conducting group psychotherapy/workshops, career counselling, intake, and crisis intervention.  Interns have the opportunity to gain experience working with students with a range of presenting concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and developmental issues, trauma, vocational decision-making), design group workshops using evidence-based practice guidelines and increase the Counselling Services’ outreach activities and interactions with the broader student population.  Reflective of the McGill community, interns can expect to work with a diverse group of clients from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Supervision

We strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for our trainees.  Given this, MCTS offers various supervision and consultation opportunities each week:

-          1 hour of individual supervision

-          2 hours of case consultation with members of the counselling service

-          1 hour of group supervision with fellow interns

Training

A 5 day orientation is provided and required for all new interns during the first week.  Additionally, all trainees will meet for a weekly seminar that is facilitated by the training director and enhanced with assigned readings related to therapeutic interventions, risk assessment, crisis management, theoretical orientations, self-care, and case management.  Training is also provided in conducting intake interviews.  Occasionally, guest speakers are invited to address the group on specific theoretical orientations or special topics.

Commitment

Trainees must make a commitment to be available 3 days per week (Monday through Wednesday for Master level students; Wednesday through Friday for Doctoral level students) from 9am till 5pm.  Alternative arrangements maybe considered under exceptional circumstances.

Positions Available

MCTS accepts trainees from the Masters and Doctoral level. 

Application Deadline

The deadline for receipt of the application is the first day of classes in January. Suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview and decisions regarding acceptance will be made on Notification Day. 

Note: The program is not APA/CPA/APPIC accredited.

How to Apply?

Interested applicants should complete the application and mail or hand deliver it to:

McGill Counselling Service

Attn: Dr. Vera Romano

Brown Student Services Building

3600 McTavish Street, Suite 4200

Montreal, Quebec

H3A 1Y2

Questions

Questions regarding the internship should be directed to Dr. Vera Romano at vera [dot] romano [at] mcgill [dot] ca