Psychology Internship Program at Gilmour Psychological Services

Join Canada's Largest Group of PhD-Level Psychologists

Welcome to the Pre-Doctoral Psychology Internship Program at Gilmour Psychological Services, where exceptional training meets unparalleled opportunity. As Canada's largest group of PhD-level psychologists, we offer a unique internship experience that combines the intimacy of individualized training with the expertise of a long-established practice.

Why Choose GPS?

  • Individualized Excellence

    With only two interns per year, you will receive intensive, personalized mentoring 

    tailored to your specific professional goals and interests.

  • Private Practice Mastery

    Gain realistic exposure to business operations, practice management, and entrepreneurial thinking that characterizes successful private practice.

  • Cutting-Edge Innovation

    Experience the future of psychology through our AI-assisted notetaking and assessment tools and evidence-based VR therapy applications.

  • Comprehensive Training

    Develop experience across a full spectrum of psychological services with opportunities to work with individuals across the lifespan, couples and families, comprehensive assessment, short- and long-term intervention, crisis management and consultation. Assessments opportunities could include psychodiagnostics, neuropsychological and psychoeducational cases for a wide range of presenting issues, including ASD, ADHD, and LDs.

  • Cultural Diversity

    Located in Canada's capital, Ottawa provides rich opportunities for multicultural practice with diverse clientele from across the National Capital Region.

  • Hybrid-Model Option

    Although in-person training is encouraged and the main service delivery model for the internship, virtual services are sometimes best practice or preferred. If interested, interns have the option to work virtually part of the time. 

  • Protected Dissertation Writing Time

    Many interns find balancing their internship with the pressures of completing their dissertation stressful. At GPS, we would offer 2 hours per week of protected time for dissertation writing should this be of interest to our interns.  

  • High-Quality Training Standards

    Our internship site is not currently accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). However, we are in the process of developing our program in alignment with CPA standards, with the intention of applying for accreditation soon. We understand that the term “non-accredited” can sound concerning at first, but it is important to know that many excellent training sites begin this way. GPS is a well-established practice, having been supervising, for example psychologists in supervised practice, for over 40 years! We have been hosting practicum students from both local universities as a response to the decrease in training opportunities in our city for students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CPA accreditation is a rigorous and lengthy process that often occurs after an official internship program has been successfully running for several years. In the meantime, students who train at non-accredited sites are still able to complete all necessary requirements for registration in most provinces, particularly when the program follows CPA-aligned standards and is supervised by registered psychologists. We are committed to offering a high-quality internship experience that reflects best practices in supervision, training, and ethical care. We are also happy to support students in understanding how this internship fits with their professional goals and future registration plans.

Program Highlights

APPIC Member Program

(application pending) with commitment to excellence

12-month, full-time training

(1,600+ hours)

$40,000 CAD annual stipend

plus $1,500 professional development budget

500+ hours direct client contact

across diverse populations

Specialized training

in individual therapy across the life span, couples and family therapy, sexual health, and comprehensive assessment

Assessment expertise

across the lifespan with latest tools and technologies

FAQs

→ Program Structure

  • How many interns does GPS accept annually?

    We accept two full-time interns per year, allowing for intensive, individualized training while ensuring peer collaboration and support.

  • What is the program duration and schedule?

    The internship runs for 12 months from September 2 to August 31, requiring 40 hours per week and minimum 1,600 total training hours.

  • Is this a paid internship?

    Yes, interns receive a $40,000 CAD annual stipend paid bi-weekly, plus $1,500 for professional development activities.

→ Training Experiences

  • What makes GPS training unique?

    As Canada's largest group of PhD-level psychologists, we offer unparalleled exposure to private practice operations, cutting-edge technology integration, and specialized training in areas like family therapy, sexual health, couples therapy, neuropsychology, and comprehensive assessment across the life span.

  • What clinical populations will I work with?

    You will have opportunities to gain experience across the entire lifespan with diverse populations presenting various concerns including ADHD, learning difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions.

  • What therapeutic approaches are emphasized?

    We provide training in multiple evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, trauma therapies, mindfulness interventions, and family systems approaches, with emphasis on integration based on client needs.

→ Assessment Training

  • What assessment tools will I learn to use?

    You will receive comprehensive training in state-of-the-art tools including intellectual and academic batteries, personality and neuropsychological measures, computerized scoring systems and a custom AI report-writing tool.

  • How many assessments will I complete?

    Typically 12-20 comprehensive assessments including opportunities with psychoeducational and/or neuropsychological evaluations, autism assessments, ADHD evaluations, and psychodiagnostics evaluations.

→ Application Process

  • Do you participate in the APPIC Match?

    Yes, we are (applying to be) an APPIC member program and participate in the APPIC Match process.

  • What are you looking for in applicants?

    We seek candidates with strong clinical potential, professional maturity, cultural sensitivity, and genuine interest in our specialized training opportunities within a private practice setting.


  • Can I visit the site before applying?

    While we do not offer site visits, we provide virtual tours/photos during interviews and are happy to answer questions via email or phone.

→ Support and Resources

  • What support is available for intern wellbeing?

    We provide comprehensive support including formal and regular mentor and peer support, work-life balance guidance, reasonable accommodations, and crisis support when needed.

  • Are there opportunities for professional development?

    Yes, each intern receives $1,500 annually for conferences, workshops, professional materials, and organization memberships, plus access to numerous local and national professional development opportunities.

Contact Information

Program Contacts

Dr. Deanna Drahovzal, C.Psych.
Training Director

Phone: (613) 230-4709 ext. 146
Email: ddrahovzal@ottawa-psychologists.com


Administrative Contact

Training Program Coordinator
Phone: (613) 230-4709
Email: gps@ottawa-psychologists.com


Dr. Emma Dargie, C.Psych.

Supervisor

Phone: (613) 230-4709 ext. xxx
Email: xxx@ottawa-psychologists.com


Dr. Delyana Miller, C.Psych.

Supervisor

Phone: (613) 230-4709 ext. xxx
Email: xxx@ottawa-psychologists.com


Dr. Emma Murray, C.Psych.

Supervisor

Phone: (613) 230-4709 ext. xxx
Email: xxx@ottawa-psychologists.com


Dr. Vanessa Scarapicchia, C.Psych.

Supervisor

Phone: (613) 230-4709 ext. 191
Email: vscarapicchia@ottawa-psychologists.com


Dr. Deanna Drahovzal, C.Psych.

Supervisor

Phone: (613) 230-4709 ext. 146
Email: ddrahovzal@ottawa-psychologists.com


Dr. Victoria Edwards, C.Psych.

External Supervisor

Phone: (613) 854-8008
Email: doctorvictoriaedwards@gmail.com


Location

Gilmour Psychological Services
421 Gilmour Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0R5
Canada


Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Website:
www.ottawa-psychologists.com



Join us in shaping the future of psychology. At GPS, your training experience will prepare you for a successful and fulfilling career while contributing to the advancement of our profession. We look forward to welcoming exceptional candidates to our 2026-2027 internship cohort.