Continue Gaining Experience

Gaining hands-on experience is crucial for preparing a strong graduate school application in psychology. The most valuable volunteer experiences are those that allow you to hone your interpersonal and helping skills. For instance, roles that involve direct support or interaction with others, such as volunteering on a crisis helpline, serving as a camp counselor, or participating in mental health service delivery, can be particularly impactful. Other meaningful experiences include tutoring, mentoring, teaching, or leading group programs for youth or adults. These roles not only develop your communication and problem-solving abilities, but also demonstrate your commitment to fostering positive change, which is a key quality sought after by graduate programs in psychology.

Check out the links below to explore some volunteer opportunities.

Big Brothers Big Sisters:

Big Brothers Big Sisters Find an Agency Near You

CASA Mental Health:

CASA Mental Health Volunteer

Counselling Centres:

Calgary Counselling Centre Volunteer Opportunities

Distress line:

Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Calgary Distress Centre Volunteer

Elizabeth Fry Society:

Elizabeth Fry Northern Alberta

Mental Health Copilots:

Mental Health Copilots Get Involved

Sexual Assault Centres:

Calgary Communities Against Sexual Violence (CCASA)

Chinook Sexual Assault Centre (Lethbridge)

PACE Community Support, Sexual Assault, & Trauma Centre (Grande Prairie)

Saffron Centre (Sherwood Park)

Sendero Centre (Red Deer)

Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE)

Kids Help Phone:

Kids Help Phone

Other Opportunities:

Diversecities (Calgary)

Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention (Grande Prairie)

Rotary Club (Edmonton)

Rotary Club of Calgary

Rotary Club (Find a Club in Alberta)

Psychologists’ Association of Alberta Volunteer

Certain programs may also require research experience. If that is the case, consider reaching out to research labs or professors at your current or former university, or stay on the lookout for relevant job opportunities. You can also keep an eye out for relevant job opportunities through the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) Classified Ads webpage section.