Training the next generation: Inside Madison’s internship experience

Madison Seymore didn’t always know she wanted to be a counsellor. In fact, for a while, she thought she’d be a teacher.

“I went into my undergrad planning to do education,” she says, “but then I took a few psychology electives and everything kind of changed.”

She realized she wasn’t drawn to standing in front of a classroom. What really lit her up was connecting with people one-on-one. That realization steered her away from teaching and eventually toward social work.

Fast forward a few years and Madison is now part of the very first graduating class of the two-year Master of Social Work program at St. Thomas University. Her path hasn’t been straight or easy, but it’s been full of self-discovery, and one of the biggest turning points was her internship with Just Us.

“I was one of the last people in my cohort without a placement,” she says. “I was getting nervous. Then, just two weeks before we were supposed to start, my coordinator reached out about Just Us. It was exactly the kind of experience I’d been hoping for.”

Madison jumped into the role with courage, even though she wasn’t sure what to expect. Most of the other interns at Just Us are studying counselling, not social work, and that made her a little unsure of where she fit in at first.

“But that faded fast,” she says. “I realized I brought a different lens that was really valuable. And everyone was so supportive; it never felt competitive. We were learning together, bouncing ideas off each other and growing as a team.”

Throughout her placement, Madison worked with a wide range of clients, mostly adults, and found herself especially moved by the stories of newcomers to New Brunswick. “There’s so much cultural diversity here, and hearing people’s experiences adjusting to life in Canada has been so powerful,” she says.

It also reminded her of her own move to the province. Originally from Newfoundland, she came to New Brunswick alone for school, without family nearby. “That can be really isolating,” she says. “Especially for students. Just Us helps fill that gap — it’s a place where people know they’re not alone.”

And it’s not just about support for clients. Madison says the experience helped shape her as a professional. “I’ve had classmates tell me they’re jealous of how much counselling experience I’ve gotten through Just Us. I don’t just get to watch; I get to do the hands-on work.”

Now, with graduation just weeks away, she’s feeling confident and excited about the future. “I definitely want to keep doing counselling. Whether it’s private practice or something in the public sector, I know I want to keep working directly with people.”

At Just Us, we’re proud to support passionate, thoughtful students like Madison. Our internship program is about more than hours and supervision, it’s about helping the next generation of mental health professionals find their voice, their strengths and their place in this important work.