Kids Help Phone – Counselling Department

Location:

Remote Placement

Description of the practicum site and student activities:

This remote practicum placement with Kids Help Phone’s Counselling Department offers students the opportunity to support youth across Canada through both phone and live chat-based counselling services. Students will develop the ability by the end of their practicum to fluidly transition between modalities within a single shift, enhancing their adaptability and digital counselling competencies.

Key learning experiences include the development of advanced risk assessment and safety planning skills, particularly in areas such as child welfare, suicide and threats of harm to others. Students will be expected to demonstrate sound judgment and the ability to work independently, including recognizing when to escalate situations to management.

The practicum emphasizes professionalism, strong work ethic, and the maintenance of clear boundaries, especially when managing emotionally intense or high-risk interactions. Students will be encouraged to engage in reflexive practice and adopt a client-centered, strengths-based, and non-judgmental approach that aligns with principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Students will also be supported in integrating their personal counselling style with Kids Help Phone’s clinical model, while communicating with empathy, curiosity, and professionalism. Active participation in individual and group supervision, clinical consultations, coaching, in-service training, and team meetings is expected.

Finally, students will contribute to a positive and collaborative workplace culture, embodying the organization’s core values: Courageous, Collaborative, Innovative, Resilient, and Trustworthy.

Practicum Requirements:

☒ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

☒ Comfort working with the population being served

☒ Evening attendance

☒ Weekend attendance

Other requirements:

Students must have access to a private, distraction-free workspace and a strong, reliable internet connection to ensure confidentiality and compliance with workplace policies.

This placement requires being present from 1pm-9pm, including either a Saturday or Sunday.

Does your practicum require any previous experience?

Yes, students must have prior counselling experience and experience working with youth aged 7–29. They should be comfortable holding space for challenging and emotionally complex conversations

Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?

This placement is fully remote, students are expected to engage with the management team and peers through various online platforms, including Aselo, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and email

Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?

This placement offers a combination of direct and indirect practice: students will engage in direct service delivery through phone and live chat-based counselling and participate in indirect practice by collaborating on a capstone project with their practicum cohort.

Number of practicums offered:

Field Instructor name and credentials:

Victoria Saini, MSW, BASc, is the Director of Counselling at Kids Help Phone. She has been part of the organization for 18 years, including 10 as a counsellor. Victoria began her career as a Child and Youth Worker in 2006 and has dedicated her career to supporting young people through both direct care and system-level leadership. Guided by strong values and a deep belief that every young person deserves accessible, high-quality support, Victoria led a comprehensive Quality Assurance program and core competency framework at Kids Help Phone. She’s passionate about building spaces where learning, care, and innovation come together to make a difference for youth across Canada.

Application deadline:

October 16, 2025 @ 4:00pm

Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?

Resume and a cover letter

Accessibility Considerations:

Will the student have access to a private space for notes or computer use? Click to Select

Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Sometimes

Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Fast

Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Medium

Is the site wheelchair accessible? Click to Select

What are the physical demands of the practicum?

Ability to use a keyboard, mouse and headset, as well as be on camera for meetings, debriefing and consultations.

Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of?

Requires sustained concentration for duration of shift, attention to detail in counselling contacts and post contact survey completion.

If you are interested in this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by Oct 16 @ 4:00pm Applications will be forwarded on to the site.