York University, Student Counselling, Health and Well-being
***IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be advised that students in this practicum will exceed the minimum hours required by FIFSW. Attendance expectations and scheduling are structured in accordance with York University’s Student Counselling, Health and Well-being clinical placement requirements.
As outlined below, this is a high-intensity clinical placement that follows York’s academic calendar and training model. Students are expected to carefully review all requirements before applying.
This opportunity is being posted to the off-PAS to ensure that interested students are not limited from applying. FIFSW MSW students should only apply if they are able to commit to the expectations outlined (see: Key Dates & Schedule Expectations).
Students who wish to follow the standard FIFSW practicum schedule are encouraged to engage in the PAS matching process or apply to off-PAS opportunities that align more closely with our program requirements.***
Student Counselling, Health and Well-being, York University
Location:
Division of Students | YORK UNIVERSITY
North 110 Bennett Centre for Student Services
4700 Keele Street Toronto ON, Canada M3J 1P3
Description of the practicum site and student activities:
Student Counselling, Health & Well-being (SCHW)
Practicum Program Overview
Student Counselling, Health & Well-being (SCHW) is a comprehensive student service department within the Division of Students at York University. SCHW is comprised of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team of health care professionals, peer health educators, and support staff who collaborate to provide integrated health and well-being services that foster academic success, personal development, and an engaged campus community.
The primary aim of SCHW is to support students in realizing their personal potential while navigating the academic, social, and emotional demands of university life. This work is grounded in a commitment to equity, accessibility, and the provision of a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where all York students can access services that promote their well-being and success.
SCHW provides a supportive, trauma‑informed clinical learning environment where all staff and supervisors are committed to EDI‑informed practice. Practicum students are encouraged to explore how social location, structural inequities, and trauma intersect with mental health and well‑being, particularly within post‑secondary settings. This approach prepares students to deliver care that is not only clinically sound, but also socially responsive and aligned with contemporary professional standards across counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, and social work.
Practicum Philosophy & Purpose
SCHW offers practitioner-led clinical training to graduate students from across North America. Our practicum program is grounded in adult learning principles and is intentionally designed to support the transition from graduate student to professional practitioner.
The purpose of the SCHW practicum is to:
- Support students in successfully completing the clinical requirements of their graduate programs
- Prepare practicum students to enter the field as competent, ethical, and reflective entry‑level generalist practitioners
- Facilitate the integration of academic theory with applied clinical practice in a supervised, supportive environment
Practicum students are actively engaged in the delivery of a comprehensive range of clinical services while receiving ongoing supervision, training, and consultation. The practicum experience is divided across three professional fields of practice: psychology, psychotherapy, and social work. The number of practicum students accepted each year varies based on program capacity and supervisory resources.
Program Structure & Time Commitment
The SCHW practicum follows York University’s academic calendar and is designed to offer a high‑intensity, immersive clinical training experience. As such, practicum students should expect to complete more hours than the minimum required by their academic institutions.
This extended time commitment is intentional and reflects SCHW’s commitment to providing:
- Depth of clinical exposure
- Continuity of client care
- Meaningful professional responsibility
- Readiness for post‑graduate clinical work
Students who engage fully in this experience consistently report that the additional hours significantly enhance their clinical confidence, professional identity, and preparedness for community-based practice and regulatory expectations.
Key Dates & Schedule Expectations
Orientation Week (Mandatory): August 24–28, 2026 (9am – around 3pm or 4pm with lunch and breaks)
Practicum Start Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (schedule will be Wednesday to Friday after this week)
Fall Reading Week: Not observed, students interested in completing a practicum with us must attend during Fall Reading Week
End of Fall Term / Last day of practicum before break: December 11, 2026, however midterm evaluation will be completed by your school’s stipulated due date in early December
Practicum resumes: January 6, 2027
Winter Reading Week: Observed, February 15–19, 2027, students do not attend practicum during Winter Reading Week
Good Friday (no practicum): March 26, 2027
End of Practicum: April 16, 2027, however final evaluation will be completed by your school’s stipulated due date in early April
Orientation Week
Orientation takes place during the final week of August, prior to the start of the academic year. During this week, practicum students will:
- Meet their cohort and engage in team‑building activities
- Learn SCHW policies, procedures, and service delivery models
- Receive training on the OWL platform (client booking, clinical documentation, and virtual sessions)
- Be introduced to the solution‑focused counselling model and other relevant clinical frameworks
- Develop foundational knowledge essential for beginning client work in September
Academic Breaks
- Fall Reading Week is not observed, as this period is critical for establishing clinical rhythm, building caseloads, and gaining confidence within the walk‑in counselling model.
- Winter Reading Week is observed, allowing for rest and renewal during the second term.
- Practicum students conclude for the winter break at the end of the second week of December.
Weekly Commitment & Professional Expectations
Practicum students are expected to approach this placement with the same level of professionalism and accountability as a workplace setting. This includes:
- Being on‑site three days per week, with Wednesdays mandatory
- Working a standard day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a designated lunch period
- Adhering to SCHW’s academic and operational schedule throughout the full practicum term
Students in counselling psychology or clinical psychology programs who require higher numbers of direct client contact hours should anticipate increased time commitments relative to social work students, in alignment with their program and regulatory requirements.
Supervision, Training & Professional Development
SCHW offers a robust, supportive, and multi‑layered supervision model, including:
- A minimum of one hour of weekly individual supervision with a primary supervisor
- Monthly supervision and consultation with secondary supervisors
- Ongoing access to SCHW staff for consultation related to clinical decision‑making, risk assessment, safety planning, referrals, and ethical concerns
Primary supervisors are SCHW social work staff, with additional supervisory support available from psychologists and registered psychotherapists.
All supervision at SCHW is trauma‑informed and grounded in an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) framework. Supervisors intentionally integrate an understanding of trauma, systemic oppression, and intersecting identities into clinical training, supervision, and service delivery.
Supervisors support practicum students in:
- Practicing from a trauma‑informed lens that prioritizes safety, choice, collaboration, trust, and empowerment
- Engaging in culturally responsive and anti‑oppressive practice
- Reflecting on how power, privilege, identity, and systemic factors impact the therapeutic relationship and client outcomes
- Developing self‑awareness and reflexivity as emerging practitioners
Supervision emphasizes ethical, compassionate, and contextually informed care that recognizes the lived experiences of diverse student populations.
Our clinical team brings experience across a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including (but not limited to): CBT, ACT, EFT, EMDR, IFS, mindfulness‑based approaches, somatic therapies, and solution‑focused therapy. While SCHW staff are not modality‑specific trainers, they provide exposure, mentorship, and reflective guidance to support students in developing their emerging therapeutic identity.
Supervisors offer shadowing opportunities—particularly early in the placement—and may request session recordings to facilitate reflective learning and constructive feedback.
Peer Consultation & Learning Seminars
Practicum students participate in weekly peer consultation and supervision, where students:
- Present clinical cases
- Collaborate on treatment planning and case conceptualization
- Explore transference, countertransference, and micro skills
- Discuss ethical dilemmas and professional practice issues
In addition, SCHW provides educational seminars on topics relevant to contemporary counselling practice. Seminars are facilitated by SCHW staff and community partners, with topics informed by feedback from previous practicum cohorts.
Clinical Experience & Service Delivery Model
SCHW operates a daily walk‑in counselling model (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), offering practicum students extensive experience in solution‑focused brief counselling. Through this model, students will:
- Develop strong rapport‑building and engagement skills
- Apply strengths‑based, client‑centered interventions
- Clarify client goals and collaboratively identify next steps
As the practicum progresses, students may:
- Carry a short‑term therapy caseload
- Co‑facilitate support groups (as available)
- Develop competencies in psychosocial assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and crisis intervention
Caseloads are increased gradually and collaboratively, with close supervisory support.
A Meaningful Investment in Your Professional Future
We recognize that this practicum represents a significant commitment. However, the depth, intensity, and quality of training provided through SCHW are designed to prepare students for real‑world clinical practice following graduation and to meet the expectations of professional regulatory bodies, including the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
Students who commit to the SCHW practicum gain not only hours, but confidence, competence, mentorship, and professional readiness that extend well beyond the placement itself.
If you are interested in applying to this practicum, our deadline for applications is March 13, 2026 and we request that you apply via our website: https://students.yorku.ca/counselling/practicum. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Practicum Requirements:
☒ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check
☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation (i.e., clinical notes)
Please select Fields(s) of Study:
☒ Mental Health and Health
☒ Social Justice and Diversity
Does your practicum require any previous experience?
We are looking for students who have some prior experience providing counselling/psychotherapy in a clinical setting and have a basic understanding of counselling micro skills.
Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?
This practicum is in-person. Students are asked to be on-site three days a week from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Wednesdays on-site are mandatory.
Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?
This practicum will involve a high volume of direct work with clients in a clinical setting; however, there is indirect work with clinical notes, seminars, consultation, and supervision.
Number of practicums offered: 1
Field Instructor name and credentials:
We do not know yet who will be the field instructor; however, we have five social work staff who can supervise. Our social work staff all have their MSW and have worked in the clinical field for over 10 years. Our social work staff have also supervised MSW students in a practicum for several years and have training in supervision. We will know who the field instructor will be at the time of providing offers to students; however, we will discuss the potential instructors and their credentials in the interviews.
Application deadline: March 13, 2026. We ask that interested students apply through our online application https://students.yorku.ca/counselling/practicum
Please notify miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca in the Practicum Office that you have applied.
Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?
We request applicants upload their resume to our online application. We also request references.
Accessibility Considerations:
- Will the student have access to a private space for notes or computer use? Yes
- Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Yes
- Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Fast
- Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Low
- Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes
- What are the physical demands of the practicum? Students may do a fair amount of sitting as they will be in sessions with clients or completing clinical notes. It is encouraged that students walk around and stretch.
- Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of? Although this practicum site is in-person, there may be times when students see clients virtually through their office computers.
If you are interested in this practicum, please apply via the practicum site’s website: https://students.yorku.ca/counselling/practicum by March 13, 2026. Applications will be reviewed directly by the site. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.