Supervision Selfies highlight the vital relationships that develop during practicum
“When care and insight come together, change happens,” writes the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) for Social Work Week 2026.
Practicum exemplifies this message.
The mentorship and hands on experience that FIFSW’s dedicated field instructors offer social work students helps ensure their success serving clients across a variety of settings, from hospitals to schools to community organizations and private practice.
In the lead up to Social Work Week 2026, we invited students and field instructors to share “Supervision Selfies” to highlight the important relationships that develop during practicum. (Students were also invited to share testimonials about their practicum experience.)
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond!
A special thank you to all our field instructors for their generous contributions to social work education and the field at large. We are extremely grateful for all that you do!
We hope you enjoy viewing the photos and reading testimonials from our students, below.
Did you know?
March 26 is #UofTGivingDay! From March 1 to March 26, gifts supporting the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000 while matching funds last.
That means your support goes twice as far for social work students, programs and research.
University Health Network (UHN), Princess Margaret Hospital
Hareem Ashraf, Amanda Hua, and Nikita Henry, MSW students, Year 1 and Laura Foran, Elizaveta Klekovkina, and Junhee Baek, Registered Social Workers
“Our practicum experiences have been incredibly meaningful and grounding for us, both professionally and personally. Our field instructors create spaces where we feel supported, challenged, and genuinely valued as learners. Their guidance is not only practical, but also deeply reflective, helping us think critically about our roles, our values, and the kind of social workers we want to become.”
“In supervision, we feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow. Our field instructors model compassion, professionalism, and authenticity in their work with clients and colleagues, and that has had a lasting impact on us. Watching how they build trust, hold space for difficult emotions, and advocate for clients has shaped the way we approach our own practice. Through these practicums, we have had the opportunity to work closely with diverse clients, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and better understand the realities people face within complex systems.”
“These experiences have strengthened our confidence, deepened our empathy, and helped us connect classroom learning to real human experiences. More than anything, our practicums have affirmed why we chose this profession. They are helping us grow into thoughtful, ethical, and compassionate social workers, and we feel truly grateful to be learning in such supportive and inspiring environments. Thank you Laura, Lisa, and Junie! We are so grateful for you.”
West Region Child and Family Services (CFS)
Cynthia Genaille, MSW student, Indigenous Trauma & Resiliency (ITR) field of study, and Stella Bone, Executive Director
“As an Indigenous student, I am deeply inspired and encouraged to be mentored by a First Nations woman who brings many years of experience working within First Nations communities in the field of social work. Her leadership, cultural knowledge, and professional expertise are guiding me in the kind of social worker I wish to become. Additionally, this practicum has introduced me to work at the Mezzo level, which is a new and valuable experience for me. Overall, this experience is significantly enhancing my learning and preparing me for a successful and impactful career in social work.”
St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
Crystal Yujing Zhu, MSW student, Year 2 (Mental Health and Health) and Aashik Mathews Paliyath, Social Worker, Emergency Department
“My practicum experience in the Emergency Department has been incredibly meaningful to my learning and growth as a social work student. Working in such a fast-paced environment has pushed me to think on my feet, strengthen my clinical skills, and become more confident supporting individuals during moments of crisis. My field instructor has been exceptionally supportive and provided thoughtful guidance throughout my placement, creating a safe and encouraging space for learning, reflection, and growth. This experience has helped me better understand my strengths as a developing practitioner and has prepared me to enter professional social work practice with greater confidence, compassion, and knowledge.”
Drug Treatment Court, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Darcel Bullen, MSW student, Year 1 and Laura Day, Court Liaison
“I am grateful to observe and learn from social workers at CAMH’s Drug Treatment Court unit who provide harm-reductionist and trauma-informed services to clients experiencing criminalization and substance use. Great team, great impact!”
North York General Hospital
Nuzhat Patel, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Human Services Management and Leadership) and Jennifer Burt-Yanoff, Professional Practices Leaders in Social Work & Spiritual Care Coordinator
“My practicum at North York General has been a really meaningful learning experience. I’ve found myself reflecting more deeply on how I show up as a student and future social worker, especially as I work on building my leadership skills and gradually stepping outside of my comfort zone. Jennifer has created a psychologically safe space where curiosity is encouraged and learning feels supported rather than rushed. Our supervision dynamic feels collaborative and mentorship-focused—rooted in trust, open dialogue, and a strengths-based approach—which has allowed me to learn openly, take initiative on projects, and grow with confidence and intention.”
Talk It Out Counselling Clinic
MSW students: Esmé Sanders, Phoebe Chih, Samira Osei Wireko, Elizabeth Adams, Mohaj Salaheldin, Bonnie Dong, Lucas Yu, Audrey Maxwell-Paine, Alyssia Nahar
Supervisors and Field Instructors: Lin Fang (Founder and Director), Shawnette Thompson, Gilda Hui, Shantel Aboagye-Mensah, Amina Hussain, Urvashi Joseph, Kwaku Agyeman, Kirstin Cohen
“We love our supervisors here at Talk it Out — they provide invaluable guidance, answer our questions, and encourage our growth through personal feedback and motivation!”
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
Zoe Ablett, MSW student, Year 1 and Irene Ma, Registered Social Worker
“This practicum has helped me put classroom skills into practice in a supportive, safe, way. I am constantly learning (and unlearning!) from my wonderful field instructor, Irene, and I am grateful for this experience”.
North York General Hospital, Outpatient Community Services Centre
Sumaiya Malam, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Gerontology) and Michael Barberio, Social Worker
“My practicum at North York General Hospital has been one of the most meaningful parts of my MSW learning so far. Working within outpatient mental health—alongside an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team—has helped me connect what I’m learning in class to real-world practice with clients living with complex mental health concerns, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.”
“My field instructor has been instrumental in my growth. Through consistent supervision, thoughtful feedback, and opportunities to reflect on my practice, I’ve strengthened my clinical skills (engagement, assessment, collaborative care planning, documentation, and risk-informed practice) while also learning how to work effectively within an interdisciplinary hospital setting. I’m gaining confidence communicating with clients and families, navigating systems and resources, and showing up with empathy, professionalism, and accountability.”
“Overall, this practicum is preparing me for professional success by building my competence, confidence, and ethical decision-making—and by grounding my practice in person-centred care, cultural humility, and continuous learning.”
Child Welfare Research Department
Ruby Gaudett, MSW student, Year 2 (Children and Their Families) and Tara Black, Associate Professor, FIFSW
“Prior to my MSW, I had zero interest in research. So much so it almost deterred me from applying to the program. Tara has been such an amazing guide into the world of research and has brought out a passion I did not even know existed within me. Beyond that, she’s been an amazing mentor, so warm, pleasant and a joy to get to work with. This will be a mentorship I’m sure that will carry beyond the walls of FIFSW and for that I’m so grateful.”
Halton District School Board
Rachel Cochrane and Sarah Ali, MSW students, Year 2, (Children and their families; Mental Health and Health) and Megan Miller, Melinda Dougan, Laura Clement, and Nidhi Bedi, School Social Workers
This practicum has been a wonderful learning opportunity. We have been able to connect with students, staff, administrators and other team members. Our field instructors provide us with many opportunities for further learning such as conferences, trainings, safe school meetings, and team meetings. We truly feel valued as students and as future professionals in the field. Thank you to our instructors for being open to hearing our feedback and being open to making any changes or recommendations made to enhance our learning!
Peter Gilgan’s Centre for Women’s Cancer, Women’s College Hospital
Iman Manji, MSW student, Year 2 (Mental Health and Health) and Luana Pereira, Registered Social Worker and Professional Advisor for SW/SSW
“My practicum at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancer at Women’s College Hospital has been an extraordinary experience. The hospital is truly outstanding, and I feel fortunate to have learned alongside such a kind and supportive team. Deepening my understanding of women’s health and breast cancer has been both eye-opening and rewarding.”
“This practicum has given me insight into the vital role social workers play in supporting patients at every stage of cancer care, from diagnosis and prevention to genetic testing, treatment, preventive surgeries, and survivorship. I am grateful for the diverse learning opportunities throughout the hospital, which have greatly expanded my perspective.
“Above all, I have learned so much from my field instructor. Luana’s patience, kindness, and clinical expertise have profoundly influenced me, and her guidance will shape my future practice as a social worker.”
Talk Therapy with Vera
Taylor Hart, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Mental Health and Health) and Vera Cheng, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist.
“I had the honour of supporting my placement supervisor, Vera Cheng (MSW, RSW) as she received a Racial Justice Award in recognition of her dedication to challenging anti-Asian racism and advocating for individuals with Asian identities. Completing my placement with Vera has given me the opportunity to integrate theory into real-world clinical work through supervised learning. I have gained valuable insight into therapeutic rapport-building, assessment processes, and the application of diverse therapeutic approaches. Through observing client sessions, I have enhanced my understanding of what it means to provide client-centered and reflective support while maintaining professional boundaries.”
Covenant House
Ina Gera, MSW student, Year 1 (Social Justice and Diversity) and Travis Morrison, Diversion Case Manager
“Working at Covenant House with Travis and the Diversion Team has been a wonderful learning experience! This is a safe space to build relationships with youth accessing support where we focus on a youth-led approach. Travis and the Diversion Team show an amazing example of teamwork and leaning on your coworkers for knowledge and support. This role is setting me up with the skills needed to build strong therapeutic relationships, and learning that we must always be curious first!”
North York General Hospital
Lorraine Baptists, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Mental Health and Health) and Haymattie Beer, Registered Social Work and Psychotherapist
“My field instructor and practicum experience strengthened my ability to apply theory to practice through hands on learning and reflective supervision. Ongoing guidance and feedback helped me build confidence in assessment, documentation, ethical decision-making, and professional communication. Working with diverse clients and multidisciplinary teams has enhanced my clinical judgment, cultural humility, trauma-informed approach, preparing me for effective and ethical professional practice.”
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Photo 1: Althea Sumabat, MSW student, Year 2 (Mental Health and Health) and Valerie Soper and Sally Elders, Registered Social Workers, Emergency Department Social Work
Photo 2: Althea Sumabat, MSW student, Year 2 (Mental Health and Health) and Monica Cassin and Megan Lawlor, Registered Social Workers, Tory Trauma Program
“As a 2nd year MSW student, under the supervision of my preceptors, Valerie Soper, Sally Elders, Monica Cassin, and Megan Lawlor, my experience in the Emergency Department (ED) and Trauma Unit rotation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has strengthened my ethical reasoning, refined my clinical judgement, and enhanced my resilience in supporting vulnerable populations presenting in acute care settings.”
“In my ED rotation, I commonly supported patients presenting with injuries related to gender-based violence (GBV), child protection concerns, coercion and trafficking, social isolation, substance use complications, and housing vulnerabilities. Guided by Val and Sally, I developed my confidence in comprehensive and timely psychosocial assessment, prioritizing client safety, autonomy, dignity, and confidentiality, while also fulfilling legal and ethical obligations like mandatory reporting. With a focus on respectful, non-judgemental client-centered care and culturally responsive engagement, I developed strength in crisis stabilization, safety planning, and system navigation for continuity of care.”
“In my Trauma rotation, I support patients recovering from motor vehicle accidents, violent assaults and life-threatening injuries. With Monica and Megan, I have deepened my competencies in clinical intervention and therapeutic intervention, focusing on psychoeducation about trauma responses, awareness of possible recovery pathways, interdisciplinary collaboration, brief therapeutic interventions, supporting informed decision making, as well as family mediation during acute stress.”
“Overall, I am grateful to my preceptors and Sunnybrook for the opportunity to grow within an environment that actively upholds ethical integrity and reflective practice, consistent with the OCSWSSW Standards of Practice. Today, I feel increasingly confident in my professional identity as an emerging social worker committed to trauma- and violence-informed care, mindful in assessing complex psychosocial risk, intervening decisively yet compassionately, interdisciplinary collaboration, and systemic advocacy in acute healthcare settings.”
Positive Space Consulting
E.S. Cuevas, MSW student, Year 1 (Mental Health & Health) and Charlotte Shipley, Clinical Director, Positive Space Consulting
“This practicum at Positive Space Consulting has strengthened my confidence as an emerging social worker by offering real-world exposure to professional standards, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflective practice. My field instructor models thoughtful, ethical, and relationally grounded social work, which has helped me develop a clearer sense of my professional identity and areas for growth.”
“Overall, this experience is preparing me for professional success by grounding my practice in both skill and values, and by helping me build the self-awareness, adaptability, and clinical judgment required for meaningful and sustainable work in the field.”
Amanda Neves Therapy
Ruiqiu (Rachel) Shen, MSW student, Year 2 (Mental Health and Health) and Amanda Neves, RSW, Psychotherapist, Clinical Director
“My practicum experience has really been a key part of my development as a future clinician. The learning with Amanda really has allowed me to grow through observing, conceptualizing, practicing, reflecting and experiencing the process. Amanda has helped me deepen the learning, reflect on my clinical presence, and think more intentionally about how I work with clients. I have become visibly more confident in my clinical skills and judgment over my practicum this year thanks to both of our time and effort!”
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Anika Bisnauth, MSW student, Year 2 (Children and Families) and Kathy Gravel, Family Therapist and Social Worker
“Kathy is a wonderful mentor who made my practicum experience valuable. She made the learning environment a collaborative one in which she always gave me the opportunity to express the skills that I wanted to work on and the areas of practice that I wished to explore. Her professionalism and wealth of knowledge of therapy modalities allowed me to engage in great shadowing opportunities as well as co counsellor with her in several sessions, allowing me to strengthen my ability to build a strong therapeutic alliance with clients, learn the kinds of questions to ask them to enhance reflections and opportunities for growth and how to teach them mindfulness coping activities and exercises. Kathy also took the term to go over detailed powerpoints ahead of time with different therapeutic modalities and skills so I was well prepared for sessions and had the chance to practice with her ahead of time.”
George Hull Centre for Children and Families
Akhila Varghese, MSW, Advanced Standing (Children and their families) and Sara Tobin and Tracy De, Clinicians
“My practicum experience as a student clinician has been an enriching one. The support and knowledge I have received from my two supervisors have been instrumental to my learning experience and in shaping the kind of social worker I want to be. This experience has challenged and reshaped how I approach therapy. Clinical work is not simply the use of techniques and modalities, but comes down to creating safety and connection, helping clients feel truly seen and understood.”
Toronto Humane Society
Kalee Kiluu-ngila, MSW student, Year 2; Ai Yamamoto, MSW student, Year 1; Luke Bellissimo, MSW student, Advanced Standing, and Dillon Dodson, Director of Social Work
“My placement at THS has played a key role in strengthening my skills in case management, advocacy, community work, and counselling. Under Dillon’s mentorship, I have felt supported and challenged in ways that have deepened my growth as a soon-to-be social worker. We are trusted with meaningful autonomy while receiving thoughtful guidance, and we have the opportunity to follow cases from intake to resolution. Access to trainings and conferences has further enriched this experience. It has also been amazing to train in an emerging area like veterinary social work, where I can better understand the human–animal bond in practice. Being able to interact with the animals each day is an added gift and a reminder of why this work matters.” — Kalee Kiluu-ngila
Markham Stouffville Hospital
Ruth Varghese, MSW student, Advanced Standing and Sherine Chacko, Social Worker
With the guidance of my field instructor and the team at Markham Stouffville Hospital, I have come to understand the role social work plays in a healthcare setting. Within the fast paced hospital environment, social workers are able to make brief but meaningful and direct impacts on the lives of patients and their families. One of my takeaways is how to practically meet people where they are. Although I have always recognized autonomy as a core principle of social work, my field instructor helped me better understand that our role is never to impose change onto clients. Instead, we are meant to provide them with the information necessary to make an informed decision that aligns with their values and beliefs.
Toronto District School Board
Jenna Singh, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Social Justice and Diversity), and Lisa Di Nardo, School Social Worker, Toronto District School Board
“A TDSB practicum is beneficial in offering direct counselling experiences as well as experience with managing a caseload, assessments, and facilitating workshops and groups in schools.”
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), Forensics Unity LGUN, Complex Care and Recovery
Jenna Cao, MSW student, Year 1 and Garima Khatri, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist
“My practicum at CAMH in the Forensics program has been a valuable learning experience. It has expanded my knowledge on how the mental health and the legal system intersect. I have been able to see how professionals collaborate to safely re-integrate clients into the community and provide compassionate care. My field instructor, Garima, is really knowledgeable and supportive. She takes the time to explain processes, answer my questions, and help me connect what I have learned in classes to real-life practice.”
St. John’s Rehab, Sunnybrook Hospital
Mayra Gaustein, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Health and Mental Health), and Inna Panteleev, Registered Social Worker
“I’m learning how to conduct thorough psychosocial assessments and facilitate discharge planning, preparing me for a career as a social worker in healthcare.”
WomenatthecentrE
Dominique Gardner and Micaela Gayner, MSW students, Year 1; and Nicole Taylor and Kelsy Dundas, Program Directors; (and their supportive colleagues!)
“My practicum at WomenatthecentrE has deepened my learning through hands-on experience with trauma-informed, client-centred practice. With the support of my field instructor, I am developing a critical lens that helps me understand how systems, power, and lived experience shape women’s realities. This placement has strengthened my confidence and prepared me to move forward as a compassionate and reflective social work professional.” — Dominique
“My field instructor is enhancing my learning and preparing me for professional success through role-modeling what trauma and violence informed care and anti-oppressive practice looks like in action, through personal, political, and social advocacy.” —Micaela
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Ashontée Frederick-Pinnock, MSW student, Advanced Standing (Children and their Families) and Jasneet Mann, MSW student, Year 2 (Mental Health & Health), and Jessica Reid and Tammy Chong, Registerd Social Workers
“Being at Holland Bloorview has transformed how I think about disability, not as a limitation but as a vital part of identity and community. Through the Family Navigation Hub, I’ve learned how to collaborate with families to reduce barriers, promote inclusion, and connect them with meaningful supports. My field instructor encourages critical reflection on ableism and equity, helping me grow into a practitioner who understands the importance of disability‑affirming care. This experience is shaping me into a more thoughtful, informed, and justice‑oriented professional.”
University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Snehal Jambhale, MSW student, Year 2 (Human Services Management & Leadership) and Emma Reel, Research Coordinator, and Jordan Cleland, Research Assistant.
Interested in learning more about becoming a field instructor?
Visit the practicum section of FIFSW’s website.
Give between March 1 to March 26 and your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar!
Your participation in #UofTGivingDay can have a lasting impact on social work students, programs and research
“FIFSW has changed my life, and I know that’s true for other alumni like me,” writes Marian Jacko(pictured above), a graduate of our JD/MSW program and the first Indigenous female lawyer to serve in the role of Children’s Lawyer for Ontario.
“That’s why I’m honoured to be a Giving Day Ambassador this year, helping celebrate the impact of all who hold a special connection to our world-leading faculty of social work.”