UHN – Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health (CPEH), Two-year Specialized Psychotherapy Practicum
Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health (CPEH), University Health Network; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) (Practicum 1 4701H and Practicum 2 4702Y)
Description of the practicum site and student activities:
OVERVIEW
Our practicum is an experiential and skills-based training program designed to complement the theoretical learning students receive in their Master of Social Work program at the FIFSW. The program spans two years, with Year 1 focusing on providing core foundational counseling and assessment skills to prepare students for more advanced clinical work in Year 2. Students will take on progressively more advanced clinical activities throughout the practicum. Our program integrates a variety of training methods to support students’ growth as clinicians, including weekly skills-based didactic seminars that dynamically follow the students’ evolving needs. Other training methods include group supervision, individual coaching (i.e. ad hoc individual supervision meetings to review specific skills), shadowing opportunities, and direct observation of students’ work, all designed to help students apply theoretical principles to direct clinical care.
YEAR 1 (Practicum 1 4701H) – Clinical Activities
Intake Program
Students will learn to administer intakes for potential new clients at the Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health under supervision. These intakes expose them to a wide range of presenting issues and populations, fostering comfort in navigating diverse client concerns and helping them develop a more differentiated clinical sense. Students will gain experience in learning how to engage with distressed and vulnerable potential clients and in recognizing the types of assessment questions that are important for understanding what treatment approach and therapy could benefit each client. Additionally, students will learn how to balance gathering essential information without engaging in in-depth clinical discussions, while maintaining a compassionate, non-judgmental, and empathic presence to ensure clients feel respected and understood.
Assessment Clinics
Psychiatry Clinic
Students will work alongside senior psychiatrists at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to support psychiatric assessments with individuals and their loved ones facing cancer. In this clinic, students initially meet with clients for an hour to gather psychosocial history, clarify presenting concerns, and explore contextual factors. Senior psychiatrists then join the session to integrate the students’ findings into a comprehensive evaluation and offer formal recommendations. At the end of the clinic, psychiatrists meet with students to review cases and provide teaching and feedback, ensuring ongoing guidance and skill refinement. This is the fourth cohort to participate in this established model, which has been running successfully at Princess Margaret for the past three years.
Social Work Clinic
Students will work alongside senior social workers in the Department of Supportive Care at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to conduct psychosocial assessments with patients and their families. In this clinic, students initially meet with clients for 40 minutes to gather psychosocial history, clarify presenting concerns, and explore contextual and systemic factors. Senior social workers then join for the last 20 minutes to expand on the assessment, integrate the students’ findings, and develop recommendations for supportive care services and community resources. At the end of the clinic, social workers meet with students to review cases and provide teaching and feedback
Additional Clinical and Research Opportunities
Beyond the core activities, various clinical and research opportunities may emerge organically over the course of the program. As students build relationships within and across the organizations, they often engage in specialized projects, research collaborations, or quality improvement initiatives.
Core Didactic Teaching
Assessment and Diagnostic Seminar
While social workers cannot communicate diagnostic information directly to clients, having a diagnostic framework supports assessments and effective treatment planning and helps identify cases that may require external referrals. These rounds focus on developing a diagnostic understanding of frequently encountered psychological disorders in both private and hospital settings, ultimately supporting the students’ clinical work in the Assessment Clinics and Intake Program. The seminar emphasizes building critical assessment and observation skills to construct a comprehensive clinical picture of clients within the full context of their lives. Monthly check-ins provide opportunities to present and reflect on cases, applying theoretical knowledge to real patient scenarios.
Counselling and Therapy Skills Lab
These seminars will focus on building practical skills in empathic attunement, use of self, and case formulation from an Emotion Focused Therapy perspective. Students will learn to assess a range of emotional processes, increasing their ability to attune to the client’s experience and create a therapeutic environment that fosters trust and emotional safety. Monthly check-ins provide structured opportunities to present and reflect on cases, applying theoretical knowledge to real patient scenarios.
Additional Learning Opportunities
Students can select from a wide array of learning opportunities available at both the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health. This broad range of options enables students to tailor their learning contracts to align with their specific clinical and research interests, providing a customized training experience that supports students’ professional development goals.
Learning opportunities at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Weekly)
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre offers a wide range of specialized learning opportunities focused on psychosocial oncology and palliative care. These include e-learning modules, weekly clinical and research seminars, workshops, and specialized rounds.
Professional Development Rounds
These weekly inter-professional development rounds offered at the Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health cover a variety of specialized topics relevant to psychotherapy and clinical practice. Designed to enhance professional growth, the rounds provide students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of niche areas in psychology, discuss emerging trends, and explore innovative approaches to mental health care. Students are encouraged to present at least once/year.
Selected Professional Training
Students will have the opportunity to attend selected professional workshops and masterclasses offered by experts in the field of psychology at the Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health. These trainings are designed to advance clinical knowledge and enhance practical skills, covering topics relevant to psychological care. Click here to review this year’s training program (Please note that EFT Certified Training is not available to students)
Supervision
Group Supervision
Group supervision sessions offer a supportive forum for students to share experiences, discuss challenges, and receive feedback from peers and supervisors. Through collaborative reflection, these sessions encourage participants to refine their therapeutic approaches, enhance self-awareness, and learn from the collective expertise of the group. Supervision is interdisciplinary and will be offered by Dr. Carmine Malfitano (MSW, RSW – Field Instructor and program director) and other senior psychologists.
YEAR 2 (Practicum 2 4702Y)
In year 2, students’ focus gradually shifts from intensive training to experiential learning and direct clinical care.
Clinical Activities
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Students will work collaboratively with clinics in the multidisciplinary Department of Supportive Care at one of the world’s leading cancer centres. Students will provide counseling to patients and their loved ones facing cancer, addressing the emotional and psychological challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis This placement provides students with the unique opportunity to experience social work within one of the world’s leading cancer centre.
Centre for Psychology and Emotional Health
Students will be involved in an innovative, student-run, virtual low-cost clinic that serves clients with difficulties accessing mental health support or other resources. Students will: 1) provide a semi-structured interview to determine treatment focused goals; 2) provide short-term therapy to clients, gaining valuable experience in case formulation for short-term therapy, and delivering accessible care while managing their own caseloads. This placement exposes students to a wide variety of presenting issues and client populations, helping them develop a well-rounded clinical perspective and refine their skills in working with diversity and addressing unique client needs. Revenue from the clinic is re-invested in students’ training. For additional information about the low-cost clinic, please click here.
Didactic Teaching
The didactic teaching component in Year 2 builds on foundational skills developed in Year 1, offering progressively more advanced principles and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) , and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Students will also strengthen their knowledge of case formulation, treatment planning, and evidence-based interventions, tailored to the demands of their primary placement.
Supervision
Students will be required to record therapy sessions and bring excerpts to supervision to support their case presentations or illustrate challenging or puzzling therapeutic processes. Supervision will focus on video-recorded sessions, providing targeted feedback and fostering a deeper understanding of therapeutic dynamics.
Additional Learning Opportunities
The other learning opportunities offered in Year 1 will also be available in Year 2.
Student Autonomy in Year 2
Year 2 students will transition toward autonomous practice through progressively reduced supervision and increased clinical responsibility. By the second semester, students will take on greater ownership of their caseloads and refine their ability to work independently. Additionally, Year 2 students will be encouraged to participate in mentoring Year 1 students, allowing them to solidify their skills while contributing to their peers’ learning.
OPTIONAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Practicum Research Opportunities
Students have the option to engage in various research projects at both Centres throughout their placement. These opportunities allow students to learn principles of practice-informed research and develop skills in research methodology, data analysis, and scholarly writing. By participating, students gain valuable experience while contributing to the field. These research activities count toward placement hours and are negotiated as part of the learning contract.
Independent Projects
Through a collaboration with Dr. Esme Fuller-Thomson from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, students can opt to undertake one or two academic research projects in Year 2. These projects involve conducting a scoping review during the first semester and analyzing data in the second semester, working toward the completion of a manuscript near-ready for publication. Students have the flexibility to participate in one or both independent projects, with each semester counting as an elective toward their master’s degree. As this work contributes to academic credits, the time spent on these optional projects will be outside of placement hours. This arrangement enables students to balance their placement responsibilities while pursuing academic research that aligns with their career goals and interests.
PEER MENTORSHIP
Year 2 students will have the opportunity to engage in a mentorship role by participating in the training and supervision of Year 1 students. This mentorship component allows Year 2 students to further develop their leadership and teaching skills while contributing to the training of their peers.
Practicum Requirements:
☒ Immunizations per PHA Guidelines
☒ N95 Respirator/Mask Fitting
☒ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check
☒ Travel by public transportation between home visits, or satellite offices, or community meetings, etc.
☒ Comfort working with the population being served
☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation
Other requirements:
Does your practicum require any previous experience?
No
Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?
Hybrid
Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?
Mainly direct work, with the possibility of engaging in research
Number of practicums offered:
4
Field Instructor name and credentials:
Carmine Malfitano, PhD, MSW, RSW
Application deadline:
Monday, September 29 at 12:30 pm.
Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?
Both resume and cover letter
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? Medium
- Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes
- What are the physical demands of the practicum? minimal
- Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of? N/A
To apply for this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by Monday September 29 at 12:30 pm. Applications will be sent to the field instructor.