Niagara Psychological Wellness

Location:

114 Dunkirk Road, Unit 2C, St. Catharines, ON, L2P 3H5

Description of the practicum site and student activities:

Students will practice psychotherapy (virtually and/or in-person) with clients who have experienced either military or workplace trauma, using skills and modalities learned in class, such as CBT/CPT, crisis intervention, assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, discharge from treatment, etc.

Students are expected to quickly move from shadowing their supervisor, to being shadowed with clients, to conducting sessions independently. Students will carry a caseload of anywhere from 5-15 clients at a time. There will be opportunities to view initial intake/assessment appts and attend peer group mentoring.

Students will also learn: how to use Jane App software, how to complete clients forms and reports for various organizations, how to work within the mandates of organizations such as WSIB, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and private insurance companies.

Students are expected to have completed/in the process of completing coursework related to micro-practice, trauma, mental health, and crisis intervention.

Students will have generous access to field supervision during working hours only, no after-hours, weekend or holiday sessions may be conducted to make up hours. Students will also be able to consult with other therapists and begin building a professional network through bi-weekly meetings.

Practicum Requirements:

(Click on all the boxes that apply.)

☐ Immunizations per PHA Guidelines

☐ N95 Respirator/Mask Fitting

☐ Covid Vaccinations

☐ Influenza Vaccination (Flu shot)

☒ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

☒ Driver’s License – assuming they need to travel to attend practicum onsite. Virtual practicums will not require any driving.

☐ Use of Own Car

☐ 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

☐ Lived experience/Current member of the community being served

☐ Evening attendance

☐ Weekend attendance

☐ Changing shift attendance

☐ Language (specify in field below)

Other requirements:

Please select Fields(s) of Study:

(click on all boxes that apply.)

☐ Children and their Families

☐ Social Justice and Diversity

☒ Mental Health and Health

☐ Social Work in Gerontology

☐ Human Services Management & Leadership

Does your practicum require any previous experience?

(If yes, please specify.)

YES – this is not for a beginner therapist with no experience! Some type of professional or volunteer experience will be necessary in order to get the most out of this practicum. Examples may include: employment, or personal counseling, running a group (eg: DBT or anger management), case management (eg: CAS), answering phones for a crisis line. Previous practicums may count towards experience but will need to be considered on an individual basis.

Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?

A hybrid experience is preferred but we will consider a remote practicum if the student is a good fit. An entirely in-person practicum is unlikely, due to limited space at the clinic and the need to share offices.

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

This will be a mixed practicum. Much of it will be direct work, but other tasks (eg: report writing) are indirect.

Number of practicums offered:

Field Instructor name and credentials:

April McCreary, MSW, RSW

Application deadline:

April 22, 2025

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

Resume and cover letter. At least one interview will also be required before an offer is made.

Accessibility Considerations:

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

Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Sometimes

Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Medium

Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Low

Is the site wheelchair accessible? No

What are the physical demands of the practicum? Clinic is located on the second floor and is only accessible by a set of steep indoor stairs. Students should also be able to sit for the duration of a full client session (typically 45-60 minutes) without needing a break.

Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of? No.

To apply for this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to leah.potash@utoronto.ca by 4pm April 22, 2025. Applications will be sent to the site.