Online Therapy Centre
Year 2 Practicum, September 2026 – April 2027
Name of Practicum Site, Unit or Program:
Online Therapy Centre, Clinical Services – Psychotherapy & Collaborative Mental Health Care
Location:
Virtual/remote (based in Newmarket, ON)
Description of the practicum site and student activities:
Online Therapy Centre is a Canadian virtual mental health clinic that provides accessible psychotherapy, and collaborative mental health care services to clients across Canada. The organization supports a multidisciplinary team of regulated professionals including Registered Psychotherapists, Registered Social Workers, Psychologists, and Nurse Practitioners. Services include individual psychotherapy, mental health assessments, and collaborative care programs. Online Therapy Centre focuses on providing accessible, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care to diverse populations, including newcomers, youth, adults, couples and families. The organization operates fully virtually using secure telehealth platforms and provides strong administrative and clinical infrastructure to support clinicians and students.
Online Therapy Centre provides virtual psychotherapy and collaborative mental health care services to individuals across Canada. The organization serves diverse populations including adults, youth, couples, families, and newcomers.
Students will gain experience in telehealth-based social work practice, mental health assessment, psychotherapy skills, case documentation, and interprofessional collaboration.
Students will work under the supervision of a registered social worker (MSW) and will develop competencies in clinical practice, ethical decision-making, and culturally responsive care.
Students are integrated into the clinical team through structured onboarding, regular supervision, and participation in team meetings. Students will attend case consultation meetings, clinical discussions, and administrative check-ins with supervisors and other clinicians.
Students are supported through regular communication with their field instructor and administrative staff, and are gradually introduced to client work once appropriate training and observation opportunities have been completed.
The practicum site uses several secure digital platforms including:
- Microsoft Teams – internal communication and team meetings
- Jane App – secure electronic clinical record and telehealth platform. Secure document management systems for clinical documentation and resources
- Email – (outlook) professional communication
These tools allow students to collaborate with supervisors, clinicians, and administrative staff.
Students will be provided with a designated professional email address and Teams log-in to communicate through the agency’s secure communication systems.
All communications with clients are conducted through the organization’s approved platforms and only during practicum hours to maintain professional boundaries.
To ensure students remain connected to the team, Online Therapy Centre provides:
- Weekly supervision with the field instructor
- Participation in weekly peer support meetings and other practicum students
- Informal check-ins with supervisors and team members
- Monthly Group Supervision Meeting (led by MSW Clinical Supervisor)
- Access to group discussions and collaborative learning opportunities
These efforts help students feel integrated into the clinical team and learning environment.
Students are provided with access to the following via Jane app/ Microsoft Teams, SharePoint:
- Agency policies and clinical guidelines
- Clinical documentation templates
- Training materials and onboarding resources
- Practice guidelines for telehealth and ethical practice Resources are shared through secure document platforms and internal systems
All clients are screened through the organization’s intake process before being assigned to a student.
The intake team gathers detailed information regarding presenting concerns, risk factors, clinical complexity, and client needs. Supervisors review potential student cases to ensure the client’s needs match the student’s level of training and competence.
Clients presenting with higher clinical risk or requiring specialized care are assigned to experienced clinicians rather than students.
Clients are informed during intake and prior to their first appointment that the practitioner is a supervised MSW student. Clients are advised that:
- The student is completing their practicum placement
- The student is supervised by a registered clinician
- Clinical supervision may involve discussion of their case to support learning
- Clients provide informed consent before beginning services with a student
Students begin their placement with structured observation opportunities, including:
- Observing therapy sessions with client consent
- Reviewing case documentation with supervisors
- Attending case consultation meetings
- Participating in clinical discussions
As students gain experience, supervisors may observe student sessions and provide feedback to support skill development.
Practicum Requirements:
☒ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check
☒ Comfort working with the population being served
☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation
☒ Lived experience/Current member of the community being served
☒ Evening attendance (optional depending on student schedule)
Other requirements:
Online Therapy Centre welcomes applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, persons with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups. Experience or interest in mental health, trauma-informed care, or culturally responsive practice is considered an asset.
Please select Fields(s) of Study:
☒ Children and their Families
☒ Social Justice and Diversity
☒ Mental Health and Health
☒ Human Services Management & Leadership
Does your practicum require any previous experience?
Previous experience in mental health, social services, or counselling settings is considered an asset but not required.
Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?
Remote
Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?
Mixed
Number of practicums offered:
3-5
Field Instructor name and credentials:
Cathy Radeke, MSW, RSW
Joselin Zak, MSW, RSW
Willa Saunders, MSW, RSW
Application deadline:
Thursday, March 19, 4pm
Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?
Both
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? Medium
- Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Low
- Is the site wheelchair accessible? N/A
- What are the physical demands of the practicum? The practicum involves primarily computer-based work including telehealth sessions, documentation, meetings, and case discussions.
- Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of? Students must have access to a private and secure workspace to maintain client confidentiality during telehealth sessions.
If you are interested in this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by Thursday, March 19 at 4pm. Applications will be sent to the site.