Sheena’s Place
Year 2 Practicum
September 2025- April 2026
Name of Practicum Site, Unit or Program:
Sheena’s Place
Location:
87 Spadina Rd, Toronto ON
Description of the practicum site and student activities:
At Sheena’s Place, we offer hope and support to anyone 17+ affected by an eating disorder, as well as their families and friends, by providing a wide range of professionally facilitated support groups and services, free of charge. We are committed to inspiring hope, reducing stigma, raising awareness and offering meaningful help and information at all stages of recovery. Located in downtown Toronto, Sheena’s Place is a non- institutional, non-residential centre where people with similar issues and concerns come together in groups to share experiences, thoughts and feelings and to learn coping strategies. We offer groups for diverse individuals across the life span facing different mental health and disordered-eating challenges, as well as groups for families, friends and partners of those with eating disorders. Sheena’s Place does not provide case management, treatment, or 1on1 therapy.
Many communities are underserved in eating disorder care, particularly racialized and BIPOC people, disabled people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, and people in larger bodies. We value these lived experiences as part of the skill-set and knowledge base that you bring as a student and are committed to prioritizing students from these underserved communities. We have opportunities for members of the above communities to support dedicated programming. We have the following existing demographic specific programming: BIPOC, queer and trans, disabled/chronically ill, neurodivergent, and programming for fat folks/people in larger bodies. For more information about the kinds of groups we offer, you can review our calendar here: https://sheenasplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Program-Calendar-Spring-2025.pdf
Student roles/responsibilities:
- The core placement activity is facilitation of support and psychoeducational groups in a community based setting, with a focus on eating disorders
- The 1st season (Sept-Dec) is spent learning/shadowing an art therapist on how to facilitate groups with a focus on disordered eating and interacting with group participants.
- The student will offer the groups extra support and develop their skills until they are able to confidently facilitate a session or parts of sessions (depending upon the group facilitators and the students’ comfort level). During this time the student will also begin developing their own 10-week support or psychoeducational group.
- During the 2nd season (Jan-April), the student will facilitate/lead one group with Sheena’s (with a co-facilitator as support) and continue shadowing/co-facilitating 1-2 other groups at Sheena’s Place.
- Throughout the placement the student will attend weekly or bi-weekly supervision sessions with Sheena’s staff members and with our larger community of practice.
- Beyond group facilitation and content development, students have opportunities to support outreach and psychoeducation, evaluation, and program management. Past students have completed a range of different projects with us, and we’re open to co-developing a project that meets your learning goals beyond group facilitation.
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
☐ 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.)
This is an advanced MSW placement. Students should have a base of experience supporting clients directly, and have some experience with performing risk assessments, supportive listening, ect. Specific experience with eating disorders (either lived experience or work experience) or experiences supporting groups is valued, but not mandatory.
Many communities are underserved in eating disorder care, particularly racialized and BIPOC people, disabled people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, and people in larger bodies. We value these lived experiences as part of the skill-set and knowledge base that you bring as a student and are committed to prioritizing students from these underserved communities.
Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?
The placement is hybrid with in person and remote opportunities.
Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?
Mix of direct and indirect work, with a focus on group facilitation.
Number of practicums offered: 1-2 spots are available.
Field Instructor name and credentials: Minna Frederick (she/her), MSW, RSW
Application deadline: March 31, 2025
Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?
Resume, and in lieu of a cover letter please send short responses to the following questions:
Application Questions – Short answers of 2-3 sentences are acceptable:
- What interests you in completing your placement with Sheena’s Place, and what is your understanding of the work that we do?
- What types of experiences have you had (work, volunteer, coursework, otherwise), that have provided you with relevant experience for this placement?
iii. Imagining the work you would do as a placement student with us such as facilitating support groups, how do you plan to incorporate principles of anti-racism, anti-oppression, and equity in the work you do?
- Is there anything else you’d like to share, or that you’d like us to know about your skills and/or experiences?
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? Medium
- Is the site wheelchair accessible? No
The placement is partially accessible. The first floor of our in person location is accessible via ramp and automatic doors. The bathrooms may not be accessible due to the doorway size and our second and third floors are only accessible via stairs.
We are able to work with students to build an accessible placement (e.g. only engaging in person on the first floor and/or completing a fully remote placement).
- What are the physical demands of the practicum?
Low-medium. Some programming may involve moving chairs/boxes but not mandatory. Placement is hybrid and can be flexible to accommodate different needs.
- Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of?
n/a but we are happy to answer any specific questions about your needs to see if we are able to accommodate.
If you are interested in this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by 4pm March 31, 2025. Applications will be forwarded on to the site.