Women’s College Hospital Trauma Therapy Program
Year 2 Practicum
September 2025- April 2026
Name of Practicum Site, Unit or Program:
Women’s College Hospital Trauma Therapy Program
Location:
76 Grenville Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 1B2
Description of the practicum site and student activities:
The Trauma Therapy Program is a SPECIALIZED TRAUMA FOCUSED THERAPY service for persons with childhood histories of trauma. The program offers confidential, time-limited and primarily group-based psychotherapy to adults who have experienced childhood interpersonal trauma including physical, sexual, emotional abuse and/or neglect that occurred between the ages of 0-18. The program fees are covered by OHIP and services are available between the hours of 9am-5pm. We do not provide crisis services or long-term therapy. The Trauma Therapy Program is composed of an interdisciplinary team of trauma therapists with backgrounds in psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychology, social work, and nursing. Women’s College Hospital is a teaching facility and students training in these professions may also be involved in the provision of therapy. Typical goals addressed during assessment and therapy: Explore and learn about the impact and symptoms of trauma; Learn new coping strategies to manage overwhelming emotions, anxiety, numbing, dissociation, flashbacks, urges to self-harm, suicidal thoughts and other trauma symptoms; Better understand and identify difficult patterns in relationships and learn to negotiate boundaries; Improve self-care and self-soothing capacities. The Trauma Therapy Program provides Stage 1 group therapy, and Stage 2 individual trauma psychotherapy.
Students will be expected to conduct intakes, co-facilitate group therapy and provide individual therapy, as well as participating in weekly team peer supervision and weekly supervision with supervisors.
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
This practicum is also offered to ITR Students
Does your practicum require any previous experience?
Clinical experience providing individual and/or group trauma-informed or trauma-focused psychotherapy.
Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?
Hybrid
Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?
Direct (indirect based on student interest, e.g., potential research opportunities).
Number of practicums offered:
1
Field Instructor name and credentials:
Sushma Persaud, MSW RSW and Jennie Withey, MSW RSW
Application deadline:
Friday, April 4, 2025
Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?
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? Sometimes
- Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Medium
- Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Low
- Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes
- What are the physical demands of the practicum? Prolonged sitting and screen use
- Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of?
To apply for this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to samar.hossain@utoronto.ca by 4pm Friday, April 4th. Applications will be sent to the site.