Mindful Path Counselling

Teaching Clinic & Practicum Training at Mindful Path Counselling

A Teaching Clinic Built on Care, Growth, and Responsibility

Mindful Path Counselling is a Teaching Clinic.

This means we train future therapists while continuing to provide thoughtful, high-quality care to our community. We take this role seriously.

Training clinicians is not separate from client care.
It is part of how we uphold strong ethical standards, expand access to therapy, and support the long-term health of the profession.

We follow best and wise practices in counselling education, supervision, and client care. Learning is intentional. Oversight is built in. Safety comes first.

Interested in completing your practicum with us?

What Being a Teaching Clinic Means to Us

Being a teaching clinic is not about volume or productivity; it is about learning done well.

At Mindful Path Counselling, we believe therapists grow best when they are supported, guided, given space to reflect, and never left to practice alone. Students and early-career clinicians learn here with structure, supervision, and care. Learning is paced. Questions are expected. Reflection is built into daily practice.

Supervision is accessible and relational, and ethics are non-negotiable. Students are treated as professionals in training, not free labour. For clients, this means care that is closely monitored and thoughtfully delivered. Every case is supported by a full clinical team.

This is a space where clinicians grow carefully and responsibly, and where client care is never compromised.

Why Teaching Clinics Matter

For developing clinicians

Training bridges theory and real clinical work. Students learn how to think through cases, make ethical decisions, and build confidence with support.

For clients

Supervision strengthens care. Every case is reviewed. Questions are encouraged. Safety and ethics come first.

For the community

Teaching clinics increase access to therapy. Reduced-fee counselling helps more people receive care when cost is a barrier.

Our Values in Practice

Everything in our teaching clinic reflects the values of Mindful Path Counselling.

Culture, identity, relationships, and lived experience matter.

We actively support clinicians and clients from diverse and multicultural backgrounds. Many of our students and supervisors are ethno-racialized clinicians. Cultural humility and anti-oppressive practice are woven into supervision and care.

Reduced-fee counselling removes financial barriers without lowering standards.

Clear supervision, documentation, and boundaries protect everyone involved.

Students are treated as developing professionals, not free labour.

Practicum & Internship Placements

Who Can Apply

We offer practicum placements to master’s-level students completing a required clinical placement as part of an accredited program.

This includes programs aligned with:

CRPO (Registered Psychotherapists)
OCSWSSW (Registered Social Workers)

Placements are assessed based on readiness for clinical work, program requirements, and supervision availability.

How Learning Happens Day to Day

Training is built into daily clinical work.

Weekly supervision to review cases and decisions
Ongoing consultation when questions come up
Clear guidance around scope of practice
Support with clinical judgment, not just technique

Students are never expected to figure things out alone.

Types of Clinical Experience

Depending on training level and placement goals, students may gain experience with:

Some students may observe assessments with our Nurse Practitioner, when appropriate.

Supervision Within the Teaching Clinic

Supervision is structured and consistent.

Weekly individual or dyadic supervision
Monthly group supervision
Ongoing access to consultation

Supervision is provided by experienced, regulated clinicians (RP or MSW RSW). Supervision is separate from academic instruction and follows best and wise practices in clinical oversight.

Programs Commonly Accepted

This list is not exhaustive. Programs are reviewed case by case.

Counselling & Psychotherapy (CRPO Pathway)

Examples include:

University of Toronto – MEd Counselling Psychology
York University – MA Counselling Psychology
Western University – MA Counselling Psychology
University of Ottawa – MA Counselling Psychology
University of Windsor – MEd Counselling Psychology
University of Waterloo – MEd Counselling Psychology
Trent University – MEd Counselling Studies
Nipissing University – MEd Counselling Psychology
Adler Graduate Professional School – MPsy
Tyndale University – MCP
Wycliffe College (U of T) – MDiv / MA with clinical counselling streams

Social Work (OCSWSSW Pathway)

Examples include:

University of Toronto – MSW
McMaster University – MSW
York University – MSW
Western University – MSW
University of Windsor – MSW
Carleton University – MSW
Laurentian University – MSW
Lakehead University – MSW
Wilfrid Laurier University – MSW
Toronto Metropolitan University – MSW

Placement Length & Hour Requirements

Counselling & Psychotherapy (CRPO Pathway)

Typical length: 8-12 months
Most programs require 400–700 total hours, including:
Direct client work
Supervision
Documentation
Training and consultation

These placements support progression toward Qualifying registration, not independent practice.

Social Work (OCSWSSW Pathway)

Typical length:
- 3-4 months (single term), or
- 8-9 months (extended placement)
Most programs require 700–1,000 total hours

Client Safety and Risk Management

Client safety comes first.

Caseloads are carefully assigned
Cases are reviewed regularly
High-risk concerns are escalated immediately
Interns never manage complex cases alone

Care may include increased supervision, co-management, or transfer when needed. Supervisors retain clinical responsibility and oversight at all times.

Documentation and Professional Standards

Students receive support with:

Ethical and clear clinical documentation
Informed consent and confidentiality
Legal and professional obligations
Boundaries and scope of practice

Documentation may be reviewed as part of learning and quality assurance. Students are supported in understanding documentation as a core part of client safety and ethical care.

Meet Our Clinical Supervisors

Our Teaching Clinic is supported by senior clinicians with extensive experience in supervision, ethics, and clinical leadership. Students are supervised by professionals who are deeply committed to mentorship, client safety, and best-practice care.