Catholic Family Services - Peel Dufferin // Training & Resources

The Practicum Training Program in Couple and Family Therapy

The Practicum Training Program in Couple and Family Therapy is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to integrate theory with practice. Participants will gain clinical training and experience through direct client contact, instruction and supervision by a trained Couple and Family Therapist and Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Registered Social Workers (RSWs) and Senior Counsellors from the agency.

Both individual and group supervision will be provided.

The first Friday of each month is dedicated to an all-day training in our Mississauga location. Interns will spend two hours together on the remaining Fridays in either dyadic or group supervision in their home office. During the this time there will be a discussion of assigned reading related to collaborative approaches to therapy. There will also be a case presentation by an intern. This will be an opportunity to explore how theory informs practice and how our practice informs our clinical models. Interns will be using audio/video tape, live consultation and case report protocols in supervision.

There a maximum of eight positions available, four in each office. Interns are asked to make a commitment of at last 15 hours a week for the duration of the program. These hours are usually involve working in our weekly walk-in clinics, seeing clients on Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, and a cycle as a co-facilitator in one of the many group programs the agency provides to the community.

Interns that require a placement of two to four days a week can negotiate additional hours and participate in a broader range of agency services and activities such as staff and committee meetings, agency planning processes, etc.

This program is designed for:

Internationally-trained counselling professionals seeking Canadian experience
Current MSW or other master's or doctoral level students in counselling, theology, psychology or couple and family therapy seeking a field placement
Persons who have already completed a graduate degree in counselling or a related field and are seeking additional training/supervision in couple and family therapy.
Persons seeking additional client and supervision hours towards accreditation with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

Placement durations:

September to April

Limited number - placements may be available for start dates in January or May.

Application process:

Letter of interest and resume, indicating relevant academic and practical experience, sent to the Program Supervisor in February
Completion of application form (click here to download)
Interviews are scheduled March - May

Successful applicants will also need to:

Submit an application to their local police service for a reference check
Provide proof of liability insurance ( held personally or by your academic institution)

Practicum Training Program Supervisor

Sharon Ramsay MDiv., RMFT, is a Clinical Member and an Approved Supervisor with AAMFT and is the Clinical Supervisor, core services for our Mississauga office. Sharon has worked in private practice, agency and educational settings providing therapy, supervision and workshops. She also continues to teach graduate-level courses in couple and family therapy. In service to the church, she leads workshops on conflict resolution and establishing/maintaining healthy relationships throughout the life cycle. Her preferred style of working with individuals, couples and families is informed by systemic, emotion-focused and collaborative models of therapy.

For more information contact:

Sharon Ramsay
Practicum Training Program Supervisor
Catholic Family Services Peel Dufferin
The Emerald Business Centre
10 Kingsbridge Garden Circle, Suite 400
Mississauga, Ontario L5R 3K6
905.897.1644 ext 102
sramsay@cfspd.com