OVCS Practicum Opportunities
Orchard Valley Counselling Services Practicum Opportunities
Counselling Practicum Placement
Your Next Step: Counselling Practicum Placement
A highly supportive, trauma-informed placement for MACP & MSW Students at Orchard Valley Counselling Services.
Ready to find your clinical rhythm?
You’re part-way through your Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology or Social Work, and the search for a Student Practicum Placement has begun. Whether you have a clear vision for your clinical work or you’re just starting to explore, we welcome you.
If you are drawn to relational therapy and possess a deep commitment to personal and professional growth, Orchard Valley Counselling Services (OVCS) offers a structured and comprehensive counselling internship where you can thrive in a supportive trauma-informed practice environment.
Why Choose OVCS for Your Practicum?
🧠 Holistic Focus: Our 8-month placement is centered on helping you develop a confident, strengths-based, and holistic practice, preparing you specifically for success in a private practice setting.
🤝 Expert, Extensive Supervision: Receive a minimum of 2 hours of individual supervision per week, plus supplemental group supervision opportunities and on-call supervisor availability during every session.
⏱️ Real Client, Group & Professional Hours: Gain direct clinical experience by working up to a maximum of 15 clients per week across two days and two evenings, accumulating vital hours.
🤝 Ideal MSW Practicum Student Profile
The ideal 2nd year MSW student for Orchard Valley Counselling Services is a mature candidate with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice (EBP), committed to working from a biopsychosocial lens and providing holistic, integrative care. We look for students who possess a high degree of self-awareness and can effectively manage their emotional reactions, a quality often described as differentiation. This maturity allows them to tolerate the natural anxiety inherent in complex clinical situations. They must demonstrate a proactive, growth-oriented mindset, actively seeking supervision and feedback, while maintaining meticulous clinical documentation and strict adherence to professional ethics and legal guidelines. Ultimately, we seek a student who can function autonomously with a diverse caseload yet remains a committed and humble team player, regularly consulting with colleagues and their supervisor to ensure the highest standard of client care.
| Additional comments/information: Our clinic also looks at some other areas of focus and speciality below. |
| Category | Areas of Focus & Speciality |
| Foundational & Personal | Anxiety & Depression Management, OCD, Self-Esteem & Self-Worth, Personal Development & Growth, Communication Skills, Stress Reduction Techniques, Boundary Setting. |
| Developmental & Transitions | Difficult Life Transitions (e.g., career change, divorce, retirement), Grief and Loss Counselling (including non-death loss), and Identity Exploration. |
| Child & Youth Counselling | Children’s Counselling (Play Therapy, Expressive Arts), Emotional Regulation, School-Related Stress and Peer Issues, Parent-Child Relationship Challenges. |
| Advanced & Integrative | Trauma-Informed Care, Holistic & Biopsychosocial Wellness, Family Systems & Relational Dynamics, Generational Trauma Support, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), EMDR, Somatic Therapy, etc. |
Program Structure
- Duration: 8-month Practicum Placement.
- Weekly Commitment: Up to 20 hours per week (2 days + 2 evenings required for client availability).
- Caseload: Maximum of 15 clients per week.
- Supervision: Minimum 2 hours individual supervision/week. Supplemental group supervision may add 3 hours per month (not always offered).
- Pre-Placement Requirement: Completion of the BC Crisis Centre’s ASIST Training.
Theoretical Suitability
Finding a good fit is crucial for success. We specialize in and have the competency to supervise students working from modalities with a broadly person-centered base, including:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
- Somatic Approaches
- Experiential Focusing
- Other Relational Therapies
Please Note: We do not currently have the competency to supervise students coming from more cognitive or behavioural approaches. If a student decides a different orientation is a better fit, we will terminate the placement and assist in finding an alternative placement.
Pre-Application Support
We host a complimentary workshop for those seeking to learn about our Practicum Placement. This will be hosted in September, January, and April in the 2025/26 year.
(Note: While we have previously offered a low-cost group therapy experience exploring relational practices, we are not currently offering this in the 2025/26 year. It is not a required group for placement.)
Practicum Application Deadlines
| Start Date | Placement Dates | Application Due |
| April Start | April – December Placement | November 15th |
| September Start | September – April Placement | February 15th |
| January Start | January – August Placement | September 15th |
Your Practicum Application Process
- Prepare Your Package: Compile your Resume, Cover Letter, and any Reference Letters into a single PDF document or file package.
- Submit: Send your complete package to our official Practicum Application email address: Admin@ovcs.ca
- Crucial Subject Line: Ensure your email subject line is formatted exactly as follows to guarantee internal processing:
- Practicum Application: [Your Preferred Start Date]
- Example: Practicum Application: September
IMPORTANT APPLICATION NOTE: We know the practicum application process can be highly competitive and stressful. In order to ensure your application is moved through our internal processes and not missed, it is essential to follow the process outlined above.
Please do not email or CC applications or inquiries to other individuals at OVCS. Any applications outside of our standard process are very likely not to be moved forward in our selection process. We will only be in contact with those we invite to an interview. We wish you well and great success in your studies.