Clinical Practicum Placements
Clinical Practicum Opportunities in Psychology
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is pleased to offer Clinical Practicum training and research opportunities for psychology learners in the following areas:
Borderline Personality Disorder Services
Early Intervention in Young Adult Mental Health
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy West Region
WSIB Mental Health Specialty Clinic
About St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is a large teaching hospital affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University and Mohawk College. The Mental Health Program at SJHH provides services both within the general hospital site (also known as Charlton Campus) and the nearby West 5th Campus. The West 5th facility is an innovative care facility that perpetually seeks to radically reduce the disability associated with mental illness, and the stigma and barriers that people with mental illness face on a daily basis.
With 200 inpatient mental health beds (and growing), as well as the capacity to serve almost 5,000 outpatients each year, SJHH has become the centre for adult mental health care throughout the central region of Southern Ontario.
Psychology Practicum Training
The clinical training faculty at SJHH is committed to providing high quality training opportunities through psychology clinical practica, our APA/CPA accredited predoctoral internship program, and postdoctoral positions. Across the various clinical training settings the following are emphasized: (i) provision of a rich training experience with attention given to providing adequate breadth and depth of client contacts, (ii) provision of high quality supervision, (iii) opportunities to work in multidisciplinary environments. Additionally, through ongoing evaluation of the training needs, strengths, and interests of practicum students, practica will be tailored to maximize individual students’ growth in knowledge of clinical intervention and assessment strategies and the related research, and to facilitate the development of a professional identity. The primary supervisors of all training settings are registered Psychologists and Psychological Associates.
Eligible students are those currently registered in APA/CPA accredited (or equivalent) clinical, counselling, or school psychology programs. There is considerable flexibility regarding the types of practica available, including assessment, therapy, and opportunities for research. The information on this web page briefly outlines services in which practicum opportunities are currently available. Interested students should review the internship training website for more information about psychology faculty and programs at SJHH. Students may also contact faculty members with any questions about types of practicum experiences available in a particular service.
Practica may be full-time or part-time. Generally, practica begin in May, September or January and run for 16 to 32 weeks.
Applying for a Practicum
Application Deadline:
February 1, 2025: deadline for submission of applications for Spring/Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 /Winter 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline cannot be guaranteed a review.
Following a review of applications, students will be informed whether or not they will be invited to participate in an interview. All interviews will be held virtually for the 2025-2026 recruitment cycle. Decisions about placement will be made following these interviews. Students will be notified of placement decisions on the GTA Common Notification Date by email. The Notification Date will be in March 2025 (exact date TBD). After the match date, there is no review of new applications until the next cycle.
Contents of Application:
To apply for a practicum position in any program students must electronically submit (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) copies of unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, (3) one letter of recommendation, and (4) a cover letter indicating what aspects of the practicum are of interest and why the learner believes the practicum would address their training needs (5) the Clinical Practicum Placement and Experience Form. Each of the five items must be submitted to guarantee consideration.
All application materials, including letters of recommendation should be submitted to psychologypracticum@stjoes.ca.
General Inquires:
General inquires about the practicum program or application process can be directed to Dr. Irena Milosevic. Students are also encouraged to contact supervisors in various rotations for more information about those opportunities. To ensure that your applications materials are considered, please be mindful not to submit application materials directly to Dr. Milosevic or the practica supervisors but rather to the psychology practicum email indicated above.
Irena Milosevic, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Practicum Placement Coordinator, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
Practica inquiries: imilosev@stjoes.ca
To submit application items and letter of recommendation: psychologypracticum@stjoes.ca
Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic
The ATRC is an outpatient specialty clinic staffed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of professionals with a background in psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work, or occupational therapy. The clinic receives more than 3000 new referrals per year, predominantly for assessment and treatment of individuals with panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Some opportunities are also available for working with patients who have other anxiety-related difficulties (e.g., specific phobias, illness anxiety disorder). Supervision is provided by registered psychologists (Drs. Jenna Boyd, Irena Milosevic, Liz Pawluk, and Karen Rowa) or Psychological Associates (Audrey Aiken). There might be opportunities for practicum training during the summer and during the academic year, although the number of available spots might differ from year to year. Both first year and advanced practicum students are welcome to apply.
Training experiences may include:
- Thorough training in diagnostic interviewing using the Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool (DART), initially including observing three interviews, conducting three interviews under observation, and then conducting additional interviews independently, under supervision.
- Opportunities to provide individual cognitive behavioural treatment to patients with a range of anxiety and related disorders (e.g., panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others).
- Opportunities to observe treatment being delivered or to provide co-therapy with an experienced clinician.
- Opportunity to co-lead a group for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder with an experienced clinician (as well as weekly supervision meetings to discuss the group sessions).
- On a case-by-case basis (based on prior experience with CBT and trauma-exposed individuals), opportunities to provide individual or group cognitive behavioural treatment for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Weekly 1-hour team meetings to discuss assessment and treatment cases seen at the clinic.
- Weekly individual supervision meetings (at least 1 hour) during which individual treatment and assessment cases are discussed.
- Opportunity for additional supervision on an individual therapy case or on assessment cases from a psychology resident being supervised by a psychologist.
- Opportunities to read relevant materials, watch videos of therapy being conducted, and to discuss related issues during supervision.
- Opportunities to attend and contribute to weekly academic rounds presentations during which new literature is discussed.
- Opportunities to participate in ongoing research or to develop independent research projects.
Contact Information:
Audrey Aiken, M.A., C.Psych.Assoc.
Psychological Associate
Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic
Telephone: 905-522-1155 ext. 34122
Email: aaiken@stjosham.on.ca
ATRC Website: www.stjoes.ca/anxiety
Borderline Personality Disorder Services
The Borderline Personality Disorder Services (BPDS) is an outpatient specialty treatment program for adults who are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The BPDS is located within the Community Psychiatry Clinic and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team. The BPDS offers clinical training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Practicum students will work with individuals who are diagnosed with BPD, develop a comprehensive understanding of DBT, and learn how to skillfully deliver a range of DBT interventions.
All BPDS practicum students are valued members of the team. Students who are enthusiastic about learning how to conceptualize and treat the complex challenges experienced by individuals with BPD are encouraged to apply.
Training experiences may include:
- Co-facilitating weekly DBT skills training groups
- Providing individual skills training
- Providing individual therapy
- Conducting diagnostic and intake assessments
- Conducting suicide risk assessments
- Participating in weekly team consultation meetings
- Providing phone coaching during office hours
- Participating in weekly individual supervision
- Participating in additional supervision from a psychology resident (under the supervision of a registered psychologist)
- Participating in a weekly didactic series for additional professional development
- Assisting with on-going research initiatives, program development, and program evaluation projects
Please Note: A one-year commitment is required (e.g., fall and winter semesters). Only advanced doctoral-level students will be considered for this practicum.
Contact Information:
Kerri Bojman, Psy.D., C.Psych.
Borderline Personality Disorder Services
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
West 5th Campus, 100 West 5th Street
Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7
Tel: 905-522-1155 ext. 35230
Email: kbojman@stjoes.ca
Clinical Neuropsychology Service
The Clinical Neuropsychology Service (CNS) provides consultation-based services to all SJHH mental health and medical programs across inpatient and outpatient settings, including acute and tertiary psychiatry, developmental dual diagnosis, medicine, and neurology. Assessment focuses on the cognitive functioning and neurological integrity of a wide range of adult inpatients and outpatients including those with medical (e.g., brain injury, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases), developmental (e.g., autistic spectrum, learning disorders), psychiatric (e.g., schizophrenia, mood/anxiety) and substance abuse disorders. The service emphasizes a biopsychosocial approach towards assessment of these conditions and attempts to integrate neuropsychological findings into the diagnostic and treatment considerations of the multidisciplinary team.
The Neuropsychology rotation includes opportunities for training under the supervision of 4 registered psychologists specializing in neuropsychology (Drs. Christina Gojmerac, Elena Ballantyne, Katherine Jongsma, & Heather McNeely) with support provided by staff psychometrists and advanced trainees in the service; all of whom are actively engaged in research and evidenced-based practices. The service also provides group based cognitive remediation programming.
Training experiences may include:
- Medical chart reviews and literature reviews of pertinent evidenced-based practices and research outcomes.
- Introducing patients and their family members to assessment procedures, reviewing limits of confidentiality, and obtaining informed consent.
- Administering, scoring and interpreting, neuropsychological test measures.
- Administering structured clinical interviews, psychopathology measures, and symptom validity tests to determine differential diagnosis.
- Integrating test data with patient history and clinical presentation.
- Summarizing the relevant aspects of the assessment in a clinical report.
- Providing patients, caregivers, hospital staff, and team members with feedback regarding the results, implications, and recommendations from each assessment.
- Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings to assist in the assessment, treatment planning, and evaluation of outcomes for patients.
- Group based cognitive remediation programming.
- Attend and present at Neuropsychology Seminar Series.
- Attend weekly Psychiatry and Mental Health and Addictions (MHAP) Rounds.
Please Note: Students applying for a practicum to the CNS are expected to have completed at least one graduate level course relevant to the practice of neuropsychology (e.g., intellectual and/or neuropsychological assessment, intervention). Opportunities for practicum training within inpatient settings are reserved for advanced practicum students during a full-time summer rotation only.
Contact Information:
Christina Gojmerac, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Clinical Neuropsychology Service
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
West 5th Campus
Tel: 905-522-1155 ext. 39367
Email: cgojmera@stjoes.ca
Concurrent Disorders Program (CDP); Young Adult Substance Use Program (YA-SUP)
The CDP is an outpatient specialty clinic that provides assessment and treatment services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and other concurrent psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder; referred to as a concurrent disorder). Within the CDP, resides a specialty clinic targeting the needs for young adults with concurrent disorders (YA-SUP). Opportunities can be made available for both programs depending on experience and availability. The CDP is staffed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of professionals with a background in psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, and community mental health. Therapy modalities used in the CDP and YA-SUP include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and elements of dialectical behaviour therapy. Supervision will be provided by registered psychologists. There are opportunities for practicum training during the summer and during the academic year. All students interested are encouraged to apply, but advanced practicum students will be prioritized.
Training experiences may include:
- Intervention:
- Observe and co-lead groups for managing substance use difficulties (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, relapse prevention) alongside other mental health concerns (e.g., mood, anxiety, emotion regulation).
- Observe treatment being delivered or provide co-therapy using a harm-reduction approach with an experienced clinician.
- More advanced learners may have an opportunity for individual cases.
- Interacting with individuals with lived experiences in addiction.
- Assessment:
- Training in psychodiagnostic assessments using the Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool (DART), Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and other interviewing methods to differentiate between presenting mental health and addiction-based difficulties.
- Neuropsychology of Addiction sub-track: Depending on interest and fit, opportunities for integrated assessments including psychodiagnostic, as well as intellectual and cognitive screening are available.
- Supervision:
- Weekly individual supervision (at least 1 hour) to discuss assessment treatment cases.
- Possibility of additional supervision on an individual therapy case or on an assessment case from a psychology resident being supervised by a psychologist.
- Research and Education:
- Opportunities to contribute to clinic rounds on clinical science and research topics
- Opportunities to participate in ongoing research projects.
Contact Information:
Emily MacKillop, PhD, CPsych, ABPP
Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist
Concurrent Disorders and Young Adult Substance Use Program (YASUP)
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Email: emackill@stjoes.ca
Early Intervention in Young Adult Mental Health
Youth Wellness Centre
The Youth Wellness Centre (YWC) focuses on youth ages 17-25 years experiencing either emerging or complex and ongoing mental health difficulties, with the goal of rapid assessment, treatment, and recovery. The YWC is an independent, youth-based clinic located in downtown Hamilton that is linked both to primary care and community referral sources, and to specialized mental health services within St. Joseph’s Healthcare. Two primary streams of the YWC are: 1) Early Intervention for early stage mental health difficulties; and 2) Transition Support for ongoing and complex cases among youth transitioning from child and adolescent services. Both streams are intended to ease and expedite access to services and resources, improve continuity and coordination of care, and advocate and support youth and their families. Practicum students gain experience in clinical assessment using structured interviewing techniques, report writing, consultation with other treating professionals, and individual and group treatments for youth with an array of mental health concerns (e.g., mood and anxiety concerns, emotion dysregulation) using evidence-based treatments.
The YWC includes an integrated program of research and evaluation led by faculty members from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University. This practicum training is supervised by Drs. Taylor Hatchard and Caitlin Davey, who is actively engaged in research and evidenced-based practices. As a practicum student, you would have the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team, including a psychologist, psychiatrists, nurse care coordinators, primary care (e.g. nurse practitioner, family physician), endocrinologists, transition coach, family educators, social workers, youth mentors, and an occupational therapist. There are opportunities for practicum training during the summer and during the academic year.
Training experiences may include:
- Training in comprehensive assessment using structured clinical interview and validated assessment measures for youth ages 17-25 years. Assessments will include writing a brief report, determining clinical stage of care, and developing a treatment plan, under supervision.
- Providing youth, caregivers, and team members with feedback regarding the results, implications, and recommendations from each assessment.
- Opportunities to provide brief individual youth centered, evidence-based treatment to youth presenting with a range of mental health and addictions concerns.
- Opportunities to co-lead group therapy (e.g. emotion regulation skills, cognitive-behavioural therapy) with an experienced clinician (as well as weekly supervision meetings to discuss the group sessions).
- Weekly individual supervision meetings (at least one hour) during which individual treatment and assessment cases are discussed.
- Provision and discussion of literature relevant to early intervention in youth mental health.
- Opportunities to participate in ongoing research or to develop independent research projects.
Please Note: Only more senior students will be considered for this practicum (e.g., students who have completed at least one practicum involving assessment and intervention). We will not be accepting summer 2022 practicum placements. We will be accepting placements for fall/winter 2022-2023.
**The Youth Wellness Clinic is not accepting applications for the 2024-2025 practicum cycle.
Contact:
Caitlin Davey, Ph.D., C.Psych. (she/her)
Youth Wellness Centre
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH)
38 James Street S, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4W6
Office Phone: 905-522-1155, ext. 36281
Email: cdavey@stjoes.ca
Eating Disorders
The Eating Disorders Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare provides outpatient treatment to adults age 16 and over, providing consultation and treatment to approximately 240 patients annually. The program offers services to patients with a range of eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and the spectrum of disordered eating understood as Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders. As a practicum student, you would have the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists, a social worker, a psychiatrist, a nurse practitioner, two registered dietitians and a psychometrist.
Depending on your prior experience, training experiences may include:
- Training in psychodiagnostic assessment report writing and diagnostic interviewing using the DART semi-structured interview for eating disorders, as well as a range of other mental health comorbidities (i.e. anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance use disorders, PTSD, and OCD).
- Opportunities to provide individual cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT-E) to patients suffering from a range of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED).
- Opportunity to observe or co-lead groups for anorexia nervosa/bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder (e.g., CBT based symptom-interruption group and body image group)
- Opportunity to co-lead CBT-based group for body image.
- Weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss assessment cases seen over the course of the previous week and ongoing group and individual treatment issues
- Weekly individual supervision meetings during which assessment and treatment cases are discussed
- Opportunities to participate in ongoing research or to develop independent research projects
- Opportunity to learn about and participate in formal risk assessments
- Opportunity to shadow and learn about the role of dietitians and nursing in the treatment of eating disorders
Eating Disorders Program Contact:
Dr. Sarah McComb, Ph.D., C.Psych. (Supervised Practice)
Clinical Co-lead, Eating Disorders Program Community Psychiatry Service
St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton
Email: smccomb@stjoes.ca
Forensic Psychology
The Forensic Psychiatry Program at SJHH offers secure inpatient, as well as outpatient services for legally involved persons who demonstrate symptoms of major mental disorder. The Forensic rotation includes opportunities for training under the supervision of 3 registered psychologists specializing in forensic psychology (Drs. Mini Mamak, Heather Moulden, and Peter Sheridan) as well as, doctoral candidate Ilvy Goosens, who will be joining the psychology team under supervised practice this year.
Training experiences include:
- Diagnostic interviewing for psychiatric disorders
- Assessment of Fitness to Stand Trial and Criminal Responsibility
- Assessment of risk for reoffending and various forms of violence
- Psychological assessments, using a wide range of psychological measures
- Group therapy, specifically addressing criminogenic risk and responsivity factors
- Working within a multidisciplinary team of professionals
- Research projects related to the forensic field
- Weekly individual and group supervision
- Provision and discussion of literature relevant to assessment and treatment of individuals within the Forensic system and mental health rehabilitation
Please Note: Only more senior students will be considered for this practicum (e.g., students who have completed at least one prior practicum involving assessment).
Forensic Psychology Service Contact:
Mini Mamak, Ed.D., C.Psych.
Senior Psychologist, Forensic Service
West 5th Campus
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Tel: 905-522-1155 ext. 36601
Email: mmamak@stjoes.ca
Health Psychology
We have 4 unique practicum training opportunities in Health Psychology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare including, 1) Chronic Pain Clinic, 2) Kidney Care Clinic, 3) Women’s Health Concerns Clinic, and 4) Sleep Medicine Clinic. Please see below for descriptions of each independent practicum placement, and tailor your cover letter to highlight which clinic (s) you are interested in applying to work in.
Chronic Pain Clinic
The Chronic Pain Clinic is an outpatient medical specialty clinic providing integrated services for adults suffering from various chronic pain conditions (e.g., musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, chronic headaches, postsurgical chronic pain, and complex regional pain syndrome). The clinic places a strong emphasis on the biopsychosocial model for the understanding and management of chronic pain and focuses on working with patients to improve functioning and quality of life. As a practicum student, you would have the opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary team, including pain physicians, nurses, a psychologist, a kinesiologist, a social worker, and a dietitian.
Training experiences may include:
- Conducting initial consultations as a part of the team-based interdisciplinary assessments
- Assessing for emotional functioning and adjustment/coping to chronic pain
- Co-facilitating orientation sessions for new patients to the clinic
- Co-facilitating group-based intervention for the self-management of chronic pain
- Providing short-term CBT-based individual intervention for difficulties related to living with chronic pain (some experience with ACT-based intervention for chronic pain may be available)
- Providing consultation to other health care providers on the interdisciplinary team and attend team meetings
- Weekly individual supervision meetings
- Opportunities to be involved in research may be available
Kidney Care Clinic
The Kidney Care Clinic is an outpatient medical specialty clinic providing integrated care for patients with advanced (stage 4 and 5) chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those on dialysis. CKD patients must adjust to numerous changes to their health and treatment plans as the disease progresses, and face many difficult decisions along the way, including whether or not to start dialysis, and which type to choose. This rotation provides an opportunity for practicum students to treat patients living with chronic illness and comorbid medical and psychological conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. You would work on an interdisciplinary team consisting of nephrologists, nurses, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and technologists. This rotation is based primarily at the King Campus, but may also involve some work at Charlton.
Training opportunities may include:
- Assessing for emotional functioning and adjustment/coping with kidney failure
- Assessing for decisional conflict and providing decision-making support to patients engaged in treatment-related decision-making
- Providing short-term CBT-based individual treatment for difficulties related to living with chronic kidney disease (some experience with ACT-based intervention may be available). Common problems include depression, anxiety, insomnia, interpersonal conflict, and adjustment- and adherence-related concerns.
- Conducting pre-transplant psychological assessments to help the interdisciplinary care team determine patient suitability for kidney transplant.
- Discussing palliative/end-of-life concerns with patients
- Co-facilitating group-based virtual peer support meetings for home dialysis patients
- Providing consultation to other health care providers on the interdisciplinary team and attending team meetings
- Weekly individual supervision meetings
- Opportunities to be involved in research may be available
Women’s Health Concerns Clinic
The Women’s Health Concerns Clinic (WHCC) is a unique outpatient mental health clinic that provides assessment, consultation, and treatment for women who are experiencing both physical and emotional (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders) difficulties across the reproductive time, including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and postpartum periods, and the menopausal transition. Within the clinic, the multi-disciplinary team consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, gynecologists, nurses, social workers, mental health counselors, and research staff and trainees. Practicum students will be supervised by a registered doctoral psychologist (Dr. Sheryl Green) with opportunities for both summer and fall/winter practicums available. Both first and advanced practicum students are welcome to apply. This practicum is based at the West 5th campus.
Training opportunities include:
- Training in diagnostic interviewing and conducting integrated psychological assessments which include a clinical interview, symptoms measures, and a semi-structured assessment
- Training in and writing integrated reports
- Opportunity to co-facilitate group-based CBT for Perinatal Anxiety
- Opportunity to co -facilitate group-based CBT for Menopause Symptoms
- Opportunity to co -facilitate group-based Perinatal Emotion Regulation Skills (ERS) group
- Opportunity to co -facilitate group-based half-day Perinatal CBT Sleep Workshops
- Opportunity to engage in individual consults and subsequent short term individual treatment for PMDD, Perinatal patients and Menopause patients, based on case conceptualization
- Weekly individual supervision meetings and group supervision
- Opportunities to be involved in research may be available
Please Note: Delivery of services in virtual formats or a combination of virtual and in person may be negotiated
Sleep Medicine Clinic
The behavioural sleep medicine practicum provides experiences with patients primarily from the Firestone Sleep Medicine Clinic who have insomnia with or without comorbid sleep disorders, medical conditions, and mental health disorders. Practicum students will be supervised by a registered doctoral psychologist (Dr. Sheryl Green) with opportunities for fall/winter practicum available. Both first and advanced practicum students are welcome to apply. This practicum is based at the West 5th campus.
Training opportunities include:
- Conducting semi-structured assessments for sleep disorders (e.g., Duke) as well as mental health disorders (e.g., Mini).
- Opportunity to provide short-term CBT-based individual treatment for insomnia with or without comorbid sleep disorders, mental health disorders, and medical conditions.
- Opportunity to participate as a co-lead in CBT for insomnia group treatment
- In depth understanding and analysis of sleep diaries/logs.
- Communication to multidisciplinary colleagues including sleep medicine physicians and fellows.
- Weekly individual supervision meetings and group supervision
- Opportunities to be involved in research may be available
Please Note: Delivery of services in virtual formats or a combination of virtual and in person may be negotiated.
Health Psychology Contact:
Sheryl M. Green, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Psychologist- Women’s Health Concern’s Clinic & Firestone Sleep Medicine Clinic
100 West 5th Street
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Tel: 905-522-1155 ext. 33672
Email: sgreen@stjoes.ca
Mood Disorders
The Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic (MTRC) offers opportunities for practicum students to gain exposure and experience in both clinical assessment and therapy in an outpatient adult mental health setting. The MTRC includes a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, vocational rehabilitation therapists, recreational therapists, art therapists, and occupational therapists who assess and treat individuals with depression, bipolar disorders, and related conditions. Learners have an opportunity to gain experience with structured diagnostic interviewing for DSM-5 disorders, delivering individual and group therapy, report writing, and consultation with clinicians. There may also be opportunities to administer comprehensive psychological assessments including personality assessments and cognitive testing, depending on case availability as well as the goals and interests of the learner. The primary treatment orientation on this rotation is cognitive behavioural for patients presenting with depressive and bipolar disorders and co-morbid conditions. Learners may also have the opportunity to be involved in delivering other forms of therapy (e.g., acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT], behavioural activation, brief emotion regulation skills). Practicum opportunities are possible during the summer and the academic year, though the number of spots differs each year.
There are ample opportunities to be involved in quality improvement and program evaluation projects if this is an area of interest.
There may also be opportunities to complete comprehensive psychological assessments (e.g., personality assessments) in the inpatient Mood Disorders Program. Please note that only more senior students (e.g., students who have completed at least one practicum involving assessment and/or treatment) will be considered for these opportunities within the Mood Disorders Program.
Training experiences may include:
- Opportunities to deliver group therapy with interdisciplinary team members.
- Opportunities to provide individual cognitive behavioral treatment to patients with mood disorders.
- Opportunities to observe treatment being delivered or to provide co-therapy with experienced clinicians.
- Training in assessment and diagnostic interviewing for complex presentations with multiple comorbidities.
- Weekly individual supervision meetings (at least one hour) with a psychologist during which individual treatment cases, assessment cases, and professional development are discussed.
- Gaining experience in using measurement-based care, including selecting outcome measures, sharing results with patients, and considering implications for treatment.
- Training in incorporating shared decision making during assessments, including use of treatment decision aids.
- Attending bi-monthly allied health meetings.
- Opportunities for additional supervision meetings as needed.
- Opportunities to contribute to ongoing research or develop research projects.
Training experiences will be aligned with the developmental stage, strengths, and goals of the student. Applications are accepted for placements in both summer and academic terms/semesters.
Contact:
Danielle Rice, Ph.D., C. Psych. (Supervised Practice)
Psychologist
Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic
St. Joseph's Healthcare
100 West 5th Street
Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7
For Mood Disorders specific inquiries please E-mail: drice@stjoes.ca
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy West Region
The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) West Program is an innovative, stepped care program that offers publicly funded, measurement-based CBT for depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related problems, including posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive concerns, to adults (18+) across the western part of Ontario. One of the central aims of the program is to increase access to quality CBT. Measurement-based care is also a central part of our program and incorporated to monitor treatment progress and inform treatment planning.
Psychology practicum students completing a placement in OSP West gain exposure to a range of presenting concerns including depression, anxiety (panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, illness anxiety disorder, specific phobia, GAD), and anxiety-related concerns (PTSD and OCD). Practicum students will gain exposure to adult clients from diverse backgrounds. Supervision at OSP West is provided by registered psychologists (Drs. Peter Bieling, Jennifer Hewitt, Brenda Key, Colleen Merrifield, Matilda Nowakowski). Both first year and advanced practicum students are welcome to apply. For Masters level students, completion of a graduate level course in CBT is required and previous clinical training in CBT is preferred.
Training experiences may include:
- Training in brief, semi-structured intake assessments (initially observing three interviews, conducting three interviews under observation, and then conducting additional interviews independently, under supervision).
- Training in structured diagnostic assessments for more complex clinical presentations.
- Working within a stepped-care model.
- Opportunities to provide evidence-based individual CBT protocols for depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related concerns (including ERP for OCD and CPT for PTSD) delivered virtually and in-person.
- Opportunities to observe treatment being delivered or to provide co-therapy with an experienced clinician.
- Opportunity to co-lead a group for depression, anxiety, or anxiety-related concerns (including CPT for PTSD) (as well as weekly supervision meetings to discuss the group sessions).
- Participating in weekly individual supervision meetings (at least 1 hour) to discuss individual treatment and assessment cases.
Practicum students are an active part of the multidisciplinary team that meets on a weekly basis for assessment and treatment case conferences. During the case conferences, students are expected to discuss diagnostic issues, treatment recommendations, and treatment challenges. OSP West integrates program evaluation and quality improvement projects and students have the opportunity to be actively involved in ongoing projects within the program.
Contact Information:
Jennifer Hewitt, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Psychologist
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy West Region
1 King St. West, Suite 400
Email: jhewitt@stjoes.ca
OSP Website: www.ospwest.ca
Schizophrenia Services
Schizophrenia and Community Integration Services at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is a large service which includes three inpatient units and two outpatient clinics: Cleghorn Early Intervention Clinic and Schizophrenia Outpatient Clinic (SOC). Practicum placements are typically available at the outpatient clinics and may be 2 days per week during fall-winter, and up to 4 days per week during spring-summer. Advanced practicum students with previous experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness may be considered for a placement in the inpatient program.
Cleghorn Early Intervention Clinic
The Cleghorn Clinic is an outpatient service that specializes in treatment of individuals who are experiencing symptoms of psychosis for the first time (i.e., first episode psychosis). Clients are typically between the ages of 16 to 35 and have had less than 6 months of treatment for psychosis. The clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians including a psychologist, psychiatrists, registered nurses, family educator, occupational therapists, recreational therapist, social worker, and learners from various disciplines.
Training experiences may include:
- Opportunities to provide individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for a variety of mental health conditions including psychosis, anxiety related disorders, affective disorders, OCD, and adjustment disorder.
- Medical chart reviews and literature reviews of pertinent evidenced-based practices and research outcomes
- Administering, scoring and interpreting, neuropsychological and psychological test measures.
- Providing patients, caregivers, hospital staff, and team members with feedback regarding the results, implications, and recommendations from each assessment.
- Integrative report writing, including psychodiagnostic and neuropsychological results.
- Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings to assist in the assessment, treatment planning, and evaluation of outcomes for patients.
- Ability to participate in ongoing research projects some of which include examining the role of cognitive functioning and insight on outcome as well as the examining the sustainability of first episode treatment on recovery.
Schizophrenia Outpatient Clinic (SOC)
The Schizophrenia Outpatient Clinic (SOC) is an outpatient service that strives to support individuals with diagnoses of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders to regain and manage their health and live meaningful lives through the provision of compassionate, innovative, specialized mental health services. The clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, vocational rehabilitation therapists, and learners.
Training experiences may include:
- Consultation for psychotherapy suitability, including observing and conducting interviews with clients, consulting with referring clinicians, and reviewing charts.
- Training in diagnostic interviewing as part of assessments for diagnostic clarification.
- Individual and/or group therapy opportunities using a recovery-oriented CBT for psychosis (CBTp) approach.
- Opportunities to gain experience in cognitive screening and/or neuropsychological assessment depending on the skill set and training goals of the student.
- Medical chart reviews and literature reviews of pertinent evidenced-based practices and research outcomes.
- Integrative report writing
Schizophrenia Inpatient Program
There are three 24-bed inpatient units with inter-disciplinary staff providing specialized assessment and treatment to individuals with primary diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Duration of admission may range from several weeks to several months. Practicum placements on the inpatient units are restricted to experienced learners.
Training experiences may include:
- Consultation for psychotherapy suitability, including observing and conducting interviews with clients, consulting with referring clinicians, and reviewing charts.
- Training in diagnostic interviewing as part of assessments for diagnostic clarification.
- Individual therapy opportunities using a recovery-oriented CBT for psychosis (CBTp) approach.
- Group therapy opportunities as part of a recovery oriented weekly group comprised of stand-alone modules facilitated by inter-disciplinary allied health staff.
- Opportunities to gain experience in cognitive screening and/or neuropsychological assessment depending on the skill set and training goals of the student.
- Medical chart reviews and literature reviews of pertinent evidenced-based practices and research outcomes.
- Integrative report writing.
Please Note: Advanced students only. Students applying to Schizophrenia Services are expected to have completed at least one graduate level course relevant to the implementation of CBT and/or the practice of neuropsychology.
Contact:
Heather McNeely, PhD, C.Psych.
Psychologist and Academic Head of Service
Schizophrenia and Community Integration Service
Email: hmcneely@stjoes.ca
WSIB
The WSIB Specialty Clinic is a busy outpatient clinic that provides comprehensive assessment and treatment to individuals with workplace injuries who are experiencing difficulties with functional recovery. Our growing multidisciplinary team currently includes psychologists, a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist, psychometrists, a neuropsychologist, and an occupational therapist. Supervision is provided by registered Psychologists, Drs. Stephanie Waechter, Samantha Longman-Mills, and Samantha Chen. There are opportunities for practicum training during the summer months (May-August, typically 4 days per week) and during the academic year (September-April, typically 2-3 days per week).
Please Note: Only more senior students (e.g., students who have completed at least one previous practicum involving assessment and/or intervention) will be considered for this practicum.
Training experiences may include:
- Training in completing comprehensive clinical assessments using structured and semi-structured diagnostic interviews and self-report measures (e.g., DART; PAI; PCL-5; DASS-21), and in writing comprehensive clinical reports.
- Providing workers with feedback related to the results and recommendations of the assessment.
- Extensive exposure to the process of liaising with WSIB personnel and other members of patients’ care teams (e.g., physicians, community psychologists, Occupational Therapists).
- Opportunities to provide evidence-based cognitive behavioural interventions for individuals with trauma and stressor-related disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and other difficulties.
- Weekly individual supervision meetings (at least one hour) during which individual treatment and assessment cases are discussed; journal club; and peer case discussion meetings.
- Discussion of relevant legislation, as well as research literature relevant to trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and workplace psychological injury.
Contact Information:
Stephanie Waechter, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Psychologist
WSIB Specialty Clinic
Email: swaechte@stjoes.ca
Practicum Placement On-board Procedures:
Please visit the following link to learn more about on-board procedures for practicum placements:
http://www.joinstjoes.ca/learners/health-professional-learners