Develop your clinical skills within a collaborative, family-focused practice

Harbour Family Counselling offers master’s-level practicum placements in Saanich, BC, for students seeking supervised clinical experience within a group practice.

Our work is grounded in a family systems perspective. Students develop their counselling skills while learning to consider each client’s relationships, context, and support needs.

We value curiosity, sound judgment, professional accountability, and openness to feedback. We’re looking for students who can build thoughtful therapeutic relationships, recognize the limits of their experience, and make active use of supervision.

What the Placement Offers

• Supervised clinical development
  Develop your clinical judgment, counselling skills, and confidence through supervision and feedback. Supervision arrangements are confirmed before a placement is offered to ensure compatibility with your university’s requirements.

• Thoughtful client matching
  Our intake coordinator screens new inquiries and helps match clients to students based on client needs, student readiness, and supervisor guidance. Your caseload develops gradually, with opportunities considered in relation to your competence and learning goals.

• Clinical consultation and professional development
  Participate in biweekly team clinical consultation and monthly professional development focused on relational work, family systems, and collaborative care.

• Practical support and a welcoming workspace
  Access a counselling office in Saanich, Jane booking and charting tools, a professional email address, and intake and administrative support.

Clinical Experience & Scope

Your placement will focus on building foundational counselling skills through supervised client work. Client assignments are guided by your training, demonstrated readiness, learning goals, and the needs of the practice.

You may have opportunities to support individuals, including adults or youth, where appropriate to your competence and supervision arrangements. Working within a family-focused practice also offers opportunities to understand how relationships and family dynamics inform individual care.

Couples counselling, joint family sessions, and more complex clinical work require additional assessment of readiness and supervisor approval. These experiences are not guaranteed as part of the placement.

You’ll develop skills in assessment, collaborative goal setting, clinical documentation, informed consent, and ethical decision-making. You’re expected to seek consultation when needed and apply feedback to your developing practice.

Caseloads build gradually and depend on suitable referrals and client bookings. We’ll discuss your required hours, availability, and placement timeline during the application process.Apply Now

If this sounds like the right fit for your practicum journey, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your resume, a brief cover letter, and any practicum placement requirements to Harbour Family Counselling.

Student Qualifications & Expectations

Program & Placement Requirements

• Enrolment in a master’s-level counselling or related clinical program, with eligibility to begin practicum in Spring or Fall 2027.

• Confirmation that our site and proposed supervisor meet your university’s placement requirements.

• Availability for primarily in-person client work at our Saanich office, along with supervision and team learning.

• A placement schedule that allows time to build a suitable caseload and work consistently with clients.

Professional Readiness

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• Curiosity about relational work and a willingness to consider clients within their family and social contexts.

• Openness to feedback, with the ability to reflect on and apply it.

• Awareness of their developing competence and readiness to seek guidance.

• Reliable communication, preparation, follow-through, and timely clinical documentation.

• Respect for confidentiality, informed consent, professional boundaries, and diverse identities and family structures.

• Accurate representation of their student status in client interactions, biographies, and public communications.

• A respectful, collaborative approach to colleagues and a commitment to ongoing learning.

How to Apply

Please send your résumé and a brief cover letter to practicum@harbourfamilycounselling.ca, with the subject line “Practicum Application — Spring 2027” or “Practicum Application — Fall 2027”

In your cover letter, please include:

• Your university, program, and proposed placement dates.

• What draws you to Harbour Family Counselling and our family-focused approach.

• Relevant experience and the clinical skills you hope to develop.

• Your available days and times, including any evening or weekend availability.

Please also attach your program’s practicum requirements, including required client hours and supervision arrangements. Indicate whether your program accepts an RCC as a practicum supervisor and any additional supervisor qualifications it requires.

We’ll review applications for program compatibility, learning fit, and supervision capacity. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a conversation to explore the placement further.