Practicum FAQ

Questions a clinic is likely to have, answered plainly.

What exactly are you asking for?

A 600-hour supervised counselling practicum, July 2027 through June 2028, in Metro Vancouver. It is a required component of the Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality at St. Stephen's College, University of Alberta.

What are the hour requirements?

The 600 hours divide into direct client contact, indirect hours, and supervision. Supervision is structured as 35 hours at the site and 25 hours through the course. The direct hours need to be relational counselling work — building alliance, delivering intervention, continuity across sessions — rather than intake and assessment alone.

Does the site have to be a psychedelic clinic?

No, but it is what I am looking for, and I would rather say so. Supervision quality matters more to me than modality; a site with excellent oversight and no psychedelic work is a better placement than a psychedelic site with thin supervision.

Who supervises, and what do they need to be?

A supervisor who meets the College's criteria, which in practice means a registered member of an accountable mental-health profession with clinical experience. I am also working toward standards that require directly observed hours, so a supervisor willing to co-facilitate, sit in, or review recorded sessions is worth a great deal to me.

Is there insurance?

Yes. Professional liability coverage of five million dollars is carried through the programme.

What can you legally do at our site?

Whatever you supervise me to do, within your scope and your standards. I am a student. I hold no protected title, I am not a psychotherapist or a registered clinical counsellor, and I would never represent myself as one to a client.

Do you have a police check?

Yes — I hold a police check for the practicum, and I will complete whatever additional screening your site or the College requires, to your timeline.

What about your pharmacy registration?

I am registered with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia in the Full Pharmacist class, in good standing. That registration governs pharmacy practice. It does not authorise counselling, and it does not authorise anything to do with psychedelic medicines. I keep the two roles completely separate and would expect a site to hold me to that.

Can you provide references?

Yes. Several people have already agreed to act as referees and some have written letters, including faculty from the programme and colleagues from policy and volunteer work. A reference sheet is available on request.

When should we talk?

Any time between now and spring 2027, though earlier is better for both of us — a placement designed in advance is far better than one arranged in a hurry.

Email: mbonertz@ualberta.ca

Education, not medical advice.