Family Services North Shore

At Family Services of the North Shore (FSNS) we offer a comprehensive internship program for master’s level counselling and social work students who need to complete their practicum and professional registration requirements. The ten month program provides our interns with an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience within a community based counselling agency, while enabling the agency to continue its tradition of providing in-depth, affordable counselling services to North Shore residents. Under the guidance of an individual supervisor on our staff, each intern is fully involved in all aspects of the counselling process, and may work with adults and/or children in the context of couples, families or groups.

For an overview of our programs and the client issues covered at Family Services of the North Shore, please see the relevant sections of this website. Programs accepting interns will be among the following:

• Child and Youth Counselling and Support
• Adult Trauma (formerly called Stopping the Violence)
• Individual, Couple and Family Counselling

Interns will also have the opportunity to co-facilitate one of the groups we offer, which may include Couples Therapy, Eating Disorders Support Group, Ending Abuse, or Exploring Trauma Through Art. Another possibility is (with the approval and support of your supervisors) for interns to pair up to design and run a group of their own on an appropriate topic.

The following is an overview of what our agency is committed to providing as part of our internship program, as well as what we expect from individuals who are accepted into the program.

The 2013-2014 internship program will run from September 6/2013 to June 27/2014. Candidates must be willing to make a firm commitment to the 10 month program, with reasonable vacation time to be approved by one’s supervisor. We require that all interns are at the agency on Fridays from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon throughout the 10 months for group supervision and training seminars, but counselling schedules can be arranged to suit the intern and the clients, depending on the availability of space.

If you are interested in applying for an internship at our agency, please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae by March 4, 2013 to:

Gwyneth Bowen, Intern Program Coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 In your cover letter, please include information about any past counselling or related experience, the client population you are interested in working with, and any other information that you would like us to know. Prior counselling experience is considered an asset.

Each year we receive a large number of applications for a limited number of spaces in our program. Consequently, many suitable applicants are not selected for admission. Only candidates who are prepared to spend the full 10 months with the agency will be considered. Interviews take place in March or early April, and all candidates are notified within a few days of the result of their interview. Accepted applicants will be required to provide a recent clear criminal record check prior to starting their practicum.

If applicants have additional questions not covered in this information, please contact Gwyneth Bowen at 604 988 5281 local 209, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it