Thank you for considering one of our art psychotherapy students for a clinical placement at your agency. We endeavour to find placement sites suitable for each student’s individual skills and interests to ensure a rich learning experience, and to help fulfill the needs of each site’s client (or participant) population.

Students of the Art Psychotherapy Diploma program are encouraged to design practicum experiences that will best meet their learning needs. A great deal of flexibility can be maintained because our Institute is small enough to give a highly individualized learning experience. Students often seek out an area of choice and independently negotiate a mutually agreeable contract with agency personnel such as yourself.

It is our hope that this would be a valued learning experience for you as well as for the student.  We wish to support you in ensuring a fulfilling experience for all concerned.  What you can be assured of from the CiiAT program is:

• Email or phone contact with the school’s practicum supervisors as required.
• Supervision of the student, at least one hour of supervision per ten direct client contact hours, specifically aimed at monitoring the art therapy interventions and student progress.

Your interest in participating in the practicum component of CiiAT training is greatly appreciated.  Well-rounded expertise can only come through direct involvement with participants and clients when the application of the theory becomes practical and integrated into the student’s learning.

If you have questions, email the Managing Director of Clinical Services Amber Channell [email protected]. Thank you for your willingness to give art therapy and our students a chance to grow.

Responsibilities of the Student:

1. Follow all policies and procedures of the Institution and the Host Organization.
2. Maintain professional conduct, ethical standards, and confidentiality in alignment with the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA), the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), and the Host Organization.
3. Attend placement activities reliably, following the agreed-upon schedule.
4. Engage in clinical supervision regularly.
5. Participate fully in any orientation or training provided by the Host Organization.
6. Maintain accurate records of direct client contact and clinical supervision hours, and submit logs to the Institution.
7. Ensure the work is in line with the competency level of a student, and seek guidance for unexpected, unfamiliar or high-risk situations.
8. Report any concerns regarding safety, ethical issues, or unclear expectations to both the Host Organization and the Institution promptly.
9. Respect client safety, boundaries, and the limitations of the role of a student practitioner.
10. Adhere to confidentiality laws and privacy standards, including organizational data policies.

Responsibilities of the Agency Contact Person/Host Organization:

1. Provide on-site oversight of the student during placement activities.
2. Provide the student with opportunities to obtain sufficient direct client contact hours, ensuring tasks reflect art therapy-related work and the learning objectives of the program.
3. Ensure student tasks align with the permitted scope of practice for student art therapists, including safe, ethical, and client-appropriate responsibilities.
4. Provide a physically and psychologically safe environment, including private and confidential spaces for client work.
5. Provide an orientation to site policies, emergency procedures, confidentiality standards, and any required training.
6. Maintain adequate liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.
7. Maintain ongoing communication with the Institution, reporting concerns promptly regarding safety, ethical breaches, or student’s performance.
8. Complete evaluations of the student at the Institution’s required intervals and participate in placement-related discussions with the Institution as needed.
9. Provide notice to the Institution prior to termination of the placement, except in cases of immediate safety risk.

Responsibilities of CiiAT:

1. Provide regular and appropriate clinical supervision to the student in alignment with the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) requirements.
2. Assess the student’s clinical readiness based upon their clinical competencies and successful completion of prerequisite courses.
3. Provide the student with program expectations, policies, and require documentation to support the placement.
4. Maintain communication with the Host Organization, offering support, guidance, and clarification as needed.
5. Respond promptly to any concerns raised by the Host Organization regarding safety, ethical issues, or the student’s role.
6. Provide liability insurance, if applicable, and confirm coverage terms to the Host Organization.
7. Monitor the quality of the placement site, ensuring it aligns with clinical placement standards and educational requirements.
8. Facilitate the student evaluation processes in collaboration with the Host Organization and the student.

Insurance Coverage for Clinical Placements

At CiiAT, we ensure that our students are protected with a dual-layered insurance model during their clinical placements.

CiiAT’s Responsibility to Provide Coverage:

• Institutional Liability Insurance: Covers claims related to the structure and administration of our program, ensuring that students are safeguarded if a claim involves the institution’s responsibilities.
• Supervisor’s Professional Liability Insurance: Covers claims involving guidance or advice provided to students during clinical supervision.

Placement Site’s Responsibility to Provide Coverage:

• Workplace Injury Coverage: Placement sites are responsible for providing workplace injury coverage for students and volunteers, protecting them in case of work-related incidents.