In-Person | May to December 2026 | 10 am to 12 pm on Thursdays
Alternating weeks of training and supervision
The Vaughan Relationship Centre Externship is a premier 8-month clinical training intensive designed for Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates. This volunteer program provides the structured education, supervised application, and direct client experience necessary to transition from a generalist practitioner to a skilled relational therapist.
This program is suitable for MSWs who want specialized advanced training in couples therapy and able to travel to the office for in-person training.
The Clinical Experience
Participants move through a tiered learning structure designed to build safety and competence:
Our curriculum is iterative and layered, deepening in complexity as the program progresses. Focus areas include, but are not limited to:
We will also explore therapeutic models such as:
Successful graduates of the Externship will emerge with a competitive edge in the mental health field:
Selection is competitive and based on clinical readiness, ethical maturity, and alignment with the Centre’s standards.
Requirements:
Ready to elevate your practice?
Amanda Bacchus,
MSW, RSW, RP,
RMFT-SQ
Founder & Director, Vaughan Relationship Centre
Amanda is a Registered Social Worker, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, and Registered Psychotherapist with extensive experience supporting clients in couple therapy, marriage counselling, family therapy, sex therapy, and individual counselling.
Her clinical focus is on systemic relationship dynamics, from couples therapy Toronto to family counseling center work and therapy for professionals balancing complex roles.
Amanda primarily uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) when working as a couples therapist, but I also draw from Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to provide an eclectic, client-centered approach.
Leslie Yaffa
M.S.W., R.S.W., Ed.D.
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Doctor of Education
Leslie’s experiences and aspirations in Social Work have spanned over a twenty-year period where her clinical work has supported individuals, adolescents, couples, and families. She has helped many of her clients in dealing with stress and anxiety, interpersonal difficulty, depression and grief, parenting and behavioural concerns, racism, marriage/couple issues, self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress.
As a couples therapist, she helps both partners to understand the reasons behind their struggles and issues, facilitates honest discussions, and helps them to identify better means of communication and connection. Leslie’s goal is to equip couples with skills and knowledge so they can become better individuals and better partners for each other.
Vaughan Relationship Centre is incorporated to provide social work services and is legally authorized to perform the controlled act of social work.
To ensure regulatory consistency, liability protection, and aligned supervision standards, this externship is currently open to Social Workers and graduates working toward registration within the profession.
As the program grows, additional disciplines may be considered. At this time, we are committed to maintaining clarity and excellence within our professional scope.
This program is similar to an internship in that it combines supervised clinical work with structured training.
The difference is that participants have already graduated.
You are entering as a professional seeking specialization — not as a student completing a placement requirement.
This externship is designed to help you move from foundational competence to advanced clinical confidence in couples therapy. The focus is on:
It is a post-graduate training experience intended to bridge the space between “new graduate” and “skilled couples therapist.”
We understand that life circumstances can shift.
However, this program is intentionally structured as an 8-month commitment to allow for meaningful clinical development and continuity of care for clients.
Cohorts are limited to a maximum of four participants. Accepting a position means another qualified applicant is not offered a space.
For the integrity of the program, the clients, and your own growth, we ask that applicants apply only when they are able to commit fully to the timeframe and weekly requirements.
We deeply respect that clinicians want and deserve to be compensated for their work.
At the same time, many early-career clinicians encounter a common challenge: most positions require 2–5 years of experience, and many couples specifically seek therapists with demonstrated expertise in relational work.
This externship is designed to bridge that gap.
Participants receive:
Clients are seen at a reduced fee and are informed that their therapist is practicing within a supervised training program.
The primary focus of this externship is professional development and readiness for future paid roles — including potential transition opportunities within Vaughan Relationship Centre upon successful completion and mutual fit.
At this time, we are seeking participants who are able to:
While virtual therapy plays an important role in today’s clinical landscape, this externship emphasizes in-room skill development — including reading nonverbal cues, managing escalation in real time, and strengthening the therapist’s presence.
We also value in-person professional connections. The relationships built within the cohort are an important part of the learning experience.
For these reasons, the program is designed as an in-person training opportunity.
Yes.
Participants may receive supervised hour sign-off where applicable, including for regulatory or certification bodies such as the Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy (CACFT) or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), depending on individual eligibility requirements.
Participants are responsible for confirming specific criteria with their regulatory body.
Yes.
Externs who demonstrate strong clinical competence, ethical integrity, and alignment with Vaughan Relationship Centre may be considered for transition into paid roles following successful completion of the program.
While employment is not guaranteed, the program is intentionally designed as a pathway to readiness and potential integration into the Centre where there is mutual fit.
Becoming a skilled couples therapist is not simply about accumulating hours — it is about developing steadiness, discernment, and clinical integrity.
This work asks more of us.
The Vaughan Relationship Centre Couples Therapy Externship was created for clinicians who want to practice relational therapy with competence, confidence, and care. It is a space to deepen your skills, strengthen your judgment, and grow within a supportive professional community.
If you are ready to invest in your development and step into couples work with intention, we would be honoured to review your application.
Cohorts are intentionally small to preserve depth of training and quality of supervision.
We invite thoughtful, committed clinicians to apply.
To apply, please submit:
Selected applicants will be invited to interview.
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