On September 25, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto was formally recognized as a Canadian campus practicum site for psychological and spiritual counseling. In cooperation with the University of Toronto’s Emmanuel College, the temple has opened an eight-month supervised placement that integrates clinical competencies with Humanistic Buddhist care.

Venerable Zhi Guan, Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, and Stephanie Hong, Spiritual Care Team lead, launched the practicum with a site orientation covering scope of services, confidentiality and informed consent, safety protocols, roles and responsibilities, and documentation standards. Under supervision, the intern participated in client sessions, assisted with intake and consent, and practiced continuity-of-care note writing.

Established in 2020, the Buddha’s Light Spiritual Care Team brings together professional psychotherapists, spiritual counselors, and trained volunteers to address growing community needs for accessible, ethically grounded support. The new practicum designation formalizes ongoing university–community collaboration and creates a pathway for graduate trainees to develop skills in active listening, culturally responsive communication, and evidence-informed spiritual care within a temple setting.

The temple noted that recognition as a practicum site strengthens its capacity to cultivate future practitioners while expanding supportive services for the wider community. The partnership will continue through shared training, case discussions, and service-learning opportunities throughout the academic year.

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