My Journey as an Intern Therapist at Changing Tides in Guelph, ON

Hi folks! My name is Shannon Silva. I recently completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) internship with Changing Tides Counselling in April 2023; spanning a total of 8 months since my start date in September 2022. This internship provided me with the privilege of working alongside many of you - whether that be through our free 15-minute telephone consultations, or therapy sessions. I also had the opportunity to write a variety of blogs and post frequently on our social media pages. 

I’d like to thank those of you that I’ve had the privilege of working with as an intern therapist. I’ve learned so much from each of you and am truly grateful for the opportunity to connect with you over these past 8 months. Thank you for inviting me into your world and for allowing me to walk with you on your journey to wellness. 

I’d also like to take some time to acknowledge the wonderful team here at Changing Tides. I remember back to my first day (which included some “first day jitters”, of course!) and how incredibly welcoming and kind everyone on the team was. At that point, I don’t think I had realized yet just how truly lucky I was to be invited into such a warm space. A huge vulnerability that comes with interning is the “unknown” - asking questions upon questions and trying to retain as much information as possible. However, I genuinely believe that being part of this team allowed me to grow in ways that I hadn’t even considered and, quite honestly, strengthened my ability to progress in this field. I want to personally thank my supervisor, Nichole Caswell, for how supportive and genuine she’s been throughout my internship. Nichole’s knowledge and skills have supported me in becoming a better social worker and therapist, and her kindness has allowed me to gain confidence and connection as I navigate through the beginning stages of this field.

In addition to this, I would like to thank Rachel Millar, Reva Timbers, Rachel Keenan, and Christina Zahra Keating (and Michelle Potts, who was a previous intern here at Changing Tides) for their ongoing support. 

Although my internship has come to an end, my journey with Changing Tides Counselling will continue as I transition into a new role! I’ll be continuing as a mature student/qualifying therapist offering lower-cost services for those within the community. These past 8 months have propelled me into a field that I am incredibly excited to be part of and I look forward to continuing as a member of this team!