Admission Requirements

College Eligibility

• Secondary School Diploma (SSD) or equivalent; OR
• Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Certificate; OR
• General Educational Development (GED); OR
• Mature Student status (18 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Online Wonderlic Mature Student Test – Fee $100.00

Call the Admissions Office at 1 (800) 267-2577 for more details. Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.

Application Process
Program intake – Apply to this program by visiting our Registration page. If you are entering into this program as a mature student please attach your resume when submitting your registration information online.

Courses

• Understanding Substance Abuse
• Abnormal Psychology 
• Understanding Concurrent Disorders
• Sociology of Healthcare 
• Cognitive Development and Mental Health Across the Lifespan
• Technology for Success Microsoft Office and 365 
• Record Keeping and Documentation
• Crisis Intervention 
• Client Referral, Screening, Assessment, Treatment Planning 
• Program Development, Implementation and Evaluation
• Case Management
• Counselling Principles
• Group Facilitation
• Medications (Pharmacology)
• Prevention and Health Promotion
• Family and Social Support
• Trauma-Specific Care
• Issues and Ethics in Healthcare and Self Care Practices
• Community Development and Outreach
• Practicum Preparation
• Practicum Placement

Every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of information provided on our website. The College reserves the right to modify any course, program, curriculum, fee, timetable, or campus location at any time.

Register for this course.

Course Descriptions

Understanding Substance Abuse – 60 Hours
Students will explore a spectrum of substance use disorders and the compounds commonly misused. Topics include anabolic steroids, inhalants, infectious diseases associated with substance misuse, and the medical marijuana debate.  Students will also learn about synthetic drugs; preferred language in referring to those who struggle with substance use disorders as well as substance use and misuse in older adults.

Abnormal Psychology – 45 Hours
Students will learn the interactions of various forces that contribute to psychopathology. Balancing biological, psychological, social, and cultural approaches, this subject takes an integrative approach with a modern, and scientifically valid method for studying abnormal psychology.

Understanding Concurrent Disorders – 60 Hours
Students will examine concurrent disorders and review treatments options for substance use. This course will identify the relationship between substance abuse and psychiatric diagnosis. Students will also learn about the impact on families and social supports and explore treatment and support for people affected by concurrent disorders.

Sociology of Healthcare – 45 Hours
Students will learn the three main areas in the field: the social patterning of health and illness, the social construction of health and illness, and the social organization of health care. Students will be introduced to structural functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism, and recent theories such as Foucaultian theory, postmodernism, Bourdiesian theory and sociology of the body.

Cognitive Development and Mental Health Across the Lifespan – 45 Hours
Students will learn the biopsychosocial framework of lifespan psychology.  Students will explore the effects of technology and social media and discuss mental health and drug addictions within the LGBTQ and Indigenous communities. Students will also explore changing family dynamics,  and review physician assisted dying.

Technology for Success Microsoft Office and 365 – 60 Hours
Students  will be provided with the resources and guidance to develop skills in Microsoft Office 2016 and 365 applications, focusing on Windows 10, and the basics of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  Students will be provided with guided practice as well as independent projects, improve it projects and challenge projects to development and enhance Microsoft Office 2016 proficiency.

Record Keeping and Documentation – 45 Hours
Students will learn to record all client related information in a professional manner that reflects organizational protocols, established regulatory practices and record keeping guidelines. This course will examine the use of appropriate terminology and approved abbreviations in client records and documentation. This course will also identify the boundaries of confidentiality and the circumstances in which information can be shared to maintain client confidentiality.

Crisis Intervention – 60 Hours
In this course students will learn the task model to provide systematic interventions way to individuals in crisis. Students will identify and explore risk factors, signs and symptoms associated with suicide, mental health disorders and other substance use-related harms. This course will also examine essential components of evidence-informed models of crisis prevention action plans.

Client Referral, Screening, Assessment, Treatment Planning – 60 Hours
Students will explore the client referral, assessment, and treatment planning process to ensure the delivery of effective and appropriate supports to clients. Students will also learn to collaboratively develop a treatment plan based on referral source, screening and assessment findings to reflect the client’s needs, strengths and goals. This course will also examine applicable legislation, guidelines, procedures and protocols about client confidentiality and professional ethics.

Program Development, Implementation and Evaluation – 60 Hours
Students will explore the essential framework for developing and implementing new substance use programs, modifying existing programs to respond to identified needs and evaluating the outcomes of new or revised programs.

Case Management – 45 Hours
Students will learn a step-by-step guide through the case management process, from intake and assessment to referrals and termination.  Students will also explore current practice trends and considerations, current legal issues, and ethics and ethical issues.  Students will also focus on the importance of maintaining accurate client information and collaborating with other service providers.

Counselling Principles – 75 Hours
Students will learn to delivery a comprehensive range of evidence-informed counselling styles, techniques and methodologies aimed at improving the overall well-being and mental health of individual clients.

Group Facilitation – 45 Hours
Students will examine evidence-informed approaches to work effectively with substance use, mental health issues and concurrent disorders clients in group settings. This course will identify the role of group intervention approaches in working with clients and review observations of group dynamics.

Medications (Pharmacology) – 45 Hours
Students will learn the principles of pharmacology and calculations in a simplified step-by-step process. Students will also learn medication preparation, supplies, and specific information on each route of administration by following administration checklists allow the learner to put the knowledge into practice. Students will also learn how to organize drugs by classifications including their purpose, side effects, cautions, interactions, and contraindications.

Prevention and Health Promotion – 60 Hours
This course will provide a foundation in health promotion and enable students to understand the process of planning, implementing, and assessing programs in the real world. Students will learn to engage with clients, their families and their communities to encourage the adoption of knowledge, behaviours, values and attitudes that promote personal and community well-being.

Family and Social Support – 45 Hours
Students will learn how counselors work with families where a family member has an addiction or mental health issue.  Students will explore several different family structure models and theories, and how counselors can use them with their clients. The main focus of the process will focus on working with families must be how the client and families can make systemic changes within their family structure.

Trauma-Specific Care – 45 Hours
Students will be provided with an overview of trauma response and treatment.  Students will explore the assessment and treatment of various forms of posttraumatic distress disorder and interventions that stress a non-pathologizing, growth-oriented and hopeful view of recovery from trauma.

Issues and Ethics in Healthcare and Self Care Practices – 45 Hours
Students will learn the basis for discovering their own guidelines for helping within the broad limits of professional codes of ethics and divergent theoretical positions.  Students will develop their critical thinking skills when dealing with ethics issues and focus on self-care strategies.

Community Development and Outreach – 45 Hours
Students will explore the issues facing Canadian social work, human services, and community health professionals. Students will learn to identify the issues related to change and discover how they can become effective agents of promoting community change; and how local actions bringing clients, families, and other community members into an active role in building a healthier community for themselves, their families, and their neighbours.

Practicum Preparation – 10 Hours
Students will review the behavioural and technical competencies and the skills passbook in preparation for their placement activities in a Mental Health and Addictions setting.

Practicum Placement – 300 Hours
Students are provided with an experiential opportunity to practice emerging skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to be an effective helping professional in a professional mental health setting. Students complete a field placement in a mental health and/or addiction services agency. The application of classroom theory and supervision in an inter-disciplinary agency setting assists students in their preparation to pursue a career in Mental Health and Addictions.

Fees & Expenses

• Tuition Fee: $5,131.00
• Textbook Fee: $2,000.00
• Registration Fee: $100.00
• Advance Standing Fee: $100.00
• Shipping Fee: $61.00

Total Fees: $7,392.00