Addictions Counselling is a diploma program. It provides the knowledge and skill development required to perform the functions of an entry level addictions counsellor, community prevention worker or other human service program providers. The skills and knowledge presented in the program have been acquired and sanctioned by the Addictions Counselling Program Advisory Committee, the Addictions Professionals Association of Saskatchewan, and the Canadian Addictions Counsellor Certification Federation (CACCF). You will learn how to: use interpersonal communication skills (including assertiveness and conflict resolution) use an integrated case management approach with addicted clients and their families while following the best practices philosophy facilitate brief screenings, comprehensive assessments, treatment plans and referrals use one-one counselling, suicide intervention and crisis intervention skills in extensive experiential learning lab settings that are monitored and coached by skilled faculty manage client resistance and ambivalence using motivational interviewing plan, prepare and deliver public education and health promotion sessions within communities plan, prepare and deliver community mobilization, prevention and community development projects conduct group counselling based on a 120-hour skill development lab that will include assessing group development, facilitating third party mediations and intervening and facilitating various levels of critical incidents use various administrative skills (including working within various human service agencies and community boards) prepare research papers and analyze evidence based documents You will also learn about specialty areas. These include: cross cultural issues gambling gender issues seniors pharmacology drug abuse history in communities adolescents community development and health promotion additional knowledge in one-one counselling using technqiues such as Reality Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Focusing, Neuro-linguistic Programming and Transactional Analysis You will also practice working in a detoxification setting (2-week practicum) and within an addictions program (such as an in-patient, out-patient, community development/prevention setting - 12-week practicum). Graduates are eligible for membership in the Saskatchewan Association of Chemical Dependency Workers (SACDW) and will qualify for the Canadian Contingent Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellor designation (CCADC), which is the first step towards full certification as an internationally certified alcohol and drug abuse counsellor (ICADC). They may also apply their training hours towards the knowledge and skills required for full ICADC certification as an addictions counsellor or prevention worker through the Canadian Addictions Counsellor Certification Federation (CACCF).

Graduates have found employment opportunities within the federal and provincial governments, non-profit organizations, private industry, the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, community development and prevention programs, the Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan, and within school settings. For more information about career opportunities related to this program, contact Student Employment Services at the campus nearest you.