Mental Health and Addictions - Associate Certificate
Overview
If you are already studying or working in the human service or health care fields, you can earn an associate certificate in Mental Health and Addictions to take your career to a new level. Focused on the specific needs of clients coping with mental health and substance use challenges, you’ll be ready for a variety of workplace settings and challenges.
In this program, you will complete two online courses that examine current research about the causes and treatment of mental health and substance use challenges for marginalized populations and participate in a two-day experiential workshop focused on motivational interviewing skills.
This certificate is designed for those who wish to focus their practice in the area of mental health and addictions and may be of interest to:
- Human Services students
- Human Services workers
- Degree holders looking for work-related skills and/or credentials
- Nurses wishing to practice in the area of Mental Health and Addictions
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate professionalism in practice consistent with the code of ethics and standards of practice of their respective disciplines
- Use effective interpersonal skills, including active listening, collaboration, self-awareness and conflict resolution within multi-faceted roles and contexts
- Understand and respect cultural differences and multiple ways of knowing
- Practice from an ethic of inclusivity
- Establish and maintain wellness strategies to assure work/life balance both personally and professionally
- Engage in critical thinking, problem-solving and reflective practice
Admission Requirements
Completion of the Health and Human Services diploma or two years of a relevant program; or completion of a certificate program in Health and Human Services or relevant field and two years of experience in the field; or five years of experience in the Health and Human Services field and permission from the instructor and chair of Health and Human Services.
- English Studies 12 or equivalent, with a minimum of 60% or higher
The below listed documents need to be submitted to apply for this program.
If the admission requirement for the certificate or diploma was completed at Selkirk College, the below information is not required.
- A letter from the applicant’s employer stating their position and employment history
- Resumé
- Official copy of secondary and post-secondary transcripts
- Two letters of reference
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. CERTIFICATE, ADVANCED CERTIFICATE& DIPLOMA PROGRAMS
Students applying to the diploma program immediately following completion of a Human Services Certificate Program, may request that the contents of their file be transferred.
2. PART-TIME STUDIES IN HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS
a) Acceptance to an individual course does not constitute admission to the program. All program admissions will be considered according to Part I, A: Admissions Requirements.
b) The ECCE, EACSW, SSW Certificate programs and the Human Services Diploma program may be completed on a part-time basis depending on number of spaces available. Students choosing to complete a program on a part time basis must meet with a program coordinator, councillor and/or School Chair at the time of acceptance to plan a course of studies.
c) Students who have been accepted for part time studies and are in good standing academically will normally be accepted upon re-application to the next term. Refer to Part II, Section B, Promotions re: academic requirements.
In order to receive your credential in your program, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 and a grade of a “C” or better in all semester courses.
In order to graduate with Honors students must meet all program requirements with no grades less than a B- and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Courses
ADD384 - Addictions Theory and Practice
ADD 384 Addictions Theory and Practice is designed to provide students with an overview of current and emerging research/expertise in the field. The course will cover diverse definitions and understandings of addiction, as informed by current findings in the fields of neuroscience and social science. Pharmacology basics and the biological, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental dimensions of addiction will be reviewed from a number of perspectives. Current research on attachment, trauma and brain development will be examined in relation to addiction from both developmental and environmental perspectives. A critical examination of the link between policy and practice provides context for the emergence of recovery strategies such as harm reduction and motivational techniques. Special attention will be given to the role of colonization and stigma as it is experienced through ethnicity, gender and culture, and the important role of advocacy in this context.
HSER257 - Mental Health Issues: Practical Responses
HSER 257 Mental Health Issues: Practical Responses provides instruction in a variety of rehabilitative and treatment modalities used in work with individuals facing mental health challenges. Attitudes toward mental health and substance use problems and how they impact helper effectiveness are explored in a supportive milieu. Evidence-based practices such as Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Harm Reduction are used as frameworks for the development of skills and knowledge. Students are introduced to strategies for overcoming stigma and supporting client empowerment in a variety of community and facility settings.
HSER600 - Motivational Interviewing - Brief Interventions and Support Strategies Workshop
HSER 600 Motivational Interviewing - Brief Interventions and Support Strategies. This 12-hour lecture format exponential workshop is designed to provide practitioners and students with basic Motivational Interviewing Skills in order to enhance the effectiveness of their work with both mental health, addiction and concurrent conditions in a variety of settings. Motivational Interviewing is a directive, clients centered counseling style for eliciting behaviour change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. It is both client-centered and goal-directed, and complements most theoretical approaches and styles in the helping professions. This has 2 six hour modules face-to-face.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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