Mental Health & Addiction Worker
Counsellors with training in mental health and addictions are highly sought after. This program will prepare you for employment in this meaningful, in-demand field. You will train to work in mental health and addiction-specific settings including a broad spectrum of social and health agencies. Learn in class, in the field and through independent learning under the skilled instruction of our professors. The College collaborates with agencies across the province and has strong partnerships with local institutions.
This program has a field placement component.
Interprofessional Education at Canadore College
Program Prerequisites
OSSD or equivalent Grade 12 Compulsory English (ENG4C or ENG4U)
Other Requirements
A completed Canadore College Health Centre form including medical history, immunization record, Hepatitis B vaccination, and a two-step Tuberculosis (TB) test is required. Please see the online student registration handbook for more information.
If you have been convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code for which you have not been pardoned, you may be ineligible for field/clinical placements. A current police check may be required and can be obtained from the police department upon payment of a fee; all associated costs will be the responsibility of the student.
Students may require a Standard First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate to be eligible for some field placements. All associated costs are the responsibility of the student.
Semester One:
CMM125 College Communication I
DAC180 Substance Abuse I
HSP105 Interviewing I
HSP150 Multiculturalism in Canada
PSY100 Foundations of Psychology
SOC100 Foundations of Sociology
SSW100 History and Philosophy of Social Work
HSP194 Workplace Skills
Semester Two:
CMM230 Writing and Speaking to Persuade
DAC110 Family Dynamics of Chemical Dependency
HSP104 Human Service and the Law
HSP106 Acts, Policies, and Procedures for Native People
HSP160 Interviewing II
MHA231 Fundamentals in Mental Health Recovery
PSY240 Foundations of Psychology II
SOC220 Sociology of Social Problems
Semester Three:
HSP294 Placement Preparation
HSP170 Evaluating Information
HUM219 Group Work
MHA232 Recovery Strategies for Addiction
MHA233 Recovery Strategies for Mental Health
MHA234 Crisis Intervention
MHA235 Pharmacology for Mental Health and Addiction Workers
Semester Four:
MHA241 Relapse Prevention and Wellness
MHA242 Concurrent Disorders
MHA243 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
MHA244 The Legacy of Trauma
MHA245 The Accountable Professional
MHA246 Field Placement
- Addiction treatment centres and prevention programs
- Mental health facilities
- Hospitals
- Correctional facilities
- Recovery or rehabilitation homes
- Youth facilities
- Foundations of psychology and sociology
- Crisis intervention
- Recovery strategies and relapse prevention
- Abnormal psychology
- Sociology of social problems
- Dynamics of chemical dependency
- Nipissing Detoxification and Substance Abuse programs - North Bay General Hospital
- North East Mental Health Centre - North Bay Campus
- Various addiction and mental health agencies in North Bay and across Ontario
For this eight-week field placement a security check may be required. This may be obtained from local police departments and is at the student’s expense.
Canadore College reserves the right to place students in any clinical or field placement or combination of placements that are determined to be appropriate. Students must be prepared to travel to and from placements and/or relocate at their own expense for all or part of the placement.
Students who register in this program who have been convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code for which they have not been pardoned may be denied the opportunity to participate in field practicum and/or secure employment upon graduation within some service areas. You are invited to consult a program professor or Canadore’s Counselling Office about any concerns you may have.









