Addiction Therapy at CAMH

The addiction therapy discipline at CAMH has full and part-time addiction therapists employed in a variety of positions. These include: program assistants, program workers, caseworkers, therapist 1 and therapist 2. Positions are based on educational levels, ranging from community college diplomas to Masters prepared training, in addition to skills and clinical experience. Addiction Therapists work primarily within the Addictions Programs that include assessment, brief interventions, cocaine treatment, day/residential services, opiate clinic and nicotine services. We also provide specialized treatment working with women, youth, drug treatment court, problem gamblers, concurrent disorders and the rainbow program, which serves lesbigay/transgendered populations.

In addition to clinical work, therapists are expected to provide student supervision, engage in program development activities and participate in research projects. Many staff are cross appointed with the education and training department and conduct workshops within CAMH, as well as to external providers.

There is Addiction Therapy Council at CAMH, chaired by the Addiction Therapist In-Chief and all addiction therapists are members of the Council. We organize monthly workshops and have guest speakers to discuss new advances in addiction treatment. In 2005 the discipline developed 3 strategic directions to focus on over the next few years, which include: improving interdisciplinary care, integrating evidence-based practices and enhancing therapist self-care.

While Addiction Therapy is an unregulated health care profession within the Canada, we encourage staff to become certified through the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF). For more information see www.caccf.ca. Within the gambling program, staff are expected to obtain certification with the Canadian Problem Gambling Certification Board (CPGCB) for more information see www.cpgcb.org.

In addition to addiction counselling certification, many staff members are regulated through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, www.ocswssw.org

Student Training Program
Addiction Therapy has a very active student training program. Each year we provide clinical placements to students from community colleges and universities. Some of the colleges we have affiliation agreements with are: Durham and Georgian College's Post-Diploma Addiction Counsellor Program, as well as CDI College's Addiction Program. Students can expect to learn a variety of skills including: assessment, referral, case management, discharge planning, as well as individual and group therapy. Students can use their clinical training hours towards certification with the CACCF and CPGCB.

We now require all of our addiction therapy students to meet the following criteria before they can be interviewed for placement opportunities.

1. Completed an undergraduate degree in a related health discipline field (i.e.: psychology, social work, health sciences, etc…)

2. The current diploma/degree that they are enrolled in should have a core set of courses designated to substance use and addiction treatment.

3. The minimum amount of placement hours is 300.

Student placements are organized through school field instructors who can forward student's resume and cover letter that should indicate the student's top three areas of interest. Two references should also be included in the package sent to the Educational Coordinator.

Contact Information
Dale Kuehl, MSW
Addiction Therapist In-Chief
416 535-8501, Ext. 7001
dale_kuehl@camh.net

Kristen Cleary, BA, MA
Addiction Therapy Educational Coordinator
416 535-8501, Ext. 6336
416-260-4170
kristen_cleary@camh.net