Addiction Studies: Overview
Gain an understanding of several topics related to addiction, including theories and models of substance abuse, indicators of dependence, and intervention and treatment strategies. Examine the stages of change model, motivational interviewing and its application to the addictions field. An overview of the other courses in the program including adolescents, prevention, family and drugs will also be covered.

Subject (for registration): Addiction Studies

Addiction Prevention
Prevention programs are designed to prevent or reduce the risk of developing substance abuse problems. Examine models and critical success factors of prevention programming, health promotion and harm reduction.

Subject (for registration): Addiction Studies

Drugs and the Brain
Acquire basic knowledge of drug classification systems and their physiological effects. Examine drug dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, methods of administration and motivating factors for drug use. Topics include simple pharmacology and biological factors of the recovery process.

Subject (for registration): Addiction Studies

Understanding Adolescents and Addiction
Work towards understanding adolescents and the unique considerations for this age group and addiction. Examine the biological, cognitive and social development of adolescents. Consider substance use and abuse through the adolescent lens, and learn more about the important considerations for treatment and intervention with this population.

Subject (for registration): Addiction Studies

Addiction and the Family
Examine the nature and structure of families, and the potential impacts on the family unit and individual family members when a family member has an addiction. An introduction to how families influence and are influenced by addiction, the power of the family in recovery, and current recommendations for best practices will be reviewed.

Subject (for registration): Addiction Studies

Addiction and Concurrent Mental Health Disorders
Gain skills and knowledge to better identify and understand people with concurrent disorders. Examine the prevalence of concurrent disorders and learn about the most commonly assessed mental health and addiction related issues. Explore assessment, treatment and recovery issues for the individual who is dealing with recovery from concurrent disorders.

Subject (for registration): Addiction Studies

Ben Gallivan, MA, R. Psych.

Ben Gallivan has an undergraduate degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology. He is a Registered Psychologist in the province of Alberta and has worked for over 17 years in the addiction and mental health field. Aside from instructing in both the Addiction Studies and Children's Mental Health Certificate Programs, Ben also works for Athabasca University, supervises an addiction and mental health treatment program for Alberta Health Services and runs a successful private practice.

Over two decades Ben has presented at international conferences, taught both classroom and online courses on a variety of subjects, and mentored many emerging therapists. Ben is currently a member of the Psychologists Association of Alberta and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. In his free time Ben enjoys traveling and wandering through the hills with family and friends.

Tami Reid, MA, R. Psych.

Tami has a graduate degree in Counselling Psychology and has been working in the field of addictions and mental health for more than 20 years. After 7 years working in an inpatient mental health setting, Tami began to transition through roles in school- and community-based addiction and mental health services with the former Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Tami has engaged with clients in her private practice and she currently supervises a team of addiction counsellors providing outpatient services with Alberta Health Services.

Tami is a Registered Psychologist in the province of Alberta and a member of the Psychologist Association of Alberta. Over the years, Tami has supported the field of addictions by developing curriculum, facilitating professional development courses and supporting the development and implementation of National and Provincial initiatives related to Substance Abuse Prevention. Tami has worked in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA) and since 2014 has been a working member of the Canadian Sport and Youth Substance Abuse Prevention network.

Lorell Thoms, BA, BSW, RSW

Lorell is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) who started her career in the 1990s as a client care counsellor at AIDS Calgary. In her first experiences as a counsellor, Lorell was introduced to the health promotion perspective and found the approach fit well with her personal perspective on change and individual choice.

When she began her career with AADAC Adult Services, Lorell was introduced to the stages of change model and motivational interviewing. These approaches have enhanced Lorell's ability to engage clients and have been effective in her work in addictions and corrections. Group facilitation is her favorite means of working with folks.

Prior to working as the program coordinator and a program facilitator at Calgary Correctional Centre, Lorell worked for Corrections Services Canada as a program officer and a motivational interviewing trainer.

In more recent years, she completed the Adult Educator program at MRU, the Indigenous Canada certificate from UofA, the Addiction Care and Treatment Online course with UBC, and has been trained by CMHA as a Trainer for “The Working Minds” program. The Working Mind (TWM) is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace.

Cheryl Houtekamer, MPH

Cheryl Houtekamer has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in public health. She has worked with children, youth and families, and those who serve them, for over 30 years. For the past 15 years she has supervised a team of health promotion facilitators working in youth substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion within Calgary and the surrounding area.

Over the course of her career, Cheryl has served on a number of committees, coalitions, and advisory groups. She has presented at international, national, and provincial levels, as well as contributed to curriculum and program development related to youth substance abuse treatment and prevention. Cheryl regularly facilitates professional development courses and training for numerous organizations, committees and events. She enjoys instructing and has taught both in-person and online courses in public health and addiction prevention. In her spare time, Cheryl participates in a range of physical activities, and enjoys gardening, travel and photography.

Vicki Park, BEd/BPE, MA, RPC, CT

Vicki was a teacher for almost 20 years, spending much of that time specializing in at-risk youth before obtaining a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and focusing on full time mental-health treatment. She is a passionate advocate for taking a trauma-informed approach not just in the classroom and in the counselling space but in every aspect of life and this is what led her to grow her understanding of the origins and impacts of addiction and the implications for treatment.

As a Counselling Therapist and a Registered Professional Counsellor, in addition to having her own private practice Vicki works at a non-profit, supporting parents in their own journey to mental wellness as they endeavor to be the parents they believe their children deserve. This often includes addressing histories of trauma and/or addiction. In both her day job and in her private practice, she strives to integrate the principles of trauma-informed practice into treatment approaches regardless of the presenting issues.

When she is not working, Vicki enjoys time outside with her family, hiking, gardening, camping, and reading.

"Because the instructors are currently working in the addictions field in the 'real world,' they brought a distinct measure of authenticity to the courses. . . . I liked the fact that some of the discussions were directly related to current trends and issues, for example, the pandemic and its affect on substance use and abuse." — Duane Mondor

"I felt the Addictions study course had great material, it was current and relative to the industry. The instructors were great - with constructive feedback. I would recommend this course to anyone in the industry." — Peter L. Sheridan

Article about the Addiction Studies program

Article about the Addiction Studies program