CIAC Canadian Certified Indigenous Addiction Counsellor

Work Experience

Experience or practice with a First Nations community in substance use disorders in each of the 12 core functions areas, can be made up of the following:

· Paid work experience
· Experience acquired by means of a supervised practicum/ internship, undertaken as part of a program of study.
· Proven experience as a volunteer in a Wellness/ Addiction Organization

Education

The applicant should have documented hours of education at the post secondary or training level in the following:

Addiction specific topics

  1. Introduction to Addictions
  2. Dynamics of Addictions
  3. Pharmacology
  4. Human Development
  5. Addiction Interventions
  6. Self, Health and Wellness
  7. Ethics / Cultural Values

Addiction – related topics

  1. HIV/AIDS
  2. Mental Health
  3. Inter generational Trauma
  4. Indigenous and Western Therapies
  5. Group Therapy
  6. Philosophies and theories of Aboriginal Healing
  7. Trauma treatment
  8. Relapse prevention
  9. Suicide
  10. Drugs / Substances
  11. Self – care
  12. Concurrent Disorders

Twelve core functions

  1. Screening
  2. Intake
  3. Assessment and Evaluation
  4. Treatment Planning
  5. Counselling: Individual, Group and Significant Other
  6. Case Management
  7. Client Education
  8. Referral
  9. Reports and Record Keeping
  10. Crisis Intervention
  11. Orientation Case Management
  12. Consultation with Other Professionals

General Skills and Knowledge

  1. Communications
  2. Group Facilitation
  3. Interviewing Techniques
  4. Conflict Resolution / Management

Supervised Clinical Training

Applicant requires supervised training during their experience hours. Practicum is optional, but the hours can be counted as hours of work experience

Cultural competencies

Cultural competencies are required:

1. Ability to respect, implement and incorporate First Nations/Métis/Inuit culture, beliefs, values and traditions in treatment, including separate and combined sweat ceremonies, coming of age ceremonies and all other cultural/ spiritual ceremonies.

2. Ability to support and assist client participation in traditional and cultural aspects of spiritual recovery.

Procedures

Having met the basic requirements, the candidate must:

1. Submit an application that outlines work experience, education, supervised clinical training, a signed Canon of Ethics, and the applicable administrative fee.

RE-CERTIFICATION

This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours.