Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Certificate
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Department Head, Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions
Jessica Stepp MSW, CIAS III, CAC II, CDS II
Email: jstepp@nvit.ca
Phone: 604-602-3433
Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Certificate
Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Diploma
Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Advanced Diploma
This program is open to individuals interested in a career in Indigenous Health and Wellness and Addictions. In addition, individuals who are currently in Addiction fields such as Alcohol and Drug Counsellors or Addiction Workers will find a benefit in obtaining a credential and/or specialized professional development training to meet job requirements. The IHWA Program is developed and implemented based on Circle Learning principles, the Medicine Wheel concept, Red Road Philosophy, Experiential Learning, and the Seven Sacred Teachings integrated with local Traditional Knowledge and practices. Courses include a focus on healing through understanding the history of Indigenous colonization, complex trauma theory, genocide, and the reclaiming of self as an Indigenous person in a traditional spiritual way.
The goal is to provide opportunities for knowledge, growth, and personal development that facilitate the individual's self-empowerment. The program is a multi-entry, multi-exit credentialed learning experience; learners can earn a Certificate, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma that transfers at a 96 block credit into a Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) partnered with the University of the Fraser Valley. The program is fully accredited from years 1 to 4. Faculty have a minimum of a Masters Degree. They are certified through the Indigenous Certification Board of Canada (ICBOC), which is a pathway for student certification as an Addictions and Mental Health Worker.
Program Objectives:
Graduates of the Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Program should be able to:
- Practice in a wide variety of settings including Indigenous Treatment Centres, Friendship Centres, Indigenous Holistic Health Centres, First Nations Communities and Organizations;
- Understand the processes and interconnection, human, family, organizational, and community development in relation to Addictions;
- Understand how systemic forces influence Indigenous individuals, families, and community dynamics to both promote and promote self-determination, First Nations community relations, and relations with other Canadians through provincial and federal authorities relating to Addictions and Holistic Wellness;
- Describe, analyze and critique knowledge, as well as skills and approaches for Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addiction Workers and their practice;
- Students will be able to articulate personal and professional codes of conduct and ethics consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, values, and beliefs.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates of this program may find employment in the growing field of Indigenous Health and Wellness and Addiction Counselling. Their work will be mainly with adults and include working with children, youth, and families. Employment may be in agencies such as health centres and rehabilitation facilities, treatment centres, or First Nations agencies.
Guiding Principles for Personal Suitability:
Applicants will be required to demonstrate their suitability for Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions practice. The applicant will have a solid understanding of the Red Road Philosophy (1 year alcohol and drug free) as it pertains to the field of Addictions, Mental Health, personal development and Wellness.
Suitability will be assessed through a short interview with the Program Coordinator.
Program Description and Delivery:
The Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Certificate was developed in partnership with the Hey Way-Noqu' Healing Circle for Addictions Society (HHCAS). The program provides core skills required for Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Counsellor certification and includes Indigenous-specific content. The NVIT courses are University Transfer course credits, which are transferable and ladder able to related fields. This program will assist individuals who are current and/or prospective Wellness Workers, Alcohol and Drug Counsellors, and Addiction Workers that may need to obtain upgrading for certification. This program will provide continuing credit hours, up-grade, and professional development to meet job requirements and post-secondary credits for an incomplete plan. The program will be delivered over one academic year at the Burnaby Campus and in Community (under contract). Each course will consist of a minimum of 45 student/instructor contact hours that include assignments and examinations.
- The Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Certificate will be granted to students who have maintained a minimum GPA of 2.33 (C+) andcomplete 33 credits.
- The IHWA Certificate will ladder into the Diploma upon successful completion of the required 33 credits.
- The Diploma will ladder into the Advance Diploma upon successful completion of 33 credits. The Advanced Diploma will be awarded upon successful completion of 30 credits.
- In partnership with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), the IHWA program upon 96 completed credits will block transfer into the Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS), and a Degree will be awarded upon the completion of 30 UFV BIS credits.
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IHWA Courses
ACHD-126 - Self, Health, and WellnessACHD-129 - Introduction to Aboriginal Family & Counseling SystemsACHD-224 - Addictions and RecoveryADCT-101 - Couns Skills, Processes, Theory, MethodADCT-102 - Psychology, Understanding Human BehaviourADCT-103 - Introduction to Mental HealthADCT-104 - Case ManagementADCT-200 - Pharmacology & Psychoactive ChemicalsENGL-110 - English CompositionSOCI-133 - Group DynamicsSTSC-101 - Strategies for Success
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Course Listing for this program
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ACHD-126 - Credits: 3.000
Self, Health, and Wellness
This course focuses on personal care and individual responsibility for the practice of basic stress management as it relates to service delivery. Emphasis is placed on understanding balancing of professional and personal lives. Students explore the concept of a collective learning format, which recognizes the importance of traditional Aboriginal values in the healing process. The theory and practice of the medicine wheel for health and healing and exploring mind/body/spirit connection to illness and wellness is compared with contemporary methods of self-care. Ethical issues associated with self-care and practice are explored. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in Residential Schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and Residential Schools, including the many forms of abuse, on their own family systems.
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Prerequisites: Program admission or permission from the Department Head
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ACHD-129 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Aboriginal Family & Counseling Systems
The purpose of this course is to introduce family and counseling systems theory and practice from an Aboriginal perspective. Students will gain an understanding of the perspectives, theory methods, and practice of western counseling with an emphasis on Aboriginal worldviews, including traditional healing and ceremonies. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to learn counseling techniques both contemporary and traditional that are relevant and specific to survivors and intergenerational family members of residential schools.
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Prerequisites: Program admission or permission from the Dean
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ACHD-224 - Credits: 3.000
Addictions and Recovery
This course will examine the various forms of addictions including substance, solvents, and process addictions. Students will have the opportunity to examine addictions from a structural perspective and how colonialism, and residential schools have contributed to the social challenges of Aboriginal communities. Processes of recovery will be explored, including western models and traditional models. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to understand how residential schools have contributed to high levels of addictions in our communities, and how recovery can be effective by utilizing a blend of contemporary and traditional models.
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Prerequisites: ACHD 126
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ADCT-101 - Credits: 3.000
Couns Skills, Processes, Theory, Method
This course introduces students to several theoretical perspectives used in the counselling process. Students examine practice concepts such as problem solving, goal-setting, self-awareness and intervention methods. An Aboriginal perspective citing ways of knowing is explored as a mechanism in the process of problem identification. Students compare and contrast the ecological approach with traditional teaching of the medicine wheel as conceptual frameworks within the counseling process.
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Prerequisites: Program admission
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ADCT-102 - Credits: 3.000
Psychology, Understanding Human Behaviour
This course is an introduction to native psychology. It introduces the psychological understanding of human nature developed in tribal thought. These understandings include; 1) the development of the individual through the stages of life; 2) an introduction to ceremonial practices which promote healthy individuals, families systems, and communities; and 3) an introduction to the dynamics of native psychology as it relates to the client in recovery.
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Prerequisites: Program Admission
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ADCT-103 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Mental Health
This course introduces students to the principle of mental health and its association to the legacy of colonization. Students examine the colonization process as it relates to current high rates of depression, anxiety, alcoholism, suicide, and violence in Aboriginal communities. Students are required to use critical thinking and reasoning skills. An Aboriginal perspective guides the delivery of this course.
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Prerequisites: Program Admission
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ADCT-104 - Credits: 3.000
Case Management
The course will introduce students to management skills in the administration of caseloads, including the maintenance of appropriate records, developing procedures for diagnosing and planning, and for follow-up treatment after the client is released. This course will examine techniques that will ensure appropriate management of clients' treatment and of their files. This course will assist students towards balancing traditional Aboriginal and non - Aboriginal practices standards.
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Prerequisites: Program Admission
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ADCT-200 - Credits: 3.000
Pharmacology & Psychoactive Chemicals
This course is designed to assist participants in developing an understanding of pharmacology and to increase their familiarity with the signs and symptoms of psychoactive chemical problems. Participants will gain knowledge of the effects and interactions of psychoactive chemicals that lead to dependence or addiction: physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Participants will gain information in the area of pharmacology to assist in conducting effective assessments, counselling, treatment and referral of clients.
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Prerequisites: MATH 050, Foundations of Math 11 or MATH 057, and ENGL 060, or English 12, or English Studies 12, or English First Peoples 12 or equivalent or permission of instructor
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ENGL-110 - Credits: 3.000
English Composition
English 110 prepares students to write successful college essays. This course focuses on the writing process. Students will learn how to develop, organize, write, revise, document, and edit essays.
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Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12 or permission of instructor.
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SOCI-133 - Credits: 3.000
Group Dynamics
This course is designed to assist participants through a process of experiential learning that provides skill building activities in group dynamics. Group facilitative skills will be developed or strengthened for use in chemical addictions counselling. Students will be exposed to didactic presentations aimed at applying, integrating, and reinforcing group dynamics. Cultural diversity is an integral component of this course.
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Prerequisites: ENGL 060 or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12 or permission of instructor.
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STSC-101 - Credits: 3.000
Strategies for Success
This course introduces students to higher learning and academic culture. Students will explore a variety of topics that will help them connect to resources that will aid in their student success, including test-taking strategies, note-taking, time management, research, student responsibilities and ethics, learning styles, and setting educational goals that will contribute to lifelong learning. In addition, students will connect with other academic supports like the Librarian and Student Success Centre and have access to Elders who will introduce learners to some Indigenous cultural traditions to help students maintain a healthy balance during their studies.
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Current Course Offerings
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01 = Merritt Campus
V1 = Burnaby Campus
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Spring 2024 (January - April)
ACHD-129-V1ADCT-101-V1ADCT-104-V1ADCT-200-V1ENGL-110-01SOCI-133-V1STSC-101-V1
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Summer 2024 (May - August)
ADCT-102-V1ADCT-103-V1
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Fall 2024 (September - December)
ACHD-126-V1ACHD-224-V1ENGL-110-V1STSC-101-01STSC-101-V1
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Spring 2025 (January - April)
ACHD-129-V1ADCT-101-V1ADCT-104-V1ADCT-200-V1SOCI-133-V1
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Summer 2025 (May - August)
ADCT-102-V1ADCT-103-V1
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