Practicum in Addictions & Mental Health Counselling
One of the core assumptions of the Addictions and Mental Health Counselling Program is that supervised practice – counselling individuals, groups, and families experiencing addictions- and mental health-related issues – is critical for the development of the helping practitioner. The curriculum of the program reflects the primacy of supervised field practice through practicum experiences. Students in the program are required to complete one 4-month practicum course with the option to complete a second one as well. The practicum courses place students in supervised practice at field sites with addictions and mental health practitioners.
During the practicum course students spend approximately 32 hours per week at a community agency setting over the semester (13 weeks). Where possible, students are placed in community field site settings where they will experience addictions and/or mental health counselling practice in a combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, which may include prevention and health promotion, harm reduction, case management, group facilitation, outreach and community development initiatives in addition to assessment and counselling services. The practicum will also orient the student to ethical and professional practices.
Placement preparation begins early so it's important that students connect with the academic advisor to ensure they are on track to meet the practicum course pre-requisites. The Pre Placement Survey is required to begin the placement process and is distributed annually in November to the students beginning practicums in the following academic year.
The Practicum Directory gives students examples of past placements and potential placement possibilities. Every effort is made to accommodate the needs and preferences of individual students. Students may need to travel and relocate for non-local, out-of-town placements during the practicum semester. To date, practicums have occurred nationally in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and the Maritime provinces. The types of field placements are varied to meet student interests. An example of the broad range of placements utilized to date include (but are not limited to): government-based outpatient addictions counselling clinics; community-based non-profit counselling agencies; residential addictions treatment programs; substance use detoxification programs; mental health support agencies; elementary and middle-schools; facilities, schools, outreach programs for at-risk populations; harm reduction programs for marginalized populations. The AMHC Placement Directory is not exhaustive and students are welcome to do research into new potential agencies for placement. The AMHC Placement Directory is available to students who are eligible for practicum via the Moodle Course.
- Suicide Intervention Training
- Police Check (including vulnerable sector search) - If you require a police record check prior to your placement and would like a reduced rate, complete this form.
- Child Welfare Check
- Any Agency specific requirements
- UofL and Faculty of Health Sciences requirements
The Internship Manuals are available to students who are eligible for practicum via the Moodle Course.
Practicum placement sites are secured on a local, national, and international basis. International placements will only be considered for students taking Practicum II and who meet specific criteria. International placements have been located in the United States (Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Texas), the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies. There are many exciting opportunities for students who are interested in international addictions and mental health experience.
Students interested in international placement have to meet specific criteria to be considered for placement outside of Canada and should review the ADCS International Placement Criteria. Students should also review the Student Travel information via UofL Safety. International placements are more complicated than national or local placements. Students are recommended to start the placement process for international placements at least 11 months prior to placement start by contacting the Internship Specialist and following the AMHC International Placement Criteria as early as possible. Contact the Internship Specialist with any questions.