The Profession

of Addiction Counselling

* ACTA was initially developed at the government's behest under the Mental Health Service Protection Act in December  2018 to prepare a regulatory college for three distinct professions: professions of Counselling Therapists, Addiction Counsellors, and Child and Youth Care Counsellors. On March 1, 2024, the Government announced a change in direction to regulate counsellors with an expanded College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). CAP has confirmed that it has agreed to assume responsibility for developing a potential pathway for the regulation of graduate-trained Counselling Therapists in Alberta. 

With no current pathway for Addiction Counsellors to be regulated, ACTA has paused accepting new Addiction Counsellor applications. However, some Addiction Counsellors remain in ACTA and agree to uphold the profession's professional standards and ethics as set and enforced by ACTA.

Professional Standards, Codes of Ethics and Policies are for public protection and to guide the safe delivery of health care.

ACTA’s mandate has been to prepare the professional standards and codes of ethics, together with Alberta Health where appropriate, which has been completed.

The Government of Alberta is responsible for the proclamation of the regulations so professional standards, codes of ethics, and entry-to-practice requirements can be approved and enforced.

Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics

The Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, and Advice to the Profession guide the  professional counselling relationship and outline the code of conduct necessary for the safe and effective  provision of professional services across various practice settings, areas of practice, and client populations.

 

What is an Addiction Counsellor?

In their practice, addiction counsellors do one or more of the following: (a) within a counselling relationship, assess, guide, support and treat individuals or groups of individuals with addictions to enhance, maintain and promote health and wellness; (b) engage in education with respect to the practice of addiction counselling; (c) engage in research related to the practice of addiction counselling; (d) provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations.

The therapeutic counselling process is characterized by the application of clinical assessment and evidence-based methodologies to enhance mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being, and to support safety and change within a defined therapeutic counsellor-client relationship. Addiction Counsellors utilize a diverse range of modalities and expertise to address client issues related to addiction. Addiction Counsellors work with adults, adolescents, children, couples, families and groups. They provide culturally appropriate and competent care in alignment with their standards of practice and code of ethics. 

Addiction Counsellors commonly hold a bachelors degree or diploma in addiction counselling. Due to Alberta’s unregulated environment, there are Addiction Counsellors who have acquired their competencies through diverse avenues and levels of education, training, experience, and supervision.