Addiction Counsellor (Criminology and Psychology, BA)

Nipun Chautani, Barrantes & Associates Inc.

By Barkha Saini, Career Centre Peer

Nipun graduated Laurier with a double major in Criminology and Psychology. His initial plans were to get into policing, however his interest in the mental health industry arose from growing up in a developing country where mental health has mostly taken a backseat to physical health, and he was keen on helping to break the stigma and explore the niche area of clinical practice that connects substance abuse and mental health.

Nipun currently serves as a freelance Behaviour Associate at Barrantes & Associates Inc., where he collects data to monitor the effectiveness of interventions, implements evidence-based behaviour management strategies, advocates for individuals with behavioural challenges to ensure they receive appropriate support, and provides urgent response services for clients in crisis. Prior to his freelance role, he was an Addiction Counsellor with Stonehenge Therapeutic Community. This role required him to work 10 hours a day while holding group therapy sessions with clients making their way to sobriety. These sessions are held within a therapeutic community with structured and supportive formats addressing the needs of individuals undergoing detoxification. The sessions allow the individuals to process and express emotions related to detox, recovery challenges, past experiences with different substances and aspirations for the future with an emphasis on emotional awareness and regulation. Other responsibilities included facilitating constructive dialogue, ensuring safe and confidential space, promoting active participation, offering clinical perspectives, and encouraging a strength-based approach to recovery. In addition to this, Nipun managed documentation, formed safety plans and worked on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) with clients new to treatment.

Nipun finds true peace of mind by managing somebody’s emotions during stressful situations and delicate psychotic episodes. He finds his work to be rewarding when he witnesses a client’s progress, successes, and transformations on the journey to recovery. He values the opportunity to build strong therapeutic relationships and supports individuals through their challenges. Nipun most enjoys the aspect of continuous learning, which involves staying current with advancements in the mental health field and the latest approaches in addiction treatment.

The work of an addiction counsellor can at times be stressful due to the emotional intensity of the work. When feeling emotionally drained, Nipun points out it is important to seek support or supervision to process challenging cases and gain perspective. Additional challenges include dealing with a client's resistance to change or witnessing a relapse, which can feel discouraging. Some other difficulties include ethical dilemmas with confidentiality and navigating potential conflicts of interest. In this line of work, it is very important to prioritize self-care and healthy boundaries to avoid burnout and effectively deal with the demanding nature of the job.

According to Nipun, crucial skills to succeed in this position are compassion, active listening, clinical knowledge, cultural competence, boundary setting and resilience. The ability to empathize with clients and show genuine compassion are fundamental to addiction counselling. One must be an effective non-judgemental listener while assessing client’s concerns, emotions, and needs. Additionally, a strong foundation in treatment modalities such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and relapse prevention strategies are vital in developing effective treatment plans. Awareness and sensitivity to cultural diversity is useful to provide culturally competent care to clients. Moreover, clear professional boundary setting to maintain therapeutic relationships aids in ethical practice and client safety.

Becoming an Addictions Counsellor or a Behavioural Associate is not something one stumbles into. It requires a significant amount of work through volunteering, certifications, and supervisions. Nipun volunteered at a Learning Centre for developmentally challenged youth during his university years. Upon graduating, he started working as a mental health counsellor at a summer camp in BC where he honed his behaviour pattern recognition and conflict resolution skills. Following that, he transitioned into the role of an Addictions and Mental Health Counsellor in a group home setting in Ontario. Here he delved into dialectical behavioural therapy and clinical supervision, which significantly broadened his clinical toolkit. Upon completion of his contract, he took the role of a Youth Support Worker where he focused on fostering stability, teaching life skills, facilitating recreational activities, offering guidance, and providing practical support to homeless and mentally challenged youth. Nipun also gained mentors as a Psychology Research Assistant where he conducted research, literature reviews and report writing.

To excel in the mental health industry, you must:

• Have a relevant bachelor’s degree such as psychology, social work, counselling, or other disciplines providing foundational understanding of behaviours, mental health, and counselling techniques. Take courses related to substance abuse, behavioural disorders and counselling skills while considering specializing in addiction therapy if feasible.
• Keep adding relevant skills through trainings and certifications such as Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Crisis Intervention, Crisis Response Planning, Opioid Harm Reduction, Fire Safety, Standard First Aid & CPR, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), Psychological First Aid, etc.
• Some organizations offering valuable certifications/resources would be Canadian Red Cross, Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI), Crisis Prevention Institute, Living Works, Safe Management Group, Ontario College of Social Workers, and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), Ontario Society of Psychotherapist (OSP), etc.
• Register in regulatory bodies like Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
• Work/volunteer in relevant roles to gain the required skills and knowledge.
• Consider pursuing a master’s degree in this discipline for upper-level positions.
• Attend events through the Ontario Psychological Association, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) conferences.

Some environments you can work in include community health centres to deliver integrated care for addiction and mental issues, addiction treatment programs at hospitals, rehabilitation programs at correctional facilities or setting up your own private practice. A similar occupation to Nipun’s would be of a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) where one applies principles of behaviour analysis to assess, develop and implement behaviour intervention plans for individuals with diverse needs. In Ontario, BCBA’s play a vital role in supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

Nipun strongly encourages students to invest in cultivating relationships with professors, advisors and peers and remain active in your volunteer initiatives. The relationships and experiences he developed were crucial in helping him to formulate his path!