Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker Archives

The end of a program, the beginning of my journey as a CMHAW

Even at the end of the program, I felt like I was running around the Stenberg campus to print that last essay or those nearly unending PowerPoint notes. I laugh because after all this time, I still strut down the halls hunting down my printed documents. Yup, I confess to occasionally sending them to a printer I believe exists in…

From Summer to Autumn

I can’t believe that fall is upon us once again. I hope you all had a wonderful summer. This time last year I was in New York, lost on subways, strolling through Central Park, and thinking about starting the CMHAW (Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker) program. What was I getting myself into? Would I enjoy the program? I wonder…

Experiencing Vancouver Through Volunteering

After hearing a moving speech from two high school students in January 2018, the idea of volunteering around Vancouver for an entire year hit me and I thought it was just that, an idea. As I started doing research and meeting with people, it began to feel a little more realistic. What held me back was time and overthinking the…

Mock Interviews and their impact on students

Applying new skills I often catch myself using the counselling skills I am learning in my Community Mental Health and Addictions program on my family and friends. Whether over the phone, through text or in person, I imagine I am in dialogue with a client. My sister could be telling me, “I despise it when people text and drive. It’s…

Self-care and Mental Health

As I continue to gain exposure to different communities requiring support workers, volunteers and individuals who have insight into the causes and effects of mental health and addictions, I am driven to self-reflect a little more. As a Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker student, I’ve realized I have blogged about trauma, addictions, the importance of Aboriginal history, school life…

Aboriginal History – Cultural Implications and Impact

I heard Dina Lambright speak at Stenberg’s “Be the Change” conference back in April. When I was told she was going to be our Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker instructor for our Aboriginal Studies course I was thrilled. I enjoyed her presentation at the conference as it was very informative, heartwarming and honest. On top of it all, Dina…

Integrated Practice Education – CMHAW Practicum #2

Here we are halfway through the Community Mental Health and Addictions Worker program. Recently, my classmates and I went on our second CMHAW practicum. It reminded me of my first practicum in mid-December last year, when I felt a little anxious. I’d walk to the Vancouver Second Mile Society on those classic gloomy Vancouver days, almost tasting winter on my…

Be the Change: Final Thoughts

By the riverside As much as I enjoyed all of the empowering and insightful speeches at Stenberg’s Be the Change Conference, it was nice taking a break with a few of my classmates, walking along the riverside and sharing our thoughts about the messages being delivered. One thing we talked about was the free soup kitchen lunch provided by Lookout…

Be the Change: Resistance, Resilience & Recovery

Speakers go up and come down from the podium, each sharing something profound and encouraging at the Be the Change conference. Despite disheartening statistics, every person sitting in the Anvil Centre felt hope that things will get better. I believe it to be important to remain hopeful – hope is the very reason we are all gathered here. Show up…

Be the Change: Homelessness

I sit in my seat and clap my hands as the speaker, Judy Graves, comes down from the podium at Stenberg’s Be The Change conference. What she shared was relevant and insightful. The word that I grasped onto was “change”. What does that word mean to me? It could mean many things but I try my best to relate it to…

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