Herzing’s Mental Health and Addictions Worker diploma is designed to turn out compassionate, capable professionals who are ready to make a positive impact in people’s lives.

One of the mentors guiding students through this journey is Laurie Imbeault. She’s an experienced educator and frontline practitioner with decades of work in community health, trauma-informed support, and addictions services.

Keep reading to learn more about Laurie’s teaching approach and how she helps students build the skills and resilience this field demands.

Q. Could you tell us about your education and professional background?

Laurie: I’ve been in this field for over 40 years.

I originally went to college to become an early childhood education specialist focusing on emotionally disturbed children. I spent several years teaching in a therapeutic play school type of setting.

I later continued my training and became a life skills instructor and parent educator. In that role, I designed and facilitated psycho-educational workshops for a large community health centre.

After that, I completed an Addictions and Community Services Worker diploma and got into relapse prevention, employment support, and counselling.

I’ve worked with clients who have anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation. I’ve also supported clients dealing with all kinds of addictions, including gambling and eating.

Q. Is this your first teaching role?

Laurie: I’ve been teaching at the college level since 2012. I joined Herzing in May 2025 when the college first launched the Mental Health and Addictions Worker program.

Q. What background do your students tend to have?

Laurie: Over the past 14 years, generally speaking, I’ve had two groups of students.

The first group are professionals from different countries who have already been working in social or human services. These students are upgrading their training with a Canadian college program.

The other group often has lived experience with mental health and addictions and wants to give back to the community and support vulnerable individuals.

Generally speaking, the program attracts compassionate people who want to make a difference in the world.

Q. What are the most valuable skills covered in the mental health and addictions program?

Laurie: Our program is very comprehensive. We look at addiction from a biological, psychological, and sociological perspective. We need to be able to understand why and how addictions and mental health problems start and then be able to assist the client with a variety of interventions.

The program includes courses in psychology, mental health, behavioural addictions, chemical addictions, anatomy, and sociology. It also covers counselling and therapy skills, trauma and addiction, relapse prevention, and cultural competency.

Q. What are some projects or assignments that students do to help them learn these concepts and practise these skills?

Laurie: I like the assignments and projects to be very practical in nature to help ground the students in some of the harsh realities of the profession and practise needed skills.

For instance, we do role plays around challenging subjects such as sexual assault, suicide, or other traumatic events. Students need to be able to use their active listening skills and pay calm, focused attention to the client. They also need tough empathy at times. Being able to handle challenging situations in a calm, grounded manner is essential.

Other assignments may ask the students to look at addictions from a biopsychosocial perspective. They must identify all of the demonstrated behaviours they see and understand what interventions will be needed.

Q. What kinds of jobs are students qualified for when they finish this program?

Laurie: With a diploma in mental health and addictions, you can look at community work. You may be called a mental health worker, shelter worker, community worker, addiction worker, or community counsellor. You can also go for positions like support worker, trauma worker, crisis worker, or street outreach worker.

Q. What should prospective students know up front?

Laurie: People don’t get into this profession for the glory. It’s a passion, a calling to aid our most vulnerable citizens.

I try to ground my students the best I can because going into this profession naïve is very dangerous both physically and psychologically. It’s a high-stress profession. If workers do not take the time to do proper self-care, they will burn out in their first year.

Our courses help ground the student. We give them the skills and knowledge they need to make a difference in people’s lives.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HERZING’S MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS PROGRAM

The Mental Health and Addictions Worker program is 20 months long and includes an eight-week internship for real work experience. Graduates can find work with shelters, care facilities, substance abuse agencies, and more.

Click below for more details about courses and chat live with an admissions advisor. We’re here to help!