From Harm to Healing: Modern Approaches in Addiction Psychology
This full-day workshop will provide psychologists with an in-depth, practical understanding of addiction and its intersection with trauma, mental health, and functional recovery. Participants will explore addiction through a biopsychosocial lens, examining the roles of chemical coping, attachment injury, and maladaptive behaviours in the development and maintenance of substance use disorders.
The session will cover core counselling strategies in addiction treatment, including relapse prevention planning, recovery-oriented approaches, and practice considerations for working with complex clinical presentations. Participants will also gain knowledge of harm reduction frameworks, options for home detox, and the role of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in treatment planning. Additionally, the workshop will explore emerging and novel approaches to addiction care, offering practical tools and evidence-informed strategies to enhance clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the relationship between addiction, coping mechanisms, and chemical coping.
- Identify how trauma and attachment disruption contribute to substance use and relapse.
- Develop individualized relapse prevention and recovery plans with clients.
- Apply core principles and best practices in addictions counselling across treatment contexts.
- Understand the clinical application of harm reduction, such as OAT.
- Explore novel and integrative approaches to addictions treatment in psychological care.
Intended Audiences
This workshop is designed for registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, and graduate-level mental health professionals who provide, or intend to provide, clinical services in the area of addiction and concurrent mental health. It is particularly relevant for those working in private practice, public mental health settings, rehabilitation programs, or return-to-work services.
The Newly Institute
This workshop is being provided by a multidisciplinary team of Registered Psychologists and Physicians. Please check back at this webpage in the following weeks for more information on the presenters.
Members Only Discounts
Are you a member with the PAA? Did you know that members get discounts on workshops? Ensure that you are signed in when purchasing a ticket to receive your discount.
Full Members, Early Career Psychologists, Professional Affiliate Members, Out of Province Psychologist Members, Non-Practicing Members and Lifetime Members receive 20% off.
Provisional Members and Psychological Assistant Members receive 30% off.
Student Members receive 40% off.
Registrations
Registrations for in-person workshops are open until 3 business days prior to the workshop to ensure accurate numbers for catering and event space. Should you wish to register for this workshop within 1-3 business days prior to the workshop, requests must be made in writing to the Continuing Professional Development Officer at cpd@paa-ab.ca. Requests will not be processed if they are received after 12pm on the last business day prior to the workshop.
Continuing Education Credits
The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer Continuing Education (CE) for psychologists. This workshop is offered for six (6) hours of CE Credit. Full attendance at the workshop is required to receive Continuing Education Credits. Partial credit will not be awarded, and late arrivals or early departure will preclude awarding of Continuing Education Credits. PAA maintains responsibility for the program.
Cancellation and Refunds
Cancellation and refunds may be applied for by email or phone call to the PAA Continuing Professional Development Officer. Cancellations received fourteen (14) days prior to the Continuing Professional Development activity will receive a full refund of the registration fee, less a $35.00 + GST processing fee. Cancellations received thirteen (13) days or less prior to the Continuing Professional Development activity will be exempt from receiving a refund. Partial refunds will not be awarded. PAA reserves the right to cancel any activity, in which case a full refund of the registration fee will be provided.
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