Calgary Counselling Centre has been committed to providing professional education since its inception over forty years ago. Today, the agency offers an Education and Training Program that spans the disciplines represented within the helping professions e.g. psychology, social work, medicine and pastoral care. The Centre is a Federally Registered Education Institution (HRE), and a Provincially recognized Private Educational Institution .

Educational partnerships have developed and strong working relationships have been established with:

• University of Calgary (Faculty of Social Work, Department of Education/Applied Psychology)
• University of British Columbia
• Gonzaga University
• City University
• St. Stephen’s University
• Rocky Mountain College
• Loma Linda University
• Campus Alberta (a combined program offered through Athabasca University, University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge)

Programs are offered to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students from these institutions and post-graduate residencies are offered to those wishing to charter as a psychologist, become licensed as a marriage and family therapist, meet the clinical requirements for social work, or enhance their counselling skills as part of their professional development.

Many trained professional counsellors who immigrate to Canada encounter barriers to attaining domestic professional accreditations, as well as difficulties adapting to work in a new social and cultural environment. Calgary Counselling Centre has developed a training program for new Canadians who have international credentials and want to become licensed practitioners in Canada in partnership with Bow Valley College.

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The Education and Training Program elements include:

• Agency orientations
• Integrated theory seminars
• Student internships/practica
• Post-graduate residencies
• Professional workshops and seminars
• Community-based training and consultation
• International practica
• International residencies
• Training for foreign-trained counselling professionals

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Learning involves the acquisition of knowledge (content), the development of personal understanding (integration), and skill building (application of theory in practice). This process requires self-awareness, which is enhanced through personal reflection; and, interactions that lead to shared understanding and mutually beneficial relationships.

The Education and Training program at Calgary Counselling Centre operates on the following principles:

• A commitment to excellence in all elements of our Education and Training Program.
• A commitment to having the resources necessary to provide quality-learning experiences.
• A recognition of individual uniqueness and an honouring of how one’s life experiences, personal strengths, professional training and work experience influences one’s educational needs and one’s approach to learning.
• A respect for the uniqueness and complementarity of the different disciplines represented within the helping professions e.g. psychology, social work, medicine, and pastoral care.
• A commitment to being aware of the needs of all staff members, interns and residents and the need to provide relevant and timely training and learning opportunities.

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