Centre for Addiction & Mental Health

The CASC Supervisors of the Greater Toronto Area offer Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in hospital venues.  

Persons interested in knowing more about the centres and supervisors listed here are encouraged to contact the centre by telephone or e-mail. Supervisors are happy to discuss their programs with prospective participants and explain the specific aspects of their programs as they may contribute to the requirements and purposes of the inquiring participant

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
100 Stokes Street, Bell Gateway Building, #5274E
website  >>>

Manager, Clinical Educator-Supervisor, Spiritual Care Services
Rev. Shawn Lucas RP
contact  >>>

Application:
To Apply, please click the Application Tab, download and save the application.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

Who We Are

CAMH’s Spiritual Care Services (SCS) works within a multi-faith context, in which all faiths and views of spirituality are welcome and celebrated. This is consistent with CAMH’s holistic view of health, which sees health as “a complete state of physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.” The department is staffed by trained spiritual care providers, who work with individual clients and as part of treatment teams. In addition, interns and volunteers work with clients in various ways. As the name implies, spiritual care providers are interested in the care of a person’s “spirit,” which is the core of a person’s being.

What We Do

We work mainly with people who are experiencing a spiritual crisis or conflict, which happens when our sense of self is threatened or challenged.  This often occurs when we have a major life change (such as an illness, a trauma, being hospitalized, losing a job or a loved one, or having relationship problems). At the same time, our spiritual beliefs may be challenged - we may wonder if there really is a God, G-d, divine being, universal energy or creator).  This may leave us feeling insecure and struggling to find meaning in our lives, asking questions such as “Who am I?” or “What is my place in the world?” SCS provides spiritual care to clients, family members and staff, whatever their religious or spiritual perspectives. This includes people with no faith tradition. We offer direct client care and are part of the inter-professional practice teams throughout CAMH. 

We work with individuals and groups, according to the expressed needs of clients, family and staff. We are open to all people who ask for our services, and strive to provide services when and where they are needed.

Our Vision Is . . .

to aid the process of recovery from mental illness and addiction by providing quality spiritual care to clients and families. SCS aims to be a leader in research and education that promote clients’ recovery and the care of families and staff. We foster a climate that honours the human dignity of all people, regardless of their race, colour, culture, belief system, ableness, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Our Mission Is . . .

to provide spiritual care to clients, families and staff through:

• advocacy for the religious and spiritual rights of clients and staff

• consultation with and support of the inter-professional team

• education of spiritual care providers, clients, family, staff and the larger community

• research into spiritual care practices and their effectiveness

• the celebration of diversity within the CAMH community through religious traditions

• referrals to appropriate religious representatives

• a healthy environment free from proselytizing and religious harassment

• high standards of professional practice and ethics in association with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care.

Students

Spiritual Care Services is in the process of being accredited as a teaching site with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care.  To that end Spiritual Care Services will soon be able to offer Clinical Pastoral Education to those who wish to pursue training in this area.  CAMH hopes to be a leader is providing CPE training to those who wish to work with clients with mental illness and addictions on a full-time basis.  Being able to specialize in the field of mental illness and addictions is a high calling as many of our clients experience stigma and are often ostracized from family and community.  Please check back to this website to learn about when CPE units will be offered.  Also you can check out this website to learn about when CPE units will be offered in the Greater Toronto Area www.cpe-toronto.ca .  Finally if you are interested in learning more about Clinical Pastoral Education or Clinical Pastoral Counselling you may consult the website of the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care at www.spiritualcare.ca.