Occupational therapy and harm reduction practices for alcohol use (Online course)
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- Non-member - $250
- Members and Associates - $200
- Student/Provisional/Retured - $150
- New Practitioner - $200
- OTA - $150
Occupational Therapy and Harm Reduction Practices for Alcohol Use
"Occupational therapists in all practice settings and across all ages of the lifespan, will likely interact with an individual or family member who is experiencing the undesirable impact of SUDs [substance use disorders]" (Mattila et al., 2022, p. 5). Occupational therapists play an essential role as an early point of contact and should be better equipped to deliver care for substance use, including alcohol (e.g., Cassidy, 1988; Gill & O’May, 2011; Maclean et al., 2012; Rothman & Jimenez, 2023).
Course overview
This online course will increase your knowledge of current guidelines related to alcohol use in Canada as well as your confidence and competence in the occupational therapy role. Through a combination of videos, audio clips, discussions, self-reflections, and a personal action plan, you’ll learn:
- Part 1 (approximately 15 minutes): Importance of alcohol use screening and harm reduction principles in occupational therapy practice
- Part 2 (approximately 40 minutes): Occupational therapy scope of practice and alcohol use
- Part 3 (approximately 1 hour): Canadian low-risk drinking guidelines, grey area drinking, and alcohol use in women
- Part 4 (approximately 30 minutes): Positionality, intersectionality, and the impact of stigma
- Part 5 (approximately 1 hour): Screening and harm reduction for alcohol use, occupational therapy strategies, and connecting to culture
- Part 6 (approximately 40 minutes): Case studies
- Part 7 (approximately 30 minutes): Guided self-reflection and personal action plan
Learning objectives
By the end of this online course, you will be able to:
- Describe Canada's low-risk drinking guidelines and explain the rationale for these guidelines.
- Explain the importance of screening clients, care partners, and caregivers for alcohol use.
- Describe the occupational therapy role in alcohol screening and harm reduction across all practice areas.
- Use standardized resources for alcohol use to engage in screening and follow harm reduction principles.
- Identify how intersectionality, personal bias, and stigma can impact clinical practice when working with clients, care partners, and caregivers who consume alcohol.
- Implement a personal action plan in your occupational therapy practice.
Target audience
This online course is ideal for occupational therapy professionals and students who wish to increase their knowledge, skills, and confidence in screening for alcohol use in occupational therapy practice and applying harm reduction principles with Canadians who consume alcohol.
Client age groups
Adults (20-64 years old)
Areas of practice
Dependence & Substance Use Health, Health Promotion & Wellness, Mental Health, OTA, Parental Health, Primary Care
Level
Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area)
Time commitment
Approximately 5 hours to complete course content, with 1.5 hours of additional optional open-access videos and resources included
Language
English
Presenter
Kimberly Bitz, DSc, MScOT, OT Reg (SK). Dr. Bitz is a member of CAOT’s Addressing Suicide in Occupational Therapy and Mental Health and Substance Use practice networks. She is employed with the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment at the University of Regina as a Knowledge Mobilization Lead, overseeing the development and delivery of mental health resources for Canadian public safety personnel. She has worked extensively within mental health & addiction services, advocating for equity & inclusion for a vulnerable and diverse population of clients with complex mental health & substance use issues. Kimberly completed a Doctor of Science at Queen’s University, where her research was motivated by concerns over the health of Canadian women and a desire to advance clinical practices through research and education.
Registration fees
| CAOT Members and Individual Associates | $200 |
| CAOT Student Associates, Provisional Associates, OTA Associates, and Retired Members | $150 |
| Non-members | $250 |
Prices in Canadian dollars, plus applicable taxes
This purchase provides individual access to complete this course within 90 days of purchase. Access the online course immediately following purchase by selecting this online course on My Dashboard on CAOT's learning management system (LMS), using your CAOT My Account login information. No cancellations/refunds will be provided once the purchase is completed. Please visit the Professional Development FAQ for additional information. Please note that the terminology used in this online course is reflective of the CAOT Style Guide at time of recording. If you have any questions, please contact CAOT's Professional Development team at education@caot.ca.
Kimberly Bitz
DSc, MScOT, OT Reg (SK).
Dr. Bitz is a member of CAOT’s Addressing Suicide in Occupational Therapy and Mental Health and Substance Use practice networks. She is employed with the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment at the University of Regina as a Knowledge Mobilization Lead, overseeing the development and delivery of mental health resources for Canadian public safety personnel. She has worked extensively within mental health & addiction services, advocating for equity & inclusion for a vulnerable and diverse population of clients with complex mental health & substance use issues. Kimberly completed a Doctor of Science at Queen’s University, where her research was motivated by concerns over the health of Canadian women and a desire to advance clinical practices through research and education.
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