Your Path through Rhodes Wellness College

Semester 1: Life Skills Coaching

A Life Skills Facilitator is a trained coach, instructor and group facilitator, qualified to bring students to competency in a specific range of problem-solving skills for use in the following areas: self, relationships and family, education and employment, leisure and community.

A Life Skills Coach facilitates problem-solving, creates a safe climate, and manage conflict in a group setting. These goals are accomplished by helping groups identify their purpose, goals, issues and resources both within and outside the group. The skills and knowledge students gain in this course will assist them in coaching both groups, organizations, and individuals.

Following your Life Skills Coaching semester, you may be completing your time at Rhodes and receive your Life Coaching Certificate (part-time program) or Life Skills Coaching Certificate (full-time program) or you may be carrying on into the Counselling component of your program.

Duration of course:

Full-time: 12 weeks; 270 hours; 22.5 hours per week

Part-time: 24 weeks; 135 hours; 6 hours per week

Weekly Schedule:

Full-time: Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)

Part-time: Class 2x per week; 3 hours per class (class times vary)

Credential upon completion: Life Skills Coaching Certificate or Life Coach Certificate

Semester 2: Life Skills Counselling

There are 6 courses included in Life Skills Counselling:

1. Basic Counselling,
2. Trauma Counselling,
3. Family & Youth Counselling,
4. Addictions Counselling,
5. Employment Counselling, and
6. Clinical Supervision

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what the different areas of counselling are and to feel some of the opportunities and challenges that exist in each one
• Gain understanding and empathy for clients who can benefit from each area of counselling
• Open your eyes to possible areas of counselling that you may not know you are either good at or enjoy
• Start getting used to the difference between counselling and coaching
• Begin to understand how to complete an intake process, build rapport with clients and write effective session notes

Clinical Supervision (a.k.a ‘Clinic Weeks’)

During Clinical Supervision, you start understanding how to conduct a counselling session with a client and explore how this differs from a Coaching approach. The learning objectives for Clinical Supervision (Clinic Weeks) are to be able to build rapport with your clients, conduct intakes (effectively use a psychosocial assessment tool and

complete ethically required consent paperwork), schedule client sessions, and write effective session notes showing that you understand your client and their needs.

This 3-week course is spread out through your semester in one week intervals between other courses.

During EACH week in CLINIC WEEKS 1, 2, and 3 you will:

1. Write Exams from the previous courses you just completed (there is no exam in Employment Counselling). If you do not pass an exam, you are allowed one rewrite for no cost.

2. Attend Class – one 4.5 hour class from 9:00 – 1:30 PM PST.
3. Attend 2 Client Session Days – to book and attend both your client and counsellor practice sessions. You will work with peers from your cohort as your clients during each clinic week. These sessions are focused on gathering information through the intake process, while developing therapeutic rapport. As you will be partnered with a peer for these sessions, you will also be a client over the course of the semester. There is a lot of valuable learning that comes from experiencing counselling and the intake process through the client lens and you will be required to submit reflections based on your experience as a client.

4. Complete & Submit – your corresponding session notes, intake paperwork & client reflections so that you can receive feedback that you can integrate into future sessions through the semester.

Duration of courses:

Full-time: 1-3 weeks; 22.5 – 67.5 hours (varies dependent on the course); 22.5 hours per week

Part-time: 3 – 7.5 weeks; 22.5 – 67.5 hours (varies dependent on the course); 6 hours per week

Weekly Schedule:

Full-time: Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)

Part-time: Class 2x per week; 3 hours per class (class times vary)

Practicum: 40 hours; 4 weeks

If you are in the Life Coach Diploma program, once you have completed your 2^th semester and met all of your course requirements, you are able to begin your practicum. You have 4 weeks after you finish all of your courses to complete your 40 hour practicum.

Credential upon completion: Life Coach Diploma

Semester 3 & 4: Wellness Counselling

Wellness Counselling Sem 3 + 4 Box
We dive deep in Semesters 3 & 4 in the following courses: Physical Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Mental Wellness, and Spiritual Wellness. While each of these allows for personal growth, you will learn to apply the skills, concepts and theories to your work with clients. Each course is six weeks which allows things to move at a perfect pace. You will take two Wellness courses per semester.

Physical Wellness Counselling

The Physical Wellness course is designed to help students discover the inter-relationship between mental, emotional and physical wellness. Taking a holistic approach, students will discover the link between physical sensations, cognitive belief systems and emotional states. Through an exploration into polyvagal theory, students will discover how to use the body as a resource of processing trauma stored in the body. Additionally, there will be an exploration into sleep, intimacy and nutrition while also engaging in weekly mindful movement practices.

Duration:

6 weeks; 135 hours

Weekly Schedule:

Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)

Mental Wellness Counselling

This course will teach participants how to apply four different therapy approaches to counselling and coaching settings to enhance mental wellness. Using an experiential approach, students will employ strategies from each of these therapies to develop their own mental wellness, while cultivating skills to support others. The four therapies that will be explored include Cognitive Behavioural, Dialectical Behaviour, Narrative Therapy and Non-Violent Communication.

Duration:

6 weeks; 135 hours

Weekly Schedule:

Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)

Emotional Wellness Counselling

This course offers students the essential knowledge and skills to develop emotional wellness, including identifying, taking ownership, and expressing feelings, understanding and articulating one’s personal emotional challenges, including unresolved issues from early life; identifying needs; and understanding the nature of emotions. Participants will learn techniques for self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Duration:

6 weeks; 135 hours

Weekly Schedule:

Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)

Spiritual Wellness Counselling

This course provides students with the opportunity to study the cultivation of spiritual wellbeing by engaging with diverse spiritual perspectives and practices. Students will examine and articulate their own beliefs and world-views, while developing the ability to understand and honour the world-views of others. This course is an experiential exploration of spiritual wellness that equips students with the essential knowledge and skills to support the spiritual growth and development of others.

Duration:

6 weeks; 135 hours

Weekly Schedule:

Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 1:30 PM (PST)

Practicum: 80 hours; 6 weeks

If you are in the Wellness Counselling Diploma program, once you have completed your 4^th semester and all of your courses, you are able to begin your practicum. You have 4 weeks after you finish all of your courses to complete your 80 hour practicum.

Credential upon completion: Wellness Counsellors Diploma

Professional Counselling Semester 5 + 6

Weekly Schedule:

The courses occurring Monday to Thursday are each 3 weeks in duration (12 days). Supervised Clinical Practice occurs every Friday through Semester 5 & 6.

Semester 5 Courses

• Professional Practice & Ethics (48 hours)
• Human Development (48 hours)
• Special Topics: Grief and Loss; Death & Dying (48 hours)
• Relationship Counselling (48 hours)
• Supervised Clinical Practice: Personal Development (48 hours)

Semester 6 Courses

• Mental Health (48 hours)
• Theories & Methods of Counselling (48 hours)
• Advanced Counselling: Trauma (48 hours)
• Group Leadership (48 hours)
• Supervised Clinical Practice: Business Development (48 hours)

Duration of courses:

3 weeks (except Supervised Clinical Practice, which occurs every Friday for 12 weeks)

Weekly Schedule:

Option 1

Monday – Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM (PST) Fridays: 10:00 – 2:00 PM (PST)

Option 2

Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PST

As of Fall Semester 2024, there will no longer be evening classes offered and all classes will occur Monday to Friday, 9:00 – 1:00 pm PST.

Practicum: 120 hours; 6 weeks

When you begin your 5th semester, you are officially able to begin your practicum, however you are not required to do so. Some students like to get a head start on it, while others prefer to wait until all their courses are complete. 2nd year is a busy year, so manage your time and energy wisely! You have 6 weeks after you finish all of your 2nd year courses (after 6th semester) to complete your 120 hour practicum.

Credential upon completion: Professional Counsellors Diploma

Liability/Practice Insurance

For any clients that you work with as part of the requirement of your education, you are covered by Rhodes’ liability insurance. This includes client sessions that are required for completing session notes, clients you connect with through the Rhodes Counselling Centre and your practicum. However, after Semester 1, you are able to begin building your Coaching Business. If you plan to work outside the scope of what is required for your education at Rhodes Wellness College, then you are encouraged to purchase your own liability/practice insurance as you are not covered for this work under Rhodes’ liability.

Westland Insurance is willing to provide liability insurance. The amount of coverage depends on the scope of practice and your experience.

Supervision Post Graduation

ACCT: You are eligible to receive 12 months of supervision after you graduate from Rhodes.

CPCA: You are eligible to receive 12 months of supervision within a 15 month time period.

Whether you are with ACCT or CPCA, you need practice insurance in order to receive supervision.

Moving into Practice

International Coaching Federation (ICF)

Once you have successfully completed your Coaching semester, you are eligible to become a member of ICF. Once you have completed 100 hours of client coaching experience, you are eligible to become an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). After completing 500 hours of client coaching experience, you can be accredited as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC).

The Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT)

Membership Categories:

1. Student Membership: must have a minimum of 6 months remaining in counselling education program Student members are not eligible for ACCT organized liability insurance.

1. 1. RTCc (Registered Therapeutic Counsellor-Candidate): Have satisfied the education/training criteria, and must have completed a minimum of 100 Direct Client Contact (DCC) Hours and 20 Supervision Hours.

• RTC (Registered Therapeutic Counsellor): Have satisfied the educational/training criteria, and must have completed 200 Direct Client Contact (DCC) Hours and 40 Supervision Hours.
  

The Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)

Membership Categories:

• Student Membership: must apply while enrolled in an accredited college or university; Qualifying Exam fee waived when a student member.

1. RPC-C (Registered Professional Counsellor – Candidate): Practicing counsellors who have not yet obtained the minimum clinical supervision required for Full membership (RPC) and who are considered interns in the clinical counselling and once the minimum criteria has been met, Candidate members will be eligible to apply for upgrading to Full membership.

Steps to become an RPC-C:

• Completed application
• Successful completion of the Qualifying Exam
• Successful completion of an approved education program
• Signed Contract for Supervision with a qualified and approved clinical supervisor
• Completion of 150 clinical supervision hours
• Completion of 250 direct client contact hours
• Positive review of clinical competence by supervisor of record upon completion of required hours
• RPC (Registered Professional Counsellor): The CPCA foundational registration of Registered Professional Counsellor requires a minimum of 600 hours of counselling/psychotherapy practice under clinical supervision by a Qualified Clinical Supervisor.

These 600 hours must include a minimum of:

• 150 supervision hours,
• 250 hours of direct client contact and
• 200 hours of professional practice hours related to their clients.
• Completed application
• Successful completion of approved education program
• Successful completion of the Qualifying Exam
• Two letters of recommendation from qualified mental health professionals with personal knowledge of the applicant’s clinical skills
  
• A Criminal Records Check
• Acceptance of the CPCA Code of Ethics.
• Proof of Liability Insurance

Nutrition Sciences Semesters 2 & 3

NUTR 110 Fundamentals of Nutrition (67.5 hours: 3 weeks)

Students will initially explore the fundamentals of nutrition including macro and micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, water, and fats. They will develop an understanding of ingestion, digestion, and absorption, and how this relates to energy and health. A more in-depth look of how food relates to preventative health, with a special focus on the importance of food quality and how it effects the health and energy levels of the body, will be provided. Studies will then turn to how food can be used to support health and act as a tool in preventative wellness. They will learn about supplements, introductory herbology, supplement and herb quality, and under which circumstances it’s helpful to integrate supplements and herbs into a nutrition plan. Understanding indications, contraindications, and how food, supplements, and herbs can interact with medications will be studied. Understanding the importance of working with professional health providers such as medical doctors and naturopathic doctors whenever recommending supplements or herbs or changes in diet will be stressed.

NUTR 200 Lifecycle Nutrition (45 hours: 2 weeks)

This course will develop an understanding of how nutritional needs change throughout an individual’s lifecycle. Children’s health issues and other issues related to age from pediatric needs to geriatric needs will be examined. The role nutrition can play in helping immunity, allergies, and various disabilities such as ADHD and common illnesses will be studied. Nutritional needs based on changes in hormonal balances will also be examined including how healthy nutrition habits can support individuals through pre-adolescent growth stages, puberty, menstrual cycles, prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum stages, through menopause/andropause, and other life stages. This course will focus on how both preventative and supportive nutritional measures can be taken to help individuals optimize their health.

NUTR 125 Cooking with Whole Foods and Meal Planning (22.5 hours: 1 week)

Students will learn how to prepare nourishing foods and will learn about the therapeutic benefits from preparing foods in a holistic fashion. They will learn the benefits of soaking, steaming, fermenting, sprouting, the pros and cons of different cooking methods and how to develop meal plans that support health; students will learn how to integrate this specialized food preparation into meal planning.

NUTR 140 Alternative and Comparative Diets and Weight Management (45 hours: 2 weeks) 

This course will look at different diets including the wisdom of traditional diets, the energetics of food, and will provide an understanding of various popular diets such as vegan, vegetarian, paleo, ketogenic, intermittent fasting, Atkins, raw, and other diets. Students will learn the elements of these diets and will learn how to discern the pros and cons of different diets. Weight loss and weight management and how this connects to mindful eating and creating healthy habits, including traditional physical assessment tools such as BMI, will be taught. This course involves group research, reports, and class presentations.

NUTR 115 Nutritional Assessment, Coaching, and Counselling (22.5 hours: 1 week)

Learning how to assess clients and evaluate assessment forms is paramount in this program. Students will gain an understanding of how physiological status and symptoms related to nutrition can be used to assess clients, through skilled use of assessment tools and intake forms. Students will also learn the role of a Health Coach and clearly understand the difference between coaching and counselling within the framework of nutrition and health coaching. They will learn how to interweave coaching and counselling in practice and how to utilize each in isolation. Students will gain experience discerning which tactic is most appropriate to use according to circumstantial need.

NUTR 230 Nutrition Habit Change and Motivational Interviewing (45 hours: 2 weeks) 

This is an advanced course that will provide students with more in-depth understanding of how psychology intermingles with nutrition when it comes to changing habits, creating commitment, and understanding choice related to diet. Students will build on their understanding of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as it relates to mindful eating habits. They will learn how to identify negative physical, emotional, and mental triggers surrounding nutrition and eating habits, and will develop skills to help individuals overcome trigger responses that lead to individuals failing in their nutritional goals. Students will learn and practice motivational interviewing with clients to help clients make successful and enduring changes in their eating plans.

PROF 100 Fieldwork and Supervision, Level 1 (22.5 hours: 1 week)

Fieldwork and Supervision is about gaining experience—working with clients and working with a supervisor to refine skills as a nutritional counsellor. This course includes a minimum of 15 hours of client sessions (in individual or group settings). Students will be provided feedback and will be graded on their ability to differentiate when they need to employ coaching tactics and when to employ consulting and educational tactics in their role as a Nutritional Counsellor.

NUTR 130 Nutritional Sciences (90 hours: 4 weeks)

Nutritional Sciences covers four major areas: (1) basic chemistry, (2) basic biology, (3) cellular biology, and (4) anatomy and physiology. Students will learn about basic atomic structures of food and how this relates to nutrition at a base chemical level. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of biology as it relates to nutrition and will gain a basic cellular understanding of metabolism and its effect on the human body. Students will study what happens when cells don’t react the way they should and how this can lead to disease. Students will develop a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology and the eleven systems of the body.

NUTR 205 Symptomatology (45 hours: 2 weeks)

Students will gain a greater ability to provide nutritional assessments through understanding how nutritional deficiencies and excesses are the bases of illness and disease. Special attention will be given to the digestive system, pH balancing via acid/alkaline foods and integrating tests such as pH testing, and further understanding of endocrinology, immunity, allergies, inflammation, and autoimmunity will be developed. The importance of working with a client’s medical team to support health and wellness in a legal and supportive manner will be demonstrated and explored. Students will continue to develop skills in utilizing evaluation techniques and utilizing assessment forms.

NUTR 210 Nutritional Pathophysiology (45 hours: 2 weeks)

An understanding of how illness and disease, including chronic disease, develops in the body will be developed in this course. Students will learn nutritional protocols that can support the various body systems. An emphasis on scope of practice will be applied throughout this course so that students understand they cannot diagnose illness or disease and they cannot cure illness or disease. Students will learn the legal problems and liabilities they will face if they contravene this scope of practice, and they will learn how to effectively work with dieticians, medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, psychiatrists, and other members of the medical community. Students will gain a keen awareness of their role in helping their clients and organizations they work with to improve their health and sense of wellness, through nutrition.

NUTR 240 Eco Nutrition (45 hours: 2 weeks)

In this course students learn how the environment affects the quality of the food we eat, and our health. Understanding the importance of soil quality, farming practices, the importance of local food production, and how pollution affects the quality of food will be learned. The effects of food transportation will be studied, and students will be taught how to integrate better environmental practices into nutrition. They will learn how eco nutrition connects to mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

PROF 200 Student Clinic and Supervision (22.5 hours: 1 weeks)

Students will continue to build experience working with clients, groups and communities while working with a supervisor to refine their skills as a nutritional counsellor. This course includes a minimum of 30 hours of client sessions in either a group or individual setting.

NUTR 105 Nutrition and Mental Health (22.5 hours: 1 week)

Students will develop an understanding of the mental-emotional connection to food, and how food can affect anxiety, depression, and general mental health.

WELL 200 Fundamentals of Wellness Counselling (45 hours: 2 weeks)

In this course students will learn the foundational skills and knowledge for providing wellness counselling to individuals and groups utilizing a client-centered approach, in accordance to humanistic theory developed by Carl Rogers. Humanistic approaches in psychology emphasize the human capacity for integrity, creativity and autonomy. Students will learn the skills of attending behaviors, active listening, showing, and utilizing empathy, asking powerful questions and creating strategically structured sessions. This foundation is critical for any wellness professional as it creates the infrastructure necessary for counsellors, nutritionists and coaches to support clients in their healing and wellness related objectives.

Advanced Nutrition Semester 4

NUTR 220 Eating Disorders (45 hours: 2 weeks)

This course will explore an advanced understanding of mental-emotional connections of food, and how and why food is misused in disordered eating. Eating disorders will be explored along with understanding the multidisciplinary approach required for those suffering from an eating disorder. Building an understanding of one’s scope of practice and the ability to refer clients with eating disorders to a multi-disciplinary team is emphasized. This course will also explore how mindfulness and intuitive eating can support individuals on a path of healing with their relationship to food.

COUN 105 Theory, Principles & Applications in Addictions Treatment & Recovery (45 hours: 2 weeks)

This course provides students with the skills necessary to identify the addictive process and to counsel clients in various stages of the process of change. The many forms of addictions will be examined, and the skills needed to assist clients will be demonstrated and practiced. The focus of the course is the development of a thorough understanding of the Stages of Change Model. The course will provide insight into the use and misuse of psychoactive drugs in the human body including information on neurobiology and pharmacology. Students are asked to identify their own habits/addictions and asked to examine what effects they may have on their lives, keeping a journal of their personal experience of withdrawal. This course provides theory and practice in methods of counselling in the process of recovery and rehabilitation. Self-regulation Theory, reduction of enabling behavior, and the appropriate/responsible use of intervention strategies will be examined

NUTR 260 Sports and Performance Nutrition (45 hours, 2 weeks)

Students will develop an understanding of the special needs of athletes. They will learn what foods best support general and intense physical exercise. Students will develop an understanding of traditional assessment tools in exercise such as Body Mass Index (BMI), and how to assess weight and wellness depending on physical fitness. A cross analysis of different sports-nutrition theories will be explored. Students will conduct research in the area of sport nutrition and give in-class group presentations.

NUT 280 Nutrition for Advanced Ages(45 hours, 2 weeks)

The Nutrition for Advanced Ages course builds upon the basics of nutrition for the elderly learned in Lifecycle Nutrition (NUTR 200). Students explore the mental-emotional layer of the physical changes that the elderly face, including motivation and outlook of life as they age. Students will learn how to work with families, caregivers, and support groups to ensure their older clients receive the nutrition they need to remain motivated to actively participate in their health and happiness.

NUTR 250 Legal Parameters, Ethics, and Professional Practice in Nutrition (45 hours, 2 weeks)

An overview of Canadian Law as it relates to professional practice as an integrative nutritional counsellor will be provided. Students will develop a clear understanding of ethics as it relates to nutritional advising, their scope of practice, and ethical and legal limitations. Additionally, they will explore the professional opportunities in the exciting world of nutrition. They will learn about career options in the food industry, health care industry and wellness industry, as well as private practice. Students will receive employment counselling and will learn how to employ effective skills and resources to gain employment in areas and jobs they want to work in. Students will learn about basic business requirements including acquiring insurance, registering their business and creating realistic budgets that align with their goals.

Nutrition & Wellness Counseling Semester 5 & 6

PROF 230 Professional Practice and Entrepreneurship (45 hours, 2 weeks)

The course is a basic entrepreneurship course that will help students open their own private practice, as well as understand what it means to think like an entrepreneur whether working for oneself or for an organization. Students will learn proven strategies for success. They will learn how to utilize cost-effective techniques to develop and deploy action plans that will help them start their holistic wellness practice.

PROF 220 Leadership (45 hours, 2 weeks)

Students learn how to identify organizations that need their help and will source an appropriate organization that they can deliver a nutrition workshop to. Students will work together, in groups, to develop a meaningful workshop that addresses a need provided by the organization they will work with. Students gather together after the workshops and develop reflection and further development skills to improve their ability to offer effective workshops in the community. All students are guided by their faculty throughout this course to ensure efficacy in them applying the skills and knowledge they have gained to-date in this program.

WELL 210 Wellness Counselling Theories and Practice (180 hours: 8 weeks)

Students will examine the theories and techniques utilized by counsellors to facilitate physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. The four modules that will be explored are physical wellness through somatic theories and techniques, mental wellness through exploring cognitive and narrative theories and techniques, emotional wellness through applying emotionally focused techniques and spiritual wellness through exploring transpersonal theory and techniques.

Practicum for Professional Integrative Nutrition Diploma

PRAC 101 Supervised Practicum (120 hours: 6 weeks)

Students can choose from a wide variety of practicum placements including holistic eateries, integrative pharmacies, fitness centers, integrative wellness clinics, nutrition and supplement stores, community centers, and more. Students are encouraged to find placements in the area of industry they would like to work in and are given support until they are able to secure a practicum. Rhodes Wellness College administration works directly with host organizations to ensure proper reporting of hours is performed and helpful feedback related to the student’s performance is received. College administration will work with both the student and the place of practicum to ensure the relationship and experience is positive for both.

*Because courses do not have prerequisites, Rhodes Wellness College reserves the right to reorganize the courses in a different structure according to the student and college’s needs.