The Foundations in Career Wellbeing Certificate is a part-time, five-course program designed to equip Career Development Professionals (CDPs) with the tools and understanding to support clients experiencing mental health challenges during their job search.
You’ll learn trauma-informed practices, mental health and wellbeing basics, how to manage anxiety in career conversations, and the difference between counselling and career counselling – all while developing strategies to support the wellbeing of the people you serve and your own wellbeing.
Courses are developed and taught by Career Development experts with graduate or doctoral-level training in mental health and counselling, ensuring that what you learn is grounded in both research and real-world practice.
How this certificate sets you apart
This program supports skill development aligned with the Pan-Canadian Competency Framework for Career Development Professionals, including:
- Helping clients manage mental health.
- Maintaining health and wellness (for self and clients).
- Referring clients to professional services when appropriate.
Program outcomes
By completing this certificate, you will:
- Build resilience and emotional intelligence as a CDP.
- Strengthen your communication skills.
- Learn trauma-informed approaches to client interactions.
- Deepen your understanding of the nervous system during trauma.
- Understand key mental health challenges affecting job seekers.
- Distinguish between career counselling and mental health counselling.
- Support both your own and your clients’ wellbeing.
Program structure
This flexible certificate is offered through five 15-hour courses, delivered in one of the following formats:
- Asynchronously over three weeks
- In person over 2 days
- Online (live virtual) over 2 days
We also offer customized delivery for teams aiming to enhance their mental health competencies.
You must begin with the required course first. After that, you may complete the remaining four courses in any order.
This course is intended to train Career Development Professionals (CDPs) in concrete strategies to work in trauma informed ways with career clients.
It will provide CDPs with the tools they need to work with career clients who may have a history of trauma and who are engaging in career development activities. It is an interactive course that deals directly with trauma material and will explore concepts of vicarious trauma and self-care for professionals.
Dates | September 14 – October 4, 2025 |
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Delivery | Asynchronous online |
Tuition | $525.00 |
CRN | 31018 |
To register | Call 604 527 5472 or contact CE Registration |
This course will train (CDPs) to support client mental health in trauma-informed ways considering the social determinants of mental health. CDPs will be provided with the tools they need to work with career clients who may have mental health challenges and who are engaging in career development activities. This is an interactive course that deals directly with trauma and suicide ideation. We will also explore applying the strategies to the mental health of CDPs themselves, acknowledging the importance CDPs well-being.
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Dates |
February 22 – March 14, 2026 |
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Delivery |
Asynchronous online |
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Tuition |
$525.00 |
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CRN |
TBA |
| Prerequisite | CFCC 1070 - Trauma-Informed Practice for CDPs |
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To register |
Call 604 527 5472 or contact CE Registration |
In this experiential course, CDPs will learn a practical four-step process to identify their career clients' mental health challenges, to amplify their existing coping strategies and how to build on those coping strategies. A toolbox of coping strategies drawn from a well-known collection of sound therapeutic practices (i.e. ACT, CBT and others) will be introduced. CDPs will also consider the systemic issues career clients face, providing a broader context for the application of these tools.
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Dates |
April 12 – May 2, 2026 |
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Delivery |
Asynchronous online |
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Tuition |
$525.00 |
|
CRN |
TBA |
| Prerequisite | CFCC 1070 - Trauma-Informed Practice for CDPs |
|
To register |
Call 604 527 5472 or contact CE Registration |
This course lays the groundwork for understanding the use of counselling skills across a range of settings, particularly career development settings. Built on the framework of Emotional Intelligence, this course will provide CDPs with concrete tools for self-awareness, boundary formation and effective communication.
Dates | March 21 – 28, 2026 |
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Delivery | Virtual live |
Tuition | $525.00 |
CRN | TBA |
| Prerequisite | CFCC 1070 - Trauma-Informed Practice for CDPs |
To register | Call 604 527 5472 or contact CE Registration |
This course offers CDPs concrete strategies to support themselves and their career clients’ mental health and well-being at work. Models of care grounded in western and Indigenous perspectives will be explored. CDPs will develop an understanding of self-care and self-compassion, how these relate to the workplace and how they are applicable to clients as well. CDPs will be offered strategies and practices to support their well-being at work in ways that are trauma-informed and recognize that the workplace is relational. This course acknowledges that the work of a CDP happens in a broader set of systems, acknowledging community and organizational responsibilities in fostering practitioner and client well-being.
Dates | May 10 – 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
Delivery | Asynchronous online |
Tuition | $525.00 |
CRN | TBA |
| Prerequisite | CFCC 1070 - Trauma-Informed Practice for CDPs |
To register | Call 604 527 5472 or contact CE Registration |
Admission requirements
- Working in the career/employment sector
- Completing CFCC 1070 - Trauma Informed Practice
You can also take any individual course in the certificate without needing to complete the whole certificate. CFCC 1070 is still a pre-requisite for the courses.
Interested in custom training for your team?
We can deliver the entire certificate program in a tailored format for organizations looking to upskill around mental health and career development. Contact us to learn more.