Manager, Counselling Services
Algonquin College
Ben Bridgstock has a BA in Counselling, and an MSc in Psychology. He has extensive training in counselling and psychotherapy modalities including; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Couples Counselling, Family Therapy and Clinical Supervision. Ben is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, he is an internationally certified addictions counsellor and clinical supervisor with the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation. In addition, Ben is a certified Community Reinforcement Therapist, a certified SMART facilitator and Mental Health First Aid facilitator. Ben has extensive training in substance abuse, addiction and mental health. For over 15 years Ben has worked extensively in the substance use and mental health field, both in England and in Canada. He has worked as a counsellor, clinical supervisor, manager and director within several not-for profit agencies. In his working life Ben has instigated and overseen significant system and process changes, expansions and modernization, and clinical and theoretical changes so that treatment reflects established best practices. Currently, Ben is the Manager of Counselling Services, First Generation & Crown Ward Services and the Spiritual Centre at Algonquin College, where he is also the Co-Chair of the Colleges Mental Health Steering Committee, Chair of the Tragic Events Response Team and manages the Colleges Harm Reduction and Sexual Violence & Harm Reduction Prevention projects. Ben is the author of three books, and is currently working on his forth, a harm reduction guide for post-secondary institutions.