in the treatment of mental health disorders in the following ways: They provide a positive role model for clients to identify with, they provide an example of hope that recovery is possible, they are able to use their personal experience to help others suffering from the same mental illness. They help bridge the gap between clinical staff and clients. Opponents of peer counseling warn that poorly supervised or designed programs can have harmful- or even fatal results. The government of Alberta has no regulatory college to ensure those who call themselves "addictions counselors" and "therapists" are qualified to be in such positions. Family Therapy has found to be effective in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction and has been correlated with higher success rates for those suffering from addiction, in particular adolescents. Since AARC's inception in 1991, it has treated over 510 addicted adolescents and their families. AARC has also grown professionally over the last 20 years. AARC currently employs a number of graduates of the program as clinical staff who have received various educations in the fields of addiction and mental health, two nurses, and regularly consulting psychiatrists and psychologists. The two clinical directors of the AARC program are Natalie Imbach and Colin Brown, who are both graduates of the program and have received a Masters in Family and Marital Therapy from Loma Linda University. Colin Brown has also recently been registered as a practicing psychologist in Alberta. Program Treatment in AARC is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The theory of alcoholism and drug addiction as a disease is the basis for the program. Treatment involves the use of peer counselors (graduates of this program) and highly trained clinical counselors most of whom themselves have also faced addiction or seen the results first hand as family members of the addicted. It is said that it is hard to pull the wool over the eyes of one who has seen, done and share what you have done and are doing. Using those who have experienced addiction first hand allows a deeper connection and more help. At AARC, peer counsellors must be 18 years or older and actively involved in their own recovery, with a minimum two years of sobriety. The peer counsellors receive 57 hours of training annually (in line with CAC standards) and are supervised by AARC clinical staff. Peer counselors also provide feedback regarding