addiction counselor

Teen Challenge Canada Inc.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at Teen Challenge is working with some of the staff and the clients. Seeing God breakthrough their addictions and prospering beyond TC.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Turnover is consistently high, and it’s not hard to see why. Talented, dedicated staff are regularly allowed to leave due to poor retention practices and lack of meaningful support. Instead of addressing why people are leaving, leadership often reframes it as “trusting for the right next fit,” which avoids accountability and keeps the cycle going.

There is also a serious lack of responsiveness from leadership and HR. Concerns are sometimes ignored entirely. This has happened to me and to multiple coworkers. It’s difficult to trust an organization that promotes transparency but does not consistently engage with staff when issues are raised.

Compensation remains well below comparable roles in similar faith-based and support organizations. Despite years of promises to improve wages, there has been little meaningful change. Messaging around “sacrifice” is common, but it does not address the reality that wages are not sustainable.

HR is often perceived as defensive rather than supportive, which further erodes trust.

While the mission is meaningful, the current leadership approach undermines both staff retention and program quality. This may be a place for short-term experience, but it is not a sustainable long-term workplace.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Demoralizing overall, with occasional highs from seeing God at work in the lives of the men and women in care. That said, the environment has shifted from once being hopeful and vibrant to now feeling lethargic and focused on simply getting by.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day often feels reactive and understaffed, with a heavy workload due to ongoing turnover. Much of the time is spent trying to maintain basic operations rather than improving programming. There are meaningful moments working directly with clients, which can be rewarding, but overall the environment feels strained and focused on getting through the day rather than thriving.

There was never a typical day at work, each shift varied so much. And each week varied with inconsistent scheduling. I learned a lot about sacrifice and how to care for those who are hurt and recovering from substance use, trauma, etc. Unfortunately what could have been a lifelong career was cut short because the manager at the centre created an unsafe culture and caused mental health struggles for myself and multiple coworkers. Those who cared most about our clients were often challenged and bullied/pushed to the point of quitting - for reasons unknown to us. The hardest part about working for this company is the constant restructuring and having to blindly follow policy changes, of which were frequent, and sometimes unethical. The most enjoyable part is being able to see the clients you care for, becoming stronger and healthier versions of themselves over time - that part alone was rewarding and helped me to power through all the adversity I faced while employed here.

Reporting to the CEO, and responsible for overseeing the operations of the company; implementing business operations and promoting company culture and vision. Worked continually with company owners and managers on effective strategies to ensure all company policies and procedures are adhered to by managers and staff and that maximum occupancy targets are achieved month after month allowing for increased revenues and corporate growth.  

Accomplishments
-             Increased annual revenues by $300,000 in first year as COO, on track to double that in second year
-             Facilitated LED retrofit in all Lanes facilities cutting energy costs by 50%
-             Created and implemented robust recreational programs for residents in all Lanes facilities 
-             Built and facilitated company program providing staff training and certification in emergency first aid

A typical day would be booking doctor, dentist or lawyer appointments for the residents. I took care of petty cash and student bank. Was in charge of all the vehicle and house maintenance. Attended to all resident needs.
I have learned patience and how to deal with stressful situations.
My relationship with management and my co-workers was amazing. We were very much a team and we supported and had each others back in every situation. We all worked very well together.
The hardest part of the day was being on call 24 hours a day in a very stressful job setting.
Seeing the residents grow and change from the first day they came into the Teen Challenge Program to the day that they graduate a year later is the most enjoyable part of the job. Just knowing that I had a small part in that brought me so much happiness.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Teen Challenge does so much for the men and ladies going through the hardest time in their lives. Some of the most caring, wonderful people are there to support the clients along the journey!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The centres are divided into many different sections ie facilities, program,  development, marketing, janitorial, counseling and work detail for the clients. Different databases and tracking systems are an inefficiency 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It is good overall but sometimes the National office is a silo to rest of program

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Very busy, hectic and rewarding

Minimum wage poverty wages and a work your rear off mentality that just drains its workers. The CEO keeps teasing proper wage increases but never delivers meanwhile the entire board of directors get flown around the country to do meetings that could've been done over Zoom. You need to drive 30+ mins to the center which usually equals to about 50$ of gas a week just to get to work. Rewarding workplace with the worst wages that I've ever seen. I do not like how the company is treating its employees. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
getting paid. as well as getting to know my co workers,and work in unison

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
supervision above all else needs to be revamped.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
hard work, for the most part the crews are all on the same.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
do my job as safely and productivly as ever and go home at the end of my shift

Your job is pretty consistent day-to-day. Expectations are sometimes a bit high. The program is relatively easy to follow. Some of the people attending the program are great and others are difficult to handle. Not enough training/care is put into the very frontline support workers. It's kind of a shame. The pay's atrocious and I don't know how a Christian company thinks it's ok to pay its workers so little.

The mandate of Teen Challenge is to provide a safe haven for recovering addicts for up to one year.  There are caring staff who do go the extra mile to help. However, the management are not educated or eqipped enough to run Teen Challenge.  Individuals are in positions that they are not qualified to be in.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Seeing the customers return daily!!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Managers not giving you the recommendations that you deserve 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Yes, unfortunately it is day by day!

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Alot of working and not feeling appreciated

Working at Teen Challenge Canada Inc.: company overview and reviews

Teen Challenge Canada Inc.

Teen Challenge Canada Inc. ratings

Popular jobs at Teen Challenge Canada Inc.

Salary satisfaction

Job seeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected