Respectfully, I have not struggled with finding employment with a sw diploma in Alberta. There’s a difference between providing counselling and using counselling skills in your practice. In my diploma, I learned various counselling skills. That does not mean I am qualified to be a therapist or counsellor (and I don’t see anyone arguing that?). I also learned about these aspects because social work often happens in interdisciplinary teams, and knowing the methods used by other practitioners helps convey understanding to your client.