Drug/Alcohol Abuse Counseling

Students will obtain an overview of: abused substances and addictions; the addiction field, including treatment approaches and modalities; theoretical models applied to understanding abuse and addictions; trends in alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, abuse, addiction and treatment.

Students are exposed to the generic components of helping across various healthcare settings. This course enables students to examine in depth their personal fitness for pursuing a career as a professional helper. It also provides a background for specialized study in each specialization area.

This course offers an introduction to addiction theories and treatment models and methods. Students will learn how to conduct assessment for and diagnosis of substance abuse and addiction disorders, the effects of substances and addictions on the client and others, etiology of substance use concerns, and best practices in counseling and treatment.

This course will provide an introduction to the helping relationship, especially as it relates to counseling. Students will be challenged to consider their motivations, needs, and goals related to the art of helping. Students will engage in a community service learning project as part of exploring the nature of the helping relationship. Students will also be introduced to basic attitudes, dispositions, and skills needed for helping relationships and counseling.

This course introduces students to the study of cultural patterns, including multiple dimensions of difference. Theories of multicultural counseling, identity development and social justice are addressed. The roles of counselors and other professional helpers in eliminating oppression and promoting the dignity of all persons are addressed.

Students learn about specific addictions and their respective treatment. Students also learn the causes and consequences of substance related and addictive disorders and the major drug classifications. Students will learn about both chemical and behavioral addictions.

This course provides an exploration of the legal, ethical and professional choices faced by mental health practitioners. Introduces the standards of ethical behavior in the addiction counseling field, with particular emphasis on client confidentiality and ethical decision-making.

This course provides counselors with an overview of the processes and theories involved with counseling groups and families. More specifically, the focus is on preparing students to think systemically and to learn about group and family concepts, dynamics, theories and techniques.

An introduction to clinical documentation and record-keeping. Specific attention will be paid to session and treatment plan documentation requirements of mental health professionals.

Students in this course will learn basic principles of professional writing and communication as it relates to the field of substance abuse counseling. Students will demonstrate knowledge of professional writing and speaking through experiential activities including evaluating and writing academic papers, implementation of APA principles, and using professional writing techniques to communicate effectively, and presentation.

Students explore and identify maladaptive behavior including characteristics, classifications, diagnoses, and treatment modalities. Topics include factors associated with defining and identifying abnormal behavior.

This course will investigate a broad range of addictions including psychoactive substances (eg. alcohol, opioids, stimulants, etc.) and process addictions (eg. gambling, internet gaming). The complex biopsychosocial disease process of addiction will be investigated. There will be emphasis on the physiological brain responses and health consequences of substance use disorders. Students will learn how to apply the criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorders.

The focus of this course will be on the social reality of drug use and drug users within contemporary society. It will include a historical analysis of the social construction of drug use, drug users, abuse, and addiction. The content will also include an investigation of the complex relationships between individual and group behavior, and social structure. Central concepts such as social learning, labeling, power, and inequality, as well as socio-cultural definitions of drugs, behavior, and the people who use drugs will be used. Special attention will be given to the complex legal history surrounding drug use, the link between drugs and crime, the impact of the medicalization of human behavior, and varying perspectives.

This course offers a practicum experience of 150 or more clock hours. The course engages the student in group supervision to accompany a clinical field placement. Written and oral presentations accompanied by audio and video recordings form the basis of the supervisory process.

Students in this course will explore various types of substances abused, including psychological and physiological impact, tolerance, withdrawal, and drug interactions. Students will also explore diagnosis criteria for various addictions, including the assessment and screening available for addictions.

An examination of diverse crisis situations and the assessment and treatment strategies used by counselors to assist individuals, groups and organizations manage and resolve those crises.

This course offers a practicum experience of 150 or more clock hours. The course engages the student in group supervision to accompany a clinical field placement. Written and oral presentations accompanied by audio and video recordings form the basis of the supervisory process.

Students engage in a supervised field education experience of at least 150 hours in an approved agency appropriate to human service. Students integrate classroom knowledge, values, and ethics with practice, with the goal of increasing practical skills and promoting professional competence in the field of human service.