For assistance please contact ce@alliant.edu
Course Description
Addictions Counseling is oriented to the clinician in private practice; however, those working in private and public-sector programs have found it gives them a framework to think about how to improve their work or how their organization addresses challenges. The course begins an overview of the history and etiology of substance abuse including a medical approach to understanding substance abouse and treatment. We will examine evidence-based principles and practices, the profound impact of stigma, and emergent problems such as the opioid crisis, challenges of expanding marijuana use, and behavioral addictions. We will discuss the legal and ethical issues relatedto addictions. We will review screening, assessment and diagnosis and considerations in addressing the needs of clients with co-occurring mental disorders. Additionally, we will address treatment issues, from a recovery-oriented approach, in which the clinician addresses the client’s tasks at different stages of the process. This entails goal setting, breaking the addiction cycle, maintaining gains (relapse prevention) and working on quality of life issues. Finally, we will examine the role of families, clinicians and community resoureces in supporting addictions treatment and recovery.
This academic graduate-level course is designed to meet three-semester units of addictions counseling for LPCC licensing in California
Textbook
Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M. (2020). Foundations of addictions counseling. 4th edition. Pearson.
What is the format of the courses?
The courses are offered online as Independent Study. All course material will be online.
