ADC501: Fundamentals of Addiction Counseling

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce the student to current theories and causes of addictions and addictive behaviors, including strategies for prevention, intervention, and treatment. Students will learn about the different types of addiction, including substance use disorders, gambling addiction, and behavioral addictions, as well as the psychological, biological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to the development of addictive behaviors. The course will cover various approaches to addiction counseling, ethical and legal issues, and the role of the addiction counselor in facilitating individual and group therapy sessions. The course also describes appropriate counseling strategies when working with clients with addiction and co-occurring disorders in a multicultural society. Students will be trained in Christian counseling approaches to addiction in appropriate contexts.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Identify concepts from SAMHSA’s Transdisciplinary Foundations for Addiction Professionals including understanding addiction and its causes, treatment knowledge and application to practices.
2. Integrate the theory and practice of addiction counseling into a Christian worldview to effectively serve and apply professional ethics in secular counseling and Christian counseling environments.
3. Develop a career plan and licensure plan as appropriate based on your personal needs.
4. Practice motivational interviewing skills to help those recovering from addiction move toward change.
5. Utilize groups in addiction treatment plans including the use of 12-step groups.
6. Develop a comprehensive addiction treatment plan based on a case study.
7. Create a training manual for best practices of case management, referral and documentation.
8. Create a training plan and relapse prevention plan for clients as a part of their treatment plan.
9. Develop a comprehensive addiction treatment best-practices training manual for an organization including how the organization’s unique values inform its approach to addiction treatment.

Syllabus

Course Materials & Tuition