AC- Addiction Counseling

AC 501  Chemical Dependency Counseling I: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, and SCNS-MED majors only. This course will provide an overall introduction to addiction counseling. The class will also provide an introduction to the assessment and treatment of alcoholism and other chemical dependencies, with emphasis on the application of specific clinical strategies to this specialized problem area. Since substance abuse may underlie or coexist with a variety of other problems, including family violence, mental illness, health issues, etc., the mental health professional trained in the assessment and treatment of chemical dependency will be better able to assess and intervene appropriately.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Learn, develop and practice skills, techniques, strategies specific to addiction counseling.
  2. Describe the addictive process as it affects family structure and the roles characteristically assumed by family members in the presence of addiction.
  3. Recognize personal values and biases regarding substance use and abuse, and to distinguish these from empirical data.
  4. Explore theories and models of addiction related to substance use.
  5. Identify roles and settings of addiction counselors.
  6. Identify the importance of vocation, family, social networks, and community systems in the addiction treatment and recovery process.
  7. Describe techniques and interventions related to substance abuse and other addictions
  8. Identify strategies for reducing the persisting negative effects of substance use, abuse, dependence, and addictive disorders
  9. Develop strategies for helping clients identify the effects of addiction on life problems and the effects of continued harmful use or abuse, and the benefits of a life without addiction
  10. Evaluate and identify individualized strategies and treatment modalities relative to client’s stage of dependence, change, or recovery

AC 502  Psychopharmacology and Addictions: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, and SCNS-MED majors only. This course examines medications that are commonly prescribed for psychiatric disabilities; descriptions of medication effects, interaction, and side effects.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Understand statistical and psychometric concepts as they apply to assessment and evaluation including: test standardization, validity, reliability, norms, measures of central tendency, standard error of measurement (SEM), standard scores, and percentile scores.
  2. Demonstrate effective report-writing skills that link assessment results to meaningful implications, recommendations, intervention and/or treatment plans in addictions settings.
  3. Understand the role of assessment in case conceptualization, clinical diagnosis, and treatment planning in addictions.
  4. Successfully select, administer, score and interpret a variety of addictions assessment instruments.
  5. Identify, apply, analyze, and interpret a variety of formal and informal assessment/appraisal tools and techniques including: observations, behavioral assessments, interviews, inventories, rating scales, self-report inventories, measures of cognitive ability, personality measures, projective assessment, and measures of academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, adaptive behavior, and family and other environmental systems.
  6. Apply knowledge of addictions assessment/appraisal tools and methods to interpret data and formulate intervention/treatment plans.

AC 503  Assessment, Treatment, Planning, and Ethics of Addiction Counseling I: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(F) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, and SCNS-MED majors only. This course is designed to examine the psychological, behavioral, sociological, and cultural underpinnings in the assessment and treatment of clients affected by addictions. The course explores a variety of helping strategies for reducing the negative effects of substance use, abuse, dependence, and addictive disorders (CACREP, Section III, C.5.). Ethical issues related to the field of Addictions Counseling will also be explored. Department of Health Human Development.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. History and theory basis for assessment. (CACREP 7a)
  2. Role of appraisal/assessment, evaluation, testing and in the additions counseling field (CACREP 7.a)
  3. Statistical and psychometric concepts- test standardization, validity, reliability, norms, measures of central tendency, standard error of measurement (SEM), standard scores, and percentile scores. (CACREP 7.b, c, d, e)
  4. Assessment/appraisal tools and methods  (CACREP 7; MFC G.1, 2; MH G.1, 2, 4; SC G.3; H.1, 2, 3 )
  5. Introduction to a variety of formal and informal assessment/appraisal tools and techniques including: observations, behavioral assessments, interviews, inventories, rating scales, self-report inventories, measures of cognitive ability, personality measures, projective assessment, and measures of academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, adaptive behavior, and family and other environmental systems. (CACREP 7; MFC G.1, 2; MH G.1, 2, 4; MH K.4; SC G.3)
  6. Ethical/legal issues regarding assessment in counseling, specifically, addictions counseling (CACREP 7.g)
  7. Best practices in multicultural assessment related to minority and culturally diverse populations (CACREP 7.f)
  8. The role of assessment in case conceptualization, clinical diagnosis and treatment planning in addictions. (CACREP 7; MFC G.1, 2; MH G.1, 2, 4; SC G.3 )
  9. General knowledge of threat assessment, including threats towards self and others. (CACREP 7, MFC A.7, MH A.9, SC A.6)
  10. Report-writing skills that link addictions assessment results to meaningful implications, recommendations, intervention and/or treatment plans. (CACREP 7; MFC H.1; SC H3)
  11. Consultation/collaboration with consumers and other professionals in disseminating assessment results.

AC 504  Alcohol and Drug Studies: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(F) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, SCNS-MED, and HLTH-MS majors only. This course is designed to offer in-depth exploration of alcohol and drug studies. Students will integrate overview information with cutting edge research within the field of addictions as it pertains to a particular population or topic specific to addiction counseling.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate their knowledge of drugs and neurotransmission by constructing a handout explaining how neurotransmission works in relation to drug use to a layperson.
  2. Describe the methods of ingestion, benefits, and psychophysiological side effects of various drugs and drug classes.
  3. Evaluate the role of alcohol and drug studies on practices and policies relating to drug use and addiction.
  4. Develop treatment and prevention interventions to improve clients’, families’, and communities’ well-being in relation to alcohol and drug studies.

AC 505  Cross Cultural & Ethical Considerations in Addictions Counseling: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Su) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, SCNS-MED, and HLTH-MS majors only. This course is designed to examine cultural and ethical constructs related to addictions counseling. The focus will be on current literature, theories, approaches, strategies, and techniques shown to be effective when working with populations of clients with addictions.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate and apply ethical and legal standards in addictions counseling across diverse cultural contexts.
  2. Enhance self-awareness and cultural competence as an addictions counselor.
  3. Promote equity and accessibility in addictions treatment and prevention.
  4. Analyze the role of culture and ethics in evidence-based counseling systems and interventions for addictions treatment and prevention.

AC 506  Group Counseling in Addictions Settings: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(F) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, SCNS-MED, and HLTH-MS majors only. This course provides students with the foundational concepts of group counseling within addiction settings. Topics will include group development, group roles, leadership roles/interventions, group planning/development, multicultural issues, and ethical issues relating to group counseling within addictions settings.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Ability to identify phases of group development.
  2. Ability to identify similarities and differences between various approaches to group counseling.
  3. Knowledge of group membership roles.
  4. Knowledge and skills to form an alliance between leader and members and to facilitate alliance between members.
  5. Knowledge and skills to identify and work with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes in a group setting.\\n
  6. Knowledge of the process that goes into developing a group experience.\\n
  7. Sensitivity to cultural differences experienced in a group setting.
  8. Ability to apply general principles to specific group methods and group populations.
  9. Knowledge of group leadership styles including experience of leading group.

AC 507  Systems and Settings in Addictions Counseling: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, SCNS-MED, and HLTH-MS majors only. This course fulfills the Treatment Planning and Documentation requirement for licensure as an Addictions Counselor in Montana. You will learn about systemic perspectives in addiction counseling, roles and duties of addictions counselors, addiction counseling licensure/certification, careers in addiction counseling, and clinical documentation in various addictions settings.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Ability to utilize motivational techniques in a group setting.
  2. Ability to utilize cognitive behavioral techniques from an addictions perspective in a group experience.
  3. Knowledge of challenging client situations and how to best deal with those situations.
  4. Knowledge of assessments to utilize in a group context.
  5. Ability to apply and use knowledge gained in Group Counseling in Addictions Settings I to a more specific theoretical approach.

AC 508  Counseling Theories in Addiction Settings: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Su) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, and SCNS-MED majors only. This course examines multiple counseling theories and their application in the addictions setting. Development across the lifespan and theoretical approaches specific to addiction will also be examined.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. identify and interpret rational-emotive-behavioral theory, behavioral modification theory, control/reality theory, person-centered theory, psychoanalytic theory, Adlerian individual theory, Gestalt theory, solution-focused therapy, and motivational enhancement therapy.
  2. apply general principals of counseling theories and family systems approaches to addiction counseling.
  3. identify and review the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
  4. explore and identify the relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence
  5. Knowledge of cognitive, physical, social and emotional developmental theory and stages across the lifespan.

AC 509  Assess Treat Plan Addiction II: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, and SCNS-MED majors only. This course covers addiction assessment and patient placement, including the American Society of Addiction Medicine Patient Placement Criteria. The course explores a variety of helping strategies for reducing the negative effects of substance use, abuse, dependence, and addictive disorders. Department of Health Human Development.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Identify the roles, functions, and settings of addiction counselors, as well as the relationship between addiction counselors and other mental health professionals (CACREP, Section III, A.3).
  2. Identify the professional organizations, competencies, preparation standards, and state credentials relevant to the practice of addiction counseling (CACREP, Section III, A.4).
  3. Explain various models and approaches to clinical evaluation for addictive disorders and their appropriate uses, including screening and assessment for addiction, diagnostic interviews, mental status examination, symptom inventories, and psychoeducational and personality assessments (CACREP, Section III. G.1) and knows specific assessment of biopsychosocial and spiritual history (CACREP, Section III, G3).
  4. Selects appropriate comprehensive assessment interventions to assist in diagnosis and treatment planning, with an awareness of cultural bias in the implementation and interpretation of assessment protocols.
  5. Screens for psychoactive substance toxicity, intoxication, and withdrawal symptoms; aggression or danger to others; potential for self-inflicted harm or suicide; and co-occurring mental and/or addictive disorders.
  6. Identify a variety of models and theories of addiction related to substance use and other addictions (CACREP, III, A. 5) and practice individualized helping strategies and treatment modalities to each client’s stage of dependence, change, or recovery (CACREP, III, D.2)
  7. Define the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of psychoactive substances and addictive disorders on the user (CACREP, Section III. A. 6) and recognize the importance of the family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment and recovery process (CACREP, Section III, C. 3).
  8. Identify the impact of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on persons with addictions (CACREP, Section III. A.9) and understand the principles of intervention for persons with addictions during times of crisis, disasters, and other trauma-causing events (CACREP, Section III. C.8).
  9. Applies assessment of clients' addictive disorders to the stages of dependence, change, or recovery to determine the appropriate treatment modality and placement criteria in the continuum of care.
  10. Describe the established diagnostic and clinical criteria for addictive disorders and describes treatment modalities and placement criteria within the continuum of care.
  11. Explain the relevance and potential cultural biases of commonly used diagnostic tools as related to clients with addictive disorders in multicultural populations.

AC 510  Chem Dependency Counseling II: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(F) ACCO-CERT, CNSL-MS, and SCNS-MED majors only. This course provides instruction on chemical dependency counseling, emphasizing specific clinical strategies. Substance abuse may coexist with other problems, professionals trained in comprehensive understanding of addiction will be better able to assess, intervene and counsel clients.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Identify assessment tools used in the treatment of chemical dependency.
  2. Identify the meaning behind the 12 steps of AA/NA and be able to describe the ways in which support groups may be utilized in the treatment of chemical dependency.
  3. Identify special issues affecting minority populations in the prevention, identification and treatment of chemical dependency.
  4. Gain an understanding of the connection between trauma and addiction.
  5. Define the following terms as they apply to the treatment of chemical dependency: abuse, addiction, dependency, enabling, codependent, denial, confrontation, intervention, detoxification, DT’s, withdrawal, relapse.
  6. Describe special issues faced by females and parents in the treatment process.
  7. Identify special issues related to HIV and treatment of chemical dependency.
  8. Describe the addictive process as it affects family structure and the roles characteristically assumed by family members in the presence of addiction.
  9. Recognize personal values and biases regarding substance use and abuse, and to distinguish these from empirical data. In addition the student will be able to describe how these values and biases may affect the treatment process.
  10. Understand how spirituality and healing contribute to sobriety.
  11. Identify special issues in adolescent treatment.
  12. Gain intervention techniques with the dual-diagnosed client
  13. Learn, develop and practice skills, techniques, and strategies specific to addiction counseling.

AC 591  Special Topics: 1-4 Credits ()