Addiction in the Family Counseling

Catalog description

A major focus of this course is for students to skillfully perform addiction and substance abuse counseling, including adapting individual, group, marital, and family treatment techniques. In addition, an emphasis is given to the acquisition of the competencies for students to apply strength-based therapeutic strategies and interventions incorporating an understanding of biology and addiction across the life span with the treatment of eating disorders, gambling, shopping, sex, other behavioral addictions, and co-occurring mental disorders or disabilities. Additionally, strategies for prevention, retaining sobriety, and relapse prevention of addiction and substance abuse are acquired for working with individuals and families. Finally, students would study processes for addressing the treatment issues and characteristics of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, as well as the social aspects of addiction, including family risks and resiliencies, gender distinctions, and sexual orientation differences.