Counseling Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions

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Class
DAAC 2341
In this course we will look at special skills and techniques in the application of counseling skills for the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) client. Development and utilization of advanced treatment planning and management will be explored. The course will include both counseling styles as well as important characteristics of the counselor. It will also cover the difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment. The student will review the importance of confidentiality and ethical issues.

Student Conduct

Weatherford College has the responsibility and authority to formulate and enforce rules of student conduct that are appropriate and necessary to further the educational goals of the College and its students. Students who enroll must accept responsibility for their behavior and for their ultimate success in higher education. To create a positive climate for learning, Weatherford College expects all students to abide by a Code of Student Behavior.To summarize:

Students must maintain high standards of scholastic honesty. Violations of the Code of Student Behavior include, but are not limited to cheating on tests or assignments, plagiarism, and collusion; violence or threats of violence, loud or abusive language, and failure to comply with the direction of College officials and instructors.

Grade Information

Class assignments & participation will consist of on-line quizzes, internet searches, class dialogues, and glossaries. Class participation will consist of completion of discussion questions, group interaction, role plays, and appropriate interaction with instructor and other students during lectures.

Exams will consist of multiple-choice, true/false, and short answers taken from text and lecture notes.

Attendance

Your attendance is the biggest predictor of your success. Attendance at every class is expected. If you miss a class it is expected that you will contact your instructor by email or telephone message. If it is an emergency, please contact me within 24 hours. If for some reason you expect to miss a lot of classes it is recommended that you contact your instructor to discuss possible options.

Course Learning Objectives

  1. Describe and demonstrate the central concepts of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counseling with individuals, groups, and families; discuss issues of confidentiality and ethics as they apply to the AOD client; and discuss the relationship between case management and AOD counseling including relapse prevention, self-help recovery programs, stress management, discharge planning, and aftercare.
  2. Discuss the first contact between the counselor and client.
    1. Understand the motivation interview
    2. Present how to develop the therapeutic alliance
    3. List questions to ask the adult client
    4. Describe the natural history of addiction
    5. Explain how to diagnose an addiction problem
    6. Discuss how to assess motivation of the client
    7. List motivating strategies
  3. Explain individual treatment
    1. Identify the therapeutic alliance, showing how it is developed and reinforced using empathy. Be aware of transference and countertransference, and the benefits of confrontation.
    2. List the elements of behavior therapy such as reinforcement, punishment, and the behavior chain.
    3. Discuss cognitive therapy, looking at defense mechanisms and faulty thinking of chemically dependent people. Be aware of automatic thoughts, how to correct inaccurate thoughts, and solidify accurate thinking.
    4. Describe interpersonal therapy looking at how to develop healthy relationships, building a relationship with a Higher Power, how to use feelings appropriately, how to change relationships, and how to handle grief.
  4. List individual assignments use in chemical dependence counseling.
    1. Identify the chemical use history
    2. Discuss the importance of honesty
    3. Describe the importance of love, trust, and commitment in client’s life
    4. Present the need to be aware of one’s feelings
    5. Build relationship skills
    6. Discuss communication skills
    7. Look at self-discipline and impulse control
    8. Explain the importance of relapse prevention
    9. Demonstrate stress management
  5. Explain the first five steps of the twelve steps of Alcoholic Anonymous
    1. Discuss the powerlessness presented in step one
    2. Describe how to help clients accept a Higher Power
    3. Demonstrate how the client can learn to embrace step three
    4. Discuss the benefits of taking a personal inventory
    5. List the benefits of sharing your step four inventory with another person
  6. Present special problems that may exist in a chemical dependent client
    1. Explain the psychiatric/psychological assessment
    2. Demonstrate how to develop the treatment plan
    3. Show how to assess and treat a depressed client
    4. Discuss the process of grief
    5. Identify the different signs of suicide
    6. Present the “angry client” and how to deal with them, looking at assertiveness skills, disengagement, time out, and the duty to warn.
    7. List the different mental illnesses associated with chemical dependency such as the antisocial personality, the borderline client, the narcissistic client, the anxious client, and the psychotic client.
    8. Discuss AIDS/HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases associated with chemical dependency.
    9. Explain the dangers of love in the treatment center.
    10. Demonstrate how the twelve steps, honesty, and relapse would work for the pathological gambler.
  7. Describe the clinical staff and their responsibilities
    1. List the members of the staff such as physician, psychologist, nurse, clinical director, clinical supervisor, chemical dependency counselor, rehabilitation technician or aide, and the activities coordinator.
    2. Explain the process of team building
    3. Discuss the importance of boundaries
    4. Present the possibility of staff-client problems
  8. List the characteristics of the good counselor
    1. Enjoy their work
    2. Do not become overly involved
    3. Do not lie
    4. Practice gentleness with the client
    5. Good counselors love themselves
    6. They are sensitive with others
    7. They do not become overly emotional
    8. Good counselors are active listeners
    9. Good counselors maintain boundaries with others
    10. Lastly they have a good code of ethics
Required Textbooks

Below is a listing of the books required or recommended for this class.

Perkinson, R., Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide 4th ed. Sage Publications.

Recommended

Getting Ready to Test: A review/Preparation Manual for Drug and Alcohol Credentialing Examinations, 6th ed.

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.
Hope Statement
Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).
Revised
Fall 2021
Last Modified
Wednesday, September 8, 2021, 3:35 PM