Addiction Counseling Cert?

You paint a realistic picture, Dave. Some "life guards" just don't respond well to flailing swimmers. I am grateful for the addiction specialists, i.e. the nurses and therapists who have modeled genuine caring and understanding in the various treatment centers where I have worked. I have to laugh at some of the mental health professionals I have encontered over the years who devalue this kind of work. They think psychotherapists who work with addicts merely teach AA slogans or something. It doesn't occur to some of these people that advanced skills are required. Rarely are rookie therapists prepared for this kind of work.

 

Fascinating... Emphasis above is mine.

One issue that pertains to this attitude is that many, many people working in the mental health field are insufficiently trained to treat addictions; they may have been required to take three or six units of course work on substance abuse, but the body of knowledge is quite large and there is a significant experiential component culminating in licensure in some states and certification in the remaining states.

The absolute minimum for certification is about 21 semesters hours of substance abuse courses, a supervised internship, and 4,000 hours of clinical experience; licensure requires more education; so it would seem that most mental health workers have not attained the necessary credentials to comment on the treatment plans for addicted patients...

 

Yes, PatsFan, I agree... ...and what about the large body of knowledge outside of mental health (MH) counseling... I estimate there is between 33 and 39 semester hours of addictions and substance abuse (SA) related course work; this is not counseling or social work curricula; it is just addictions. Also, what about these three-hour long certifications exams by NAADAC, IC&RC, and AAHCPAD that seem similar only in scope to social work and counseling licensing exams; what are they all about? What pray-tell is the minimum 4000 hours of clinical experience in an SA abuse clinic all about?

I'm guessing there is a lot of "malpractice" going on with substance abuse treatment, with some folks being experientally and academic prepared in other disciplines, but completely unprepared to treat addiction-related disorders... Truly astonishing.

Recently, I attended a conference where two doctorally-prepared individuals gave a presentation on an integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment program that was fully funded by a large county. They weren't actually doing integrated treatment given what they presented. Moreover, they looked like I had kicked them in the stomach when I pondered, "How can you do integrated MH and SA treatment without any SA credentialed counselors on your treatment team? You don't even have any counselors in recovery. Moreover, you don't have a Psychiatrist on staff either? What is integrated about your treatment? This looks like a MH focused program that is doing little more than stabilizing folks with co-occurring disorders? When and how do you actually do SA interventions?!"

 

Addictions treatment is indeed a misunderstood field. I suppose if you don't buy into the disease model you might be more apt to see it as a symptom of some other mental health disorder. Disease or no disease, unless it is seen as a discrete disorder that requires specific skills and knowledge to treat it, well meaning mental health professionals without adequate training do more harm than good. I was pleased to see one insurance provider request to see a photocopy of my alcohol and drug counseling license recently before they would list substance abuse counseling as a specialty.

Tom

 

Yes, Tom, but given DSM-IV-TR definitions of substance abuse versus substance dependence, it seems clear (at least to me) that there is some sort of disorder...

 

I see addiction/dependence as a disease.

 

I think it depends on the client's history with the substance... Actually, I'm more concerned about what the client thinks it is. Oftentimes clients don't see the progressive, fatal nature of their usage and the consequences.

 

I have worked with some very good interpreters over the years in the counseling field. I have come to really appreciate the difference between professional interpretors and speakers of language x.

 

I'm still learning that with some patients... :

 

Still looking for Human Services certificate in Addiction/Substance Abuse Counselor that is - entirely online, in FL. Or specifically the following classes:
HUS1111, HUS2200, HUS2302 - offered online. I can transfer these 3 to the program I did find at St. Pete College that, like others do offer most online except these. I'm in Tallahassee but can't find this kind of program locally. Thanks, cnslgal :irked:

 

Are you attempting certification in Florida? If so, there may be other options.

 

I am looking to certify in FL, for now I want just a certificate or diploma program in addiction/substance abuse completely online and financial aid. What other alternatives? I did look at City Vision :question:

 

Hi Dave,
I'm not close to attempting certification yet, but yes in FL. I'd like to know what other options you speak of ~
Thanx, cnslgal

 

City Vision College Accreditation & NAADAC

FYI: City Vision College has been accredited by DETC since 2005.

The importance of NAADAC approval is the fact that the state bodies that confer addiction counselor certificate accept the training to fulfill initial certification and for continuing education credits.

-- Michael Liimatta