Professional Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy

Overview

This 15 hour interdisciplinary program prepares students to provide counseling or education services to individuals abusing or addicted to mood altering chemicals. Individuals who complete the program will be knowledgeable about physical and psychological effects of various chemicals and the etiology of addictions, and will have skills in prevention strategies, assessment procedures, intervention skills, and treatment of individuals abusing or addicted to drugs.

Enrollment in this program is restricted to students admitted to any of the following graduate programs: Psychology (Clinical option), Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, Nursing, Public Health, School Psychology, or Social Work, or other helping professional program with the approval of the certificate program coordinator. A second category of eligible students will include individuals who are licensed or license-eligible in any of the above areas. Prospective students must submit an application to the Coordinator of the Certificate Program in Addictions Counseling and Education in the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs.

Objectives

Students who complete this program will enhance their employment opportunities in the field of working with individuals at risk to abuse drugs, those abusing drugs and those addicted to drugs. Completion of the certificate will prepare qualified individuals to apply for specialized national and state certifications in addiction counseling.

Upon completion of the proposed certificate program, students will be:

• knowledgeable about major drug categories able to identify physical and psychological effects from abusing and being addicted to mood altering drugs

• able to describe long-term effects from use and addiction to drugs

• knowledgeable about physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms of drugs

• aware of treatment concerns when working within individuals abusing or addicted to drugs

• knowledgeable about the etiology of addictions

• familiar with theoretical orientations currently used in prevention, intervention or treatment of individual at risk, abusing or addicted to drugs

• able to demonstrate skills in applying theoretical orientation to the prevention of substance abuse or treatment of individuals at risk of, abusing or addicted to drugs

• able to review and demonstrate various assessment instruments and intake procedures appropriate for working with individuals at risk of, abusing or addicted to drugs

• able to research and gain experience in developing, monitoring, and supervising educational programs relating to alcohol and drug abuse and/or addiction

Requirements

The requirements for the Addictions Counseling & Education Certificate program are as follows:

Required Core (9 hours; taken sequentially):

• (CNS, PSY, SWRK) 637 Theories of Addictions (3 hours)
• (CNS, PSY, SWRK) 647 Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning (3 hours)
• (CNS, PSY, SWRK) 667 Substance Abuse and Dependency Counseling (3 hours)

Internship (3 hours)

After completion of the Required Core courses, the student will complete an Internship consisting of at least 300 hours of supervised experience related to addictions in the area of prevention, health education, intervention or treatment. The student’s major program advisor and the certificate program coordinator must approve the Internship site. Credit for Internship may be earned in any of the following courses:

• CNS 596 Internship
• PSY 592 Psychology Internship
• PH 546 Graduate Internship
• SWRK 560, 561, 660, or 661

Restricted Elective (3 hours)

Students must choose 3 credit hours from the following restricted electives in collaboration with the certificate program coordinator and the student's program advisor. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.

Applying to the Program

All individuals interested in being accepted into the Certificate program of study, need to complete an application and a Kentucky Security Police background check. (Links to the forms are below). Next, contact the Dr. Minatrea for a meeting to discuss goals, courses, and program of study.

Forms:

• Application for the Certificate in Addiction Counseling & Education ( PDF, MS Word)
• Kentucky Security Police background check( PDF, MS Word)

Contact Information

Students already admitted into a graduate program and currently pursuing courses can contact the Coordinator of this certificate for additional information. For those students not currently taking graduate classes, a graduate application needs to be completed. The graduate application is found on Graduate School's web page.