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Addiction Counselor Precertification Training Online

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Click here to sign up for unlimited, self-study online training for $399

Many states like Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan and New Jersey will permit people to get the addiction-specific addiction precertification education online from a NAADAC approved education provider, like AllCEUs.  Check to see if your state does

Who Should Choose This Option?

If your state allows it, you are self-disciplined and have some knowledge of addiction and the treatment process already, this would be a good choice for you.  Compared to the face to face and the live webinar options, this one has much less hand-holding and interaction from the instructor.  If you prefer to have accountability, and/or a lot of feedback and graded assignments, our blended, self-study optionwebinar series or face to face training might be better options.

Don’t worry. You won’t be all alone.

  • You can reach your instructors via their personal chat pages from 8am-8pm EST 7 days a week for people enrolled in the track.  Students can use these personal chat pages to receive one-on-one feedback. We want to make sure you succeed, pass your licensure exam.

This certificate indicates that you have completed a minimum course curriculum in addictions studies. It is designed to prepare you for your state certification exam and is NOT a replacement for state certification.  This “course” is designed to walk you through the courses that are recommended for precertification education.

 What Will I Learn?

  • Clinical Evaluation: 35+ hours
  • Treatment Planning: 30+ hours
  • Counseling: 50+ hours
  • Case Management and Referral: 10+ hours
  • Client, Family and Community Education: 15+ hours
  • Documentation: 15 hours
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibilities: 30 hours
  • Administrative Supervision: 15 hours
  • Clinical Supervision: 16 Hours
  • Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge: 80 hours
  • Application to Practice/Professional Readiness: 80 hours*
    *Must include at least 4 hours of HIV/AIDS and 2 hours of Domestic Violence

 

Screening Objectives

  • Establish rapport, including management of crisis situation and determination of need for additional professional assistance.
  • Gather data systematically from the client and other available collateral sources, using screening instruments and other methods that are sensitive to age, developmental level, culture, and gender. At a minimum, data should include current and historic substance use; health, mental health, and substance related treatment history; mental status; and current social, environmental, and/or economic constraints.
  • Screen for psychoactive substance toxicity, intoxication, and withdrawal symptoms; aggression or danger to others; potential for self-inflicted harm or suicide; and coexisting mental health problems.
  • Assist the client in identifying the impact of substance use on his or her current life problems and the effects of continued harmful use or abuse.
  • Determine the client's readiness for treatment and change as well as the needs of others involved in the current situation.
  • Review the treatment options that are appropriate for the client's needs, characteristics, goals, and financial resources
  • Apply accepted criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorders in making treatment recommendations.
  • Construct with client and appropriate others an initial action plan based on client needs, preferences, and resources available.
  • Based on initial action plan, take specific steps to initiate an admission or referral and ensure follow-through.

Screening Courses
Screening for Co-Occurring Disorders (4 Hours)
Clinical Evaluation Screening for Crisis (4 Hours)
Screening Review (2 Hours)

 

Assessment Objectives

  • An ongoing process through which the counselor collaborates with the client and others to gather and interpret information necessary for planning treatment and evaluating client progress.
  • Select and use a comprehensive assessment process that is sensitive to age, gender, racial and ethnic cultural issues, and disabilities
  • Analyze and interpret the data to determine treatment recommendations.
  • Seek appropriate supervision and consultation.
  • Document assessment findings and treatment recommendations.

Assessment Courses
Assessment and Screening of Co-Occurring Disorders (20 Hours)
Assessment Tools: Selection, Administration and Interpretation (4 Hours)
Assessment Review (2 Hours)
Understanding Readiness for Change (4 Hours)

 

Counseling Individuals and Families Objectives

  • Establish a helping relationship with the client characterized by warmth, respect, genuineness, concreteness, and empathy.
  • Facilitate the client's engagement in the treatment and recovery process.
  • Work with the client to establish realistic, achievable goals consistent with achieving and maintaining recovery.
  • Promote client knowledge, skills, and attitudes that contribute to a positive change in substance use behaviors.
  • Encourage and reinforce client actions determined to be beneficial in progressing toward treatment goals.
  • Work appropriately with the client to recognize and discourage all behaviors inconsistent with progress toward treatment goals.
  • Recognize how, when, and why to involve the client's significant others in enhancing or supporting the treatment plan.
  • Promote client knowledge, skills, and attitudes consistent with the maintenance of health and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and other infectious diseases
  • Facilitate the development of basic and life skills associated with recovery.
  • Adapt counseling strategies to the individual characteristics of the client, including but not limited to, disability, gender, sexual orientation, developmental level, culture, ethnicity, age, and health status
  • Make constructive therapeutic responses when client's behavior is inconsistent with stated recovery goals.
  • Apply crisis management skills.
  • Facilitate the client's identification, selection, and practice of strategies that help sustain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for maintaining treatment progress and preventing relapse.
  • Understand the characteristics and dynamics of families, couples, and significant others affected by substance use.
  • Be familiar with and appropriately use models of diagnosis and intervention for families, couples, and significant others, including extended, kinship, or tribal family structures.
  • Facilitate the engagement of selected members of the family, couple, or significant others in the treatment and recovery process.
  • Assist families, couples, and significant others to understand the interaction between the system and substance use behaviors.
  • Assist families, couples, and significant others to adopt strategies and behaviors that sustain recovery and maintain healthy relationships.

Group Counseling Objectives

  • Facilitate the entry of new members and the transition of exiting members
  • Facilitate group growth within the established ground rules and movement toward group and individual goals by using methods consistent with group type.
  • Understand the concepts of process and content, and shift the focus of the group when such an intervention will help the group move toward its goals.
  • Describe and summarize client behavior within the group for the purpose of documenting the client's progress and identifying needs and issues that may require a modification in the treatment plan.

Counseling Courses
Counseling Theories (2 Hours)
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (4 Hours)
Brief Interventions (4 Hours)
Group Counseling (20 Hours)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (8 Hours)
Behavior Modification Basics (6 Hours)
Cognitive Behavioral (4 Hours)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Principles (6 Hours)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills for Happiness (6 Hours)

 

Treatment Planning Objectives

  • Obtain and interpret all relevant assessment information.
  • Explain assessment findings to the client and significant others involved in potential treatment.
  • Provide the client and significant others with clarification and further information as needed.
  • Examine treatment implications in collaboration with the client and significant others.
  • Confirm the readiness of the client and significant others to participate in treatment.
  • Prioritize client needs in the order they will be addressed.
  • Formulate mutually agreed upon and measurable treatment outcome statements for each need.
  • Identify appropriate strategies for each outcome.
  • Coordinate treatment activities and community resources with prioritized client needs in a manner consistent with the client's diagnosis and existing placement criteria.
  • Develop with the client a mutually acceptable plan of action and method for monitoring and evaluating progress.
  • Inform client of confidentiality rights, program procedures that safeguard them, and the exceptions imposed by regulations.
  • Reassess the treatment plan at regular intervals and/or when indicated by changing circumstances.

Treatment Planning Courses
Treatment Plan Creation and Implementation (10 Hours)
Treatment Planning Using the CASSP Model (4 Hours)
Treatment Planning for Depression Using a Biopsychosocial, Strengths Based Approach (3 Hours)
Treatment Planning for Depressive Symptoms in Early Recovery: TIP 48 (10 Hours)
Treatment Planning for Bipolar Disorder Using a Strengths-Based, Biopsychosocial Approach (2 Hours)
Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Planning and the Integrated Summary (2 Hours)

 

Documentation Objectives

  • Demonstrate knowledge of accepted principles of client record management.
  • Protect client rights to privacy and confidentiality in the preparation and handling of records, especially in relation to the communication of client information with third parties.
  • Prepare accurate and concise screening, intake, and assessment reports.
  • Record treatment and continuing care plans that are consistent with agency standards and comply with applicable administrative rules.
  • Record progress of client in relation to treatment goals and objectives.
  • Prepare accurate and concise discharge summaries.
  • Document treatment outcome, using accepted methods and instruments.

Documentation Courses
Documentation Overview (4 Hours)
Writing the Integrated Summary (4 Hours)
Overview of Documentation Guidelines (4 Hours)
Orientation (2 Hours)
Progress Notes (2 Hours)
Documentation Review (2 Hours)

 

Referral & Service Coordination Objectives

  • Initiate collaboration with referral source.
  • Obtain, review, and interpret all relevant screening, assessment, and initial treatment-planning information.
  • Confirm the client's eligibility for admission and continued readiness for treatment and change.
  • Complete necessary administrative procedures for admission to treatment.
  • Establish accurate treatment and recovery expectations with the client and involved significant others
  • Coordinate all treatment activities with services provided to the client by other resources.
  • Summarize client's personal and cultural background, treatment plan, recovery progress, and problems inhibiting progress for purpose of assuring quality of care, gaining feedback, and planning changes in the course of treatment.
  • Understand terminology, procedures, and roles of other disciplines related to the treatment of substance use disorders.
  • Contribute as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
  • Apply confidentiality regulations appropriately.
  • Demonstrate respect and non-judgmental attitudes toward clients in all contacts with community professionals and agencies.
  • Maintain ongoing contact with client and involved significant others to ensure adherence to the treatment plan.
  • Understand and recognize stages of change and other signs of treatment progress.
  • Assess treatment and recovery progress and, in consultation with the client and significant others, make appropriate changes to the treatment plan to ensure progress toward treatment goals.
  • Describe and document treatment process, progress, and outcome.
  • Use accepted treatment outcome measures.
  • Conduct continuing care, relapse prevention, and discharge planning with the client and involved significant others.
  • Document service coordination activities throughout the continuum of care.
  • Apply placement, continued stay, and discharge criteria for each modality on the continuum of care.

Referral and Service Coordination Courses
Referral and Service Coordination within a Recovery Oriented System of Care (6 Hours)
Linking Patients to Wrap Around Services (4 Hours)
Case Management and Vocational Service Integration (3 Hours)
Recovery Oriented System of Care (8 Hours)

 

Ethics and Professional Responsibilities Objectives

  • Understand diverse cultures and incorporate the relevant needs of culturally diverse groups, as well as people with disabilities, into clinical practice.
  • Understand the importance of self-awareness in one's personal, professional, and cultural life.
  • Understand the addiction professional's obligations to adhere to ethical and behavioral standards of conduct in the helping relationship.
  • Understand the importance of ongoing supervision and continuing education in the delivery of client services.
  • Understand the obligation of the addiction professional to participate in prevention as well as treatment.

Ethics and Professional Responsibilities Courses
Confidentiality, Ethics and HITECH Overview (3 Hours)
Ethics and Boundary Issues (3 Hours) (Competency 115)
Ethics and Consumer Driven Treatment (3 Hours)
Ethics and Professional Development (4 Hours)
Ethics Boundaries and Decision Making (3 Hours)
Ethics Pitfalls and NonMalfeasance (3 Hours)
Ethics and Burnout Prevention Competency (4 Hours)
Child and Elder Abuse Indicators and Interventions (20 Hours)

 

Client and Community Education Objectives

  • Provide culturally relevant formal and informal education programs that raise awareness and support substance abuse prevention and/or the recovery process.
  • Describe factors that increase the likelihood for an individual, community, or group to be at-risk for, or resilient to, psychoactive substance use disorders.
  • Sensitize others to issues of cultural identity, ethnic background, age, and gender in prevention, treatment, and recovery.
  • Describe warning signs, symptoms, and the course of substance use disorders.
  • Describe how substance use disorders affect families and concerned others.
  • Describe the continuum of care and resources available to family and concerned others.
  • Describe principles and philosophy of prevention, treatment, and recovery.
  • Understand and describe the health and behavior problems related to substance use, including transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS, TB, STDs, and other infectious diseases.
  • Teach life skills, including but not limited to, stress management, relaxation, communication, assertiveness, and refusal skills.

Client and Community Education Courses
Adult Education and Learning Theory (6 Hours)
Biopsychosocial Impact of Co-Occurring Disorders on the Individual, Family, Community (3 Hours)
Biopsychosocial Effects of Co-Occurring Disorders 2017 Part 1 (2 Hours)
Biopsychosocial Effects of Co-Occurring Disorders 2017 Part 2 (2 Hours)
Community Outreach and Principles of Adult Education (2 Hours)

 

Understanding Addiction Objectives

  • Understand a variety of models and theories of addiction and other problems related to substance use.
  • Recognize the social, political, economic, and cultural context within which addiction and substance abuse exist, including risk and resiliency factors that characterize individuals and groups and their living environments.
  • Describe the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of psychoactive substances on the user and significant others.
  • Recognize the potential for substance use disorders to mimic a variety of medical and psychological disorders and the potential for medical and psychological disorders to co-exist with addiction and substance abuse.

Treatment Knowledge Objectives

  • Describe the philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addiction and other substance-related problems.
  • Recognize the importance of family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment and recovery process.
  • Understand the importance of research and outcome data and their application in clinical practice.
  • Understand the value of an interdisciplinary approach to addiction treatment.

Understanding Addiction and Treatment Knowledge Courses
Models and Theories of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders (2 Hours)
Sociological Approach to Risk and Resilience (2 Hours)
Biopsychosocial Effects of Co-Occurring Disorders Part 1 (2 Hours)
Biopsychosocial Effects of Co-Occurring Disorders Part 2 (2 Hours)
Human Development and Mental Health Part 1 (2 Hours)
Human Development & Mental Health Part 2 (2 Hours)
Differential Diagnosis and Common Co-Occurring Issues: Mood, Physical or Addiction (4 Hours) Competency 4
DSM V Effective Diagnosis (8 Hours)
Patient Placement Criteria (4 Hours)
Models of Treatment: Old and New Approaches (2 Hours)
Role of the Family & Community in Prevention and Treatment (2 Hours)
Effective Application of Multidisciplinary Research//Using Research to Enhance Your Practice (2 Hours)
Mindfulness: What It Is & Why It Is Important (2 Hours)
Mindfulness for Co-Occurring Disorders (2 Hours)
Hardiness, Resilience and Relaxation Skills (4 Hours)
Happiness Habits (2 Hours)
Life Skills (4 Hours)
Managing Depressive Symptoms in Early Recovery (10 Hours) TIP 48
Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors (15 Hours) TIP 50
Assisting Families Through Transitions (5 Hours)
Understanding and Engaging the Addicted Family (4 Hours)
Understanding and Recreating the Healthy Family System (4 Hours)

Application to Practice Objectives

  • Understand the established diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders and describe treatment modalities and placement criteria within the continuum of care.
  • Describe a variety of helping strategies for reducing the negative effects of substance use, abuse, and dependence.
  • Tailor helping strategies and treatment modalities to the client’s stage of dependence, change, or recovery.
  • Provide treatment services appropriate to the personal and cultural identity and language of the client.
  • Adapt practice to the range of treatment settings and modalities.
  • Be familiar with medical and pharmacological resources in the treatment of substance use disorders.
  • Understand the variety of insurance and health maintenance options available and the importance of helping clients access those benefits.
  • Recognize that crisis may indicate an underlying substance use disorder and may be a window of opportunity for change.
  • Understand the need for and the use of methods for measuring treatment outcome.

Professional Readiness Objectives

  • Understand diverse cultures and incorporate the relevant needs of culturally diverse groups, as well as people with disabilities, into clinical practice.
  • Understand the importance of self-awareness in one’s personal, professional, and cultural life.
  • Understand the addiction professional’s obligations to adhere to ethical and behavioral standards of conduct in the helping relationship.
  • Understand the importance of ongoing supervision and continuing education in the delivery of client services.
  • Understand the obligation of the addiction professional to participate in prevention as well as treatment.
  • Understand and apply setting-specific policies and procedures for handling crisis or dangerous situations, including safety
  • measures for clients and staff.

Application to Practice and Professional Readiness Courses
Multicultural Issues in Counseling (20 Hours)
Cultural Awareness LGBTQI2 (4 Hours)
Psychopharmacology Part 1 (6 Hours)
Psychopharmacology Part 2 (6 Hours)
Substance Exposure and FASD (2 Hours)
Relapse Prevention and Continuing Care (10 Hours)
Neurological Impact of Trauma (14 Hours)
Sex Addiction (4 Hours)
Co-Dependency (2 Hours)
Trauma-Informed Care A Sociocultural Perspective | TIP 57 (3 Hours)
Trauma-Informed Care Trauma Awareness | TIP 57 (3 Hours)
Trauma Informed Care–The Impact of Trauma | TIP 57 (3 Hours)
Trauma-Informed Care Clinical Issues | TIP 57 (5 Hours)
TIP 54 Treating Patients with Co-Occurring Disorders and Chronic Pain (10 Hours)
Overview of Opiate Treatment (4 Hours)
Etherapy and Technology Based Care: TIP 60 (4 Hours)
Building Resilience (3 Hours)
Tobacco Cessation (4 Hours)

Supervision
Supervision Courses
Guidelines for Supervision in Health Services Psychology (4 Hours)
Clinical Supervision and Professional Development of the Counselor (8 Hours)
Supervision Techniques (2 Hours)
Supervision Review (2 Hours)

HIV and Domestic Violence
A Guide to Care of the Person with HIV (10 Hours)
Domestic Violence and Mental Health (3 Hours)

Etherapy
Ethics in Etherapy and Telementalhealth (2 Hours)
Etherapy and Technology Based Care (4 Hours)