Course 414 - Counseling Alcoholics

Course 414 - Counseling Alcoholics (3 credits ) Provides a complete road map for assessing, diagnosing, and treating alcoholism. Topics include recognizing alcohol problems in clients, understanding the critical concepts of the treatment of alcoholism, the 12-step approach, relapse prevention, and recognizing primary or secondary psychiatric disorders in clients who are chemically dependent.

Professor: Rev. Robert Rapp

Week One

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• To introduce the content and purpose of this course.
• To introduce the instructor and other students who are involved in this course.
• To introduce to the "treatment" professional how to recognize alcohol problems in his or her clients.
• To learn the various criteria used to diagnose both alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse.

Week Two

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Recognize the widespread adverse effects of alcohol in our families and communities
• Understand the difference between type one and type two alcoholism
• Introduce the student to the psychopathology related to addictions
• Learn that addiction is a brain disease
• Explore the benefits of utilizing God, our higher power, in treatment

Week Three

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Understand the importance of treatment planning as an effective part of healing.
• Learn the important components of a treatment plan.
• Become aware of the treatment planning tools available to drug and alcohol counselors.

Week Four

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Become aware of the different goals treatment professional can utilize to help those recovery
• Understand the importance of being honest in treatment
• Learn about habits and the behavior chain relative to alcoholism
• Recognize the importance of group interventions

Week Five

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Learn the importance of the 12-steps for treatment of alcoholism.
• Understand that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous is associated with positive outcomes in the treatment of alcoholism
• Go in-depth with steps one through five.

Week Six

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Learn how to work with the patient who is depressed, and pain, angry, suicidal, and homicidal
• Become familiar with various personality disorders
• Learn about anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, impulse control disorders and the psychotic patient.

Week Seven

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Understand the high rates of patients presenting with both psychiatric disorders and chemical dependency
• Learn how to work with the patient who is depressed, and pain, angry, suicidal, and homicidal
• Become familiar with various personality disorders
• Learn about anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, impulse control disorders and the psychotic patient.

Week Eight

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Learn to recognize when a patient should be discharged from treatment.
• Understand the discharge criteria.
• Become aware of the difference between a lapse and relapse.
• Recognize signs and symptoms of relapse.

Week Nine

Learning Objectives for this Session:
• Learn about the importance of a recovery community for sobriety.
• Understand your role in this recovery community.
• Become familiar with codependency and its role in addictions and recovery.
• Gain knowledge of the promises Alcoholics Anonymous makes for those who work their recovery.

 

Estimated Course Materials & Tuition:

Digital Media Fee $50.00

Tuition $450.00

Required Textbook: Perkinson, R. R. (2002). Treating alcoholism: Helping your clients find the road to recovery. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Suggested Textbooks: American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: Author Perkinson, R. R. & Jongsma, A.E. (1998). The chemical dependence treatment planner. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Total Cost of Course: $500.00 (Plus the cost of buying textbooks)