Download Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program

Course Descriptions
Core Education - General
Counseling Theories and Techniques – 45 hours
Participants will learn fundamental counseling theories, principles and techniques, including:
Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy and ClientCentered Therapy. Counseling techniques such as active listening, reflective feedback,
summarizing, self-disclosure, displaying empathy, confronting, establishing rapport, and
communicating at the client’s comprehension level will also be studied.
Group Counseling – 45 hours
Participants will study and practice group theories, processes, dynamics, techniques, methods
and group counseling and facilitation.
Human Growth & Development – 30 hours
Participants will study the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels from birth
to death.
Professional Ethics & Issues – 15 hours
This course addresses standards of conduct and professional behavior expectations for
counselors. Ethical standards to be studied may include nondiscrimination, responsibilities and
integrity, competence, moral standards, client welfare, legal issues, client relationships, interprofessional relationships, remuneration and societal obligations.
Multicultural Counseling – 30 hours
Participants will come to understand their own background and biases and how they affect their
approach and treatment of clients. Participants will cover the adaptation of traditional counseling
theories and techniques to varied populations including aspects such as culture, social, lifestyle,
spirituality, gender, sexual orientation and economic factors so they can provide competent and
relevant counseling services.
Core Education - Alcohol/Drug Specific
Alcohol/Drug Assessment, Case Planning and Management – 30 hours
Participants will learn the process of collecting client data for making decisions regarding
alcohol/drug disorder diagnosis, level of care placement and treatment and referral. An
introduction to assessment tools including The Addition Severity Index (ASI) and The
Comprehensive Adolescent Severity Inventory (CASI) will be conducted. Participants will study
and practice record keeping, development of alcohol/drug assessment summaries, treatment
plans, progress notes, discharge plans and clinical case reviews including case management
activities to bring together services, agencies and resources to achieve client treatment goals
while adhering to confidentiality as it relates.
Clinical Treatment Issues in Chemical Dependency – 30 hours
Participants will study treatment issues specific to chemical dependency including denial,
resistance, minimization, family dynamics, relapse, cross-addiction, co-occurring disorders,
spirituality, influences of self-help groups taking into consideration the needs of individual’s
gender, culture and lifestyle.
Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Alcohol/Drug Use, Abuse and Addiction – 45 hours
Participants with study the physiological, psychological and sociological aspects of alcohol/drug
use, abuse and dependence. The course will include the processes of dependence, addiction and
withdrawal, covering signs, symptoms, and behavior patterns. Classifications of drugs and their
pharmacology will also be covered.
Assessment Tools
The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) – 20 hours
The Addiction Severity Index (ASI-adult) is the assessment tool selected by the state of
Nebraska to be used as the standardized assessment tool for the Criminal Justice Approved
Provider List. Participants will be required to complete five (5) ASI assessments and one
evaluation using the Nebraska model.
The Comprehensive Adolescent Severity Index (CASI) – 20 hours
The Comprehensive Adolescent Severity Inventory (CASI-children/youth) is the assessment tool
selected by the state of Nebraska to be used as the standardized assessment tool for the Criminal
Justice Approved Provider List. Participants will be required to complete five (5) CASI
assessments and one evaluation using the Nebraska model.