Addictions Counseling

Description
This certificate program is intended for students who already have an Associates, Bachelor's or Master's degree in an associated field, and is designed to qualify graduates to apply for the CASAC-T, the Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor-in-Training designation. This is the first step toward obtaining the CASAC itself, which in New York State is the appropriate qualification for a career in the substance abuse counseling field. Included in this certificate is course work covering all core functions of an addictions counselor as specified by the New York Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). Also included is a 300 hour internship in a Rochester area addiction-related agency.
(Housed in the Human Services Department)

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Initial screening of potential clients as to their need for further evaluation and diagnosis.
2. Intake: collecting of necessary personal information, explanation of confidentiality laws, obtaining of appropriate release of information signatures.
3. Orientation: clarify rights and responsibilities of both client and treatment facility, facility rules, tour appropriate areas, explain treatment process, help client to understand what is expected, and what s/he may expect.
4. Assessment, Evaluation and Intervention: Take an appropriate psychosocial history, develop a diagnosis based on current DSM criteria, help client to understand the damage that addiction may be doing to physical, family and career life.
5. Referral: Be able to appropriately match client diagnosis and symptoms to treatment facility and program level. Be familiar with other area programs and facilities that client may need beyond substance abuse treatment and be able to make appropriate referrals.
6. Treatment Planning: Be able to: develop client treatment plans, including long-term and short-term goals and the areas of life specified by OASAS; involve client in the development of the treatment plan; keep treatment plans updated.
7. Counseling: Be able to: select the appropriate counseling model(s) for a situation; use one-on-one and group counseling skills, including empowering clients, focusing on strengths, and keeping the focus on the client's agenda, not the counselor's.
8. Crisis Intervention: recognize and appropriately respond to signs of relapse, suicidality, depression. Be able to appropriately call on others for assistance when the situation is beyond his/her abilities to handle.
9. Patient Education: Counselor will be able to: help client to understand the processes of addiction, withdrawal, relapse, and recovery; be able to convey this information in terms understood by clients and in one-on-one, in group or in front-of-the room environments.
10. Case Management: Be able to understand, and where appropriate assist client with, processes in which the client may be involved in the areas of social services, legal, health care, and mental health care.
11. Reporting and Record Keeping: Be able to keep succinct but complete and coherent records regarding all client interactions for the well-being of both client and agency. Be capable of objective reporting and of knowing what should be included.
12. Consultation with Other Professionals: Be able to work in the substance abuse field as a team member. Discern when to call on supervisor or other experienced staff for assistance. Develop a file of others who can be called on as needed, within appropriate confidentiality procedures.