Counseling Approaches to Promote Recovery From Problematic Substance Use Part 1: Recovery Foundations E306

Course Summary

Practice Level: Beginner

Problematic substance use presents a significant public health and social concern in the United States.  It affects individuals, families, and communities and is associated with a range of health, social, and economic consequences, which include healthcare expenses, lost work productivity, criminal justice-related costs, and losses from motor vehicle crashes. Given the prevalence of problematic substance use in the general population, and especially among people receiving mental health services, mental health professionals are likely to have clients at risk for or with past or active problematic use who would benefit from recovery-oriented counseling.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Counseling Approaches to Promote Recovery From Problematic Substance Use: Recovery Foundations strives to provide social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists with a current, evidence-based understanding of recovery-oriented approaches and tools necessary to address this growing national problem.

Traditional acute, episodic and specialized treatment focusing on perceived client deficits and provider-determined goals (e.g., total abstinence) has evolved into recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) that take a long-term, coordinated, client-driven, and holistic approach to addressing individuals’ problematic substance use. This learning material begins by defining historical and current conceptualizations of problematic substance abuse, recovery, and treatment.  It reviews numerous research-based risk factors that contribute to problematic substance abuse, and outlines screening tools that may be used with at-risk individuals. Most importantly, the learning material presents a ROSC which includes several components, such as setting appropriate goals, exploring various pathways to recovery, and addressing recurrence in clients with substance use disorders.  With this guidance, clinicians may more effectively assist their adult clients on their chosen pathways of recovery, from harm reduction to abstinence.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe historical and current conceptualizations of problematic substance use, recovery, treatment, and related terminology.
2. Identify risk factors and cultural considerations that contribute to problematic substance use.
3. Describe methods of service delivery within a recovery-oriented system of care, including goal-setting and exploring pathways of recovery.
4. Explain the evolving views of recurrence and its warning signs.

Course Syllabus

• Chapter 1—Introduction to Recovery From Problematic Substance Use
  • What Is Recovery?
  • Settings for Recovery-Oriented Counseling
  • Scope of Practice for Providing Counseling
  • Problematic Substance Use: Background and Evolving Explanations and Services for It
  • Evolving Service Landscape and Workforce
  • Recovery Goals for Problematic Substance Use
  • Pathways of Recovery
  • Recovery as a Continuum
  • What Is Recurrence of Problematic Substance Use?
  • Benefits of Promoting Recovery and Preventing Recurrences
  • Introduction to Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care
  • Introduction to Recovery Research: Current Topics and Needs
  • Conclusion

Authors

SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA leads public health efforts that advance the behavioral health of the nation. On samhsa.gov SAMHSA states that its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on communities in America.

William A. Cook, Ph.D.

William A. Cook, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who worked for 15 years in private practice in Montana before leaving his practice to work full time as the Director of CE4Less. He earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University, and focused much of his psychology practice in the area of child and family counseling, as well as psychological testing.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.