Counseling Approaches to Promote Recovery From Problematic Substance Use Part 2: Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care E307

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

Problematic substance use poses a rapidly rising health crisis in the United States. Substance use disorders (SUD) affect individuals, families, and communities and are associated with a range of health, social, and economic consequences. In addition to its devastating interpersonal effects, the problematic use of drugs and alcohol costs the United States substantial resources annually in healthcare expenses, lost work productivity, criminal justice-related costs, and losses from motor vehicle crashes. When faced with this epidemic, many clinicians feel ill-prepared to work with clients struggling with problematic substance use and may be reliant on outdated episodic treatment methods that focus on perceived client deficits and provider-determined goals. Chapters 2 and 3 of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Counseling Approaches to Promote Recovery from Problematic Substance Use and Related Issues strives to provide social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists with current, evidence-based information regarding recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) that take a long-term, coordinated, client-driven, and holistic approach to problematic substance use.

This learning material examines how recovery develops over time and the counseling approaches and supports that help individuals initiate and sustain recovery from problematic substance use. The learning material begins by laying the groundwork for providing ROSC by describing current conceptualizations of problematic substance use, its treatment, and the competencies required by clinicians to implement ROSCs. Sociocultural and strength-based factors that can affect client engagement, such as recovery capital, self-efficacy, and payment methods, are considered in the context of recovery-oriented assessment. It also touches on how counselors can work with clients early on to identify and develop coping and avoidance skills that can assist in recovery.

The learning material then elaborates on how to incorporate these concepts into practice in the context of a ROSC that supports people before, during, and after SUD treatment, regardless of their chosen recovery pathway. An emphasis on harm reduction strategies addresses client safety through reducing negative health-related consequences associated with SUD and encouraging positive behavior change. The learning material reviews several evidence-based counseling approaches with known efficacy in helping individuals with problematic substance use maintain their recovery. These include trauma-informed approaches, motivational approaches, family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches, and psychoeducation. Recognizing warning signs and generating strategies for working with recurrence in therapy remains vital throughout the process. Ultimately, treatment is most effective when clients have access to a combination of counseling services, medications, and especially, family and social supports that can aid in recovery.

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 current conceptualizations of problematic substance use, substance use treatment, and the competencies required to implement recovery-oriented systems of care.
2. Recognize sociocultural and strength-based components of recovery-oriented assessment.
3. Identify coping and avoidance skills that can assist clients early in recovery. 
4. Explain the importance of harm reduction strategies.
5. Identify strategies to engage clients in therapy, including trauma-informed and motivational techniques.
6. Differentiate the essential elements of evidence-based counseling approaches to treating problematic substance use.
7. Recognize warning signs and strategies for working with recurrence.
8. Describe family and social support services that support recovery.

Course Syllabus

• Chapter 2—Framework for Supporting Recovery With Counseling
  • Competencies for Recovery-Oriented Counseling
  • Sociocultural Considerations in Recovery-Oriented Counseling
  • Strengths-Based Counseling
  • Ways That Payment Systems Can Affect the Delivery of Care
  • Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care and Strengths-Based Counseling
  • Conclusion
• Chapter 3—Counseling Approaches for Promoting Harm Reduction and Prevention Recurrence
  • Harm Reduction
  • Trauma-Informed Approaches
  • Motivational Approaches
  • Family Therapy Approaches
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
  • Contigency Management
  • Mindfulness and Acceptance
  • Linkages to Peer- and Community-Based Support Services
  • Psychoeducation
  • Other Approaches
  • Conclusion

Author

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 6 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.