SWRK336

This course serves as an introductory course in substance use counseling and is designed to familiarize students to the basics of counseling as applied to substance use disorders. It provides a foundation and will introduce students to basic counseling skills, such as paraphrasing, empathizing, probing, and asking open-ended questions. The course will also expose students to research-informed approaches such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Screening Brief Interventions and Referrals to Treatment (SBIRT), and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). Screening, assessment, and individualized treatment planning for substance use disorders are also covered. Students will engage in practicing these skills and approaches throughout the semester to further develop their practice. Furthermore, the importance of culture differences and how they influence substance use treatment will be discussed. Students will also learn the value of supervision in their professional practice and how to engage in professional development and self-care.