Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselling
This unit provides students with an introduction to contemporary substance misuse theory and its application in practice. Students learn to: appropriately assess clients with issues involving alcohol and other drugs use; establish effective counselling role limits in such situations; understand the physical and psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs dependency; client referral; and the study of contemporary approaches and methodologies in the treatment and management of alcohol and other drugs issues.
Learning Outcomes
- Use the terminology and understand the concepts of substance use, abuse and dependency
- Explain the interaction between individuals, society and substances
- Develop assessment and referral skills appropriate to substance use, abuse and dependency
- Identify a variety of treatment options
- Match treatment options to individual needs
- Analyse the role of family in substance use, abuse and dependency
- Identify special needs groups and develop responses to their needs
- Discuss current issues for substance use, abuse and dependency counsellors
- Develop strategies for relapse prevention
Content Areas
- Theoretical Foundations
- Working Definitions
- Assessment and Referral
- Psychosocial Interventions
- Brief Intervention Strategies
- Motivational Interviewing
- Self-Help and Addiction
- Family Issues
- Special Needs Groups
- Issues for Special Consideration
- Current Treatment Options
- Relapse Prevention
Unit Duration and Workload:
This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery of self directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 54 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates to 7.5 hours per week for the unit.