PSY85533P - Advanced Clinical Skills: Substance Abuse Theory and Treatment

(3 Units)

This course covers substance use and abuse with a focus on symptom formation, classification, causes, and socio-cultural factors. Students will become familiar with relevant law and ethical issues that are specific to the assessment and treatment of substance abusers (i.e., HIPAA, CFR 42). Various screening and assessment tools and interviewing skills, including motivational interviewing, are reviewed to help students assess the severity of addiction and develop appropriate treatment plans. Treatment settings, interventions and self-help organizations commonly used with substance abuse clients are also reviewed. How to create an informed case conceptualization is a fundamental component of this course. Topics also include often-neglected populations such as the elderly, women and children and people with co-occurring mental health disorders.