A Curriculum Centered on Evidence-Based Research
It’s important not to view counseling strictly from a substance abuse perspective. The Addictions Counseling Concentration is a highly integrated program that exposes you to a wide range of well-established clinical therapies, such as Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, among others. By keeping up with the latest trends in clinical counseling, our Addictions Counseling Concentration allows you to choose aspects of these approaches that work and then customize a treatment plan for your client.
Our program is a response to evidence-based research on clinical practices; we help you translate that research into clinical practice. Our coursework focuses on evidence-based practices, with an emphasis on improving clinical outcomes. We’re preparing you for 21st-century practices, as well as additional degreed credentials. Since addiction, like any disease, affects the entire family, you will gain enhanced capabilities for working with family members. Addiction is very often a co-occurring disorder, appearing with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Addictions Counseling Concentration addresses these issues as well. We are also broadening and expanding our clinical sites and experiences so that our students develop skills far beyond those of an entry-level counselor.
Overview
The Addictions Counseling Concentration (ACC) is a 60-hour master’s-level program that goes beyond substance use counseling.
You are eligible to apply for this program if you meet the following criteria:
- You must be a current student in the MHS in Addictions Studies Program.
- You have achieved candidacy status.
- You have no grade of “C” or lower in any core courses.
- You have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all completed core courses.
Students interested in this program apply using the internal application during the semester in which they apply for candidacy (usually the semester in which they take the 8300 Comprehensive Exam).
The 60-hour program is more intensive, with additional requirements and guidelines for students. Expectations also differ, as students are required to adhere to additional ethical codes, professional expectations, and professional demeanor. This means that students are observed more frequently in terms of how they handle pressure and stress, conduct themselves in challenging situations, demonstrate respect, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance, and interact with others (including professors and colleagues).
The ACC program is designed to assist students in gaining broader skills in the area of mental health counseling while integrating substance use counseling. Students are eligible to apply for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) exam, which is the first tier toward independent licensure. After applying for and successfully passing the LPC exam, students work in the field for an additional two years under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) or another fully licensed professional (LSCW, LP) to be eligible to apply for the LCPC exam. Once students pass this exam, they are licensed as independent clinicians.
The 60-hour program also allows students to apply for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) exam. Both Addictions Studies Programs are accredited by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA) and satisfy the academic requirements for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) professional credential. These programs are also accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).
Addiction Counseling Mission Statement and Vision
Mission Statement
The Master of Health Science in Addictions Studies–Addictions Counseling Concentration is designed to meet the increased professional expectations for addictions counselors, as detailed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Addiction Counseling Competencies. The intent of the Addictions Counseling Concentration is to expand the professional opportunities of addictions studies graduate majors and to provide the community with specialized addictions counselors who are educated to address the persistent problems of addiction and related issues.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Addiction Counseling program is to prepare professional addiction counselors with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and temperament needed to provide client-based treatment that is individualized to client needs, evidence-based, and delivered with respect and compassion. This is accomplished by faculty who use constructivist, developmental, and experiential teaching strategies and center their teaching on developing students who are critical thinkers, creative in their clinical interventions, and who value and desire continued professional development.
For more information and to be invited to the next information session, please complete and submit the Statement of Intent form and download a copy of the ACC Application Checklist below.
Contact Us
- Serena Wadhwa., Psy.D., LCPC, CADC, RTY, CCTP
- Addiction Counseling Concentration Program Director
- 708.534.8950
- swadhwa@govst.edu