Addictions Counseling, Prevention, and Human Services
Department of Addictions Counseling, Prevention and Human Services
The College of Arts and Sciences
Chair
Diane Bonfiglio, Professor of Psychology
Faculty
Alisha Dennis-Brinson, Assistant Professor
Emma Kulbis, Assistant Professor
Addictions Program Director: Alisha Dennis-Brinson
Director of the Center for Addictions Counseling: Emma Kulbis
Degrees Offered
Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Addictions
Mission
The Department of Addictions Counseling, Prevention, and Human Services is committed to providing quality education and training in the treatment and prevention of substance use disorder. The department provides a sound foundation of theories and techniques utilized in the addictions counseling profession while emphasizing ethical treatment and current best practices used to help individuals and families struggling with difficult issues related to substance use disorder. The department focuses on preparing students for career in addictions counseling by teaching skills that will be utilized in the profession. The department also works with community treatment providers to offer students internships where they can receive hands-on experience in the addictions treatment field.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students that are completing an Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Addictions or a minor in addictions will:
Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in addictions counseling
Apply addictions counseling-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, case and project-management skills, clinical teamwork skills, and career preparation.
Explain addictions counseling concepts in the style of the American Psychiatric Association.
Opportunities
Students have the opportunity to earn the educational hours needed towards their Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant preliminary certificate, Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant renewable certificate, and the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II license. There are opportunities for internship at local agencies to earn direct contact hours for the requirements of certification and licensure with the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.
The first two addictions classes fulfill the education requirement for students to become certified as a Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant (CDCA) through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. After taking just the first addictions class (ADCT 131), students can apply for the preliminary CDCA credential and begin providing services in the community, allowing them to work in the field while continuing their education. After the second addictions class (ADCT 132), students can apply to have a renewable CDCA credential to continue providing services in the community year after year.
The Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Addictions fulfills the education requirement for licensure as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II (LCDC II) through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Licensure also requires counseling-related work experience hours and a passing score on the ADC exam.
Our program allows students the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience through an internship as part of their curriculum and thus an opportunity to obtain some experience hours.
The Minor in Addictions plus a bachelor’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, social work, or nursing fulfills the education requirement for licensures as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III (LCDC III) through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Licensure also requires counseling-related work experience hours and a passing score on the ADC exam. Students will have the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience through an internship and thus an opportunity to obtain some experience hours.
Description of Programs
The addictions coursework is designed to provide a sound foundation of theories and techniques utilized in the addictions counseling profession while emphasizing ethical treatment and current best practices used to help individuals and families struggling with difficult issues related to substance use disorder. In addition, students will become proficient in fundamental skills essential for a career in the addictions treatment field. Students will have met the educational requirement to obtain addiction treatment credentials in Ohio and will have the opportunity to obtain experience hours in the addictions treatment field. The department will also assist students with professional aspirations in pursuing graduate education and help to guide them toward their career goals.