Assessment Practices for Psychotherapists, Counselors and Health Providers

This book helps clinicians understand how to assess for and recognize addictive behaviors and their consequences. The focus is on the types of client's psychotherapists are most likely to see, that is, client's who come into treatment asking for help with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or marital problems. Addictive behaviors are defined broadly to include substance-based addictions and those that arise from excessive behaviors, also know as process addictions.

This book is intended for professional in the mental health fields who, whether they currently know it or not, work with persons who have or may develop addictions. This book will help them identify a client’s addictive use of a mood-altering substance or behavior and its impact on the process and outcome of psychotherapy. Attention is paid to the reasons why addictions often go unrecognized in psychotherapy. This book is an excellent resource for learning about structured as well as interview-based methods of addiction assessment. The assessment process is presented in a manner that can be seamlessly integrated into the ongoing dialogue between patient and treatment provider.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the clinician will be able to:

• Be able to conduct valid assessments of substance use
• Have an increased ability to motivate patients to change
• Increased skills for detecting hidden addictions
• Have a greater repertoire for working toward mutually agreed-on goals of abstinence or harm reduction
• Be able to detect and help clients with process addictions

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The book is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.

Additional Resources On This Site for CE

• Addiction and Grace
  by Gerald G. May, M.D.: 8 CE Credits
• The Addictions Recovery Workbook
  by James E. Phelan: 5 CE Credits
• Treating Alcohol and Drug Problems in Psychotherapy Practice
  by Dr. Arnold M. Washton and Dr. Joan E. Zweben: 10 CE Credits
• Treating Patients With Alcohol And Other Drug Problems: An Integrated Approach
  by Robert D. Margolis, PhD and Joan E. Zweben, PhD: 10 CE Credits
• Caring for Ourselves
  By Ellen K. Baker: 6 CE Credits

Additional Resources Not On This Site

• Drug Abuse Treatment Through Collaboration: Practice and Research Partnerships That Work, Edited by James L. Sorenson, Richard A. Rawson, Joseph Guydish, and Joan E. Zweben 2003. 325 pgs. APA, Washington DC
• Trauma and Drug Abuse: Causes, Consequences, and Treatment of Comorbid Disorders, Edited by Paige Ouimette and Pamela J. Brown 2003. 315 pages APA, Washington DC
• Drug Abuse: Origins and Interventions, Edited by Meyer D. Glantz and Christine R. Hartel 1999 492 pages APA, Washington DC
• Hanley Center, 5200 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407-2374
  Phone: 561-841-1000
  Toll Free 1-800-444-7008
  www.hanleycenter.org

Bio: Marilyn Freimuth

Marilyn Freimuth has been on the faculty of the Fielding Graduate University for over sixteen years. She is also on the teaching faculty of the Alonso Center for Psychodynamic Studies. With her students, Dr. Freimuth has a number of ongoing research projects designed to improve the assessment of addictions and the integration of addiction assessment and psychotherapy. Her Earlier research addressed psychotherapists’ attitudes toward twelve-step programs and how a patient's experience with self-help programs can be incorporated into psychotherapy. She lectures on the assessment and treatment of addictions and is a practicing clinical psychologist and supervisor.