Certificate: Alcohol and Drug Counseling Graduate Certificate
Department: Counseling and School Psychology
Degree Level: Graduate
Credit Hours: 12 credit hours
Delivery Format: 100% Online

Alcohol and drug abuse is a growing epidemic that requires licensed specialists in the field. The state of Nebraska has identified a need for more rural behavioral healthcare, according to the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Legislature. On a national scale, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Substance Abuse Counselors will see “a 31 percent job growth rate through 2022, which is much faster than the national average.”

The Alcohol and Drug Counseling certificate offers courses required for Alcohol and Drug Counselor licensure allowing clinical mental health counseling students and Mental Health professionals in the field to gain the education necessary to hold this specialty license. After completing the certificate, students will have the knowledge and ability to apply ethical standards of the profession. Students will develop a culturally diverse population perspective of addiction counseling including interventions to treat various client populations, understanding of theories of addiction and addictive behaviors, and be able to demonstrate application of individual and group counseling theories, assessments, and interview skills, to address client concerns.

Led by Dr. Christine Chasek, instructors in the program are licensed professionals who work in addiction counseling. The certificate program consists of three graduate-level courses in addiction counseling and a practicum course in an Alcohol and Drug Counseling facility to help students find a clinical placement and obtain the hands-on experience for licensure.

Graduates of the certificate program may be eligible for higher pay in their field and expanded career opportunities, including positions in hospitals, treatment centers, medical clinics, or private and group practices. They will also be prepared to help address the need for more rural-based addiction counseling in the state of Nebraska.

Learn more about helping others through the addiction recovery process by inquiring about the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Graduate Certificate.

Courses
CSP 807P - Clinical Treatment Issues in Addictions Counseling
CSP 808P - Assessment, Case Planning, and Management of Addictions
CSP 809P - Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Addictions
CSP 886 - Advanced Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
*Courses are subject to change.