This advanced third-year course, Substance Abuse – Pastoral Care and Counselling, is designed to provide the professional Christian counsellor with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding of substance abuse and addictions counselling.
The latest theories of substance abuse and addiction counselling, and the application of these theories from an integrative psychology and theology perspective will be applied to the counselling of individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Students will be introduced to the Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders as well as comorbid mental disorders. The addiction-treatment industry will be discussed from a sociocultural, political, and phenomenological understanding of addiction. From an integrative bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective, student-counsellors will develop conceptual knowledge and self-awareness concerning the etiology of addiction.
This course will equip professional counsellors with the theory and skills of assessment strategies, differential diagnosis, conceptualization skills, treatment planning, and best counselling practices.

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the addictive process, specifically as it pertains to Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.
  2. Identify the roles and responsibilities in addiction and recovery of the people involved: the addict, the ‘significant other’, and their friends and families.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual bases of substance abuse
  4. Reflect on the addiction-treatment industry from a sociocultural, political, and phenomenological understanding of addiction
  5. Identify the stages of use and abuse, and understand applicable intervention techniques and treatment options
  6. Demonstrate understanding of the need for ongoing relapse-prevention and recovery training as a lifelong process
  7. Practice as a professional counsellor, making assessments and differential diagnosis, conceptualizing and formulating treatment plans, and utilizing best counselling practices.
  8. Receive supervision and practice good self-care to prevent caregiver burn-out