COUC 691 Substance Abuse: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

As one of the top three issues presented in counseling, whether academic, occupational, clinical, or church settings, this course is designed to help sharpen the student’s focus on becoming a skillful counselor in this area. The opportunity exists, as in few other areas of counseling practice, for a counselor to bring skillful healing and grace to those struggling with addictive issues. It is difficult to think of another area of practice where the mind, body, soul, and spirit are so clearly intertwined and amenable to effective intervention.

Method of Instruction: This 8 week course is delivered in a digital asynchronous format, with Canvas® as the primary instructional delivery method. The student completes one module per week over the duration of the course. 

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist Assignment

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt. The thread must be 350–450 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge, and include a minimum of 2 scholarly sources cited in current APA format. For 2 of the discussions, the student must utilize the Miller and Rollnick course textbook as 1 of their scholarly sources. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–300 words and include at least 1 scholarly source cited in current APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last 5 years. The Bible may be used as a resource but will not count toward the citation requirement. Integration of a Christian worldview or biblical themes is required. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Discussion: Experiential Assignment

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 3 discussion threads regarding their experience attending group support meetings. The student will be required to visit a minimum of 1 meeting each of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Al-Anon. Most meetings are typically open to the public, but there are some that are closed, so the student must plan accordingly. After attending each meeting, the student will post about his/her experiences going to the AA, NA, and Al-Anon meetings. This discussion is to be a continued interactive discussion of the student’s observed group experiences, thoughts, insights, and feedback and should be a continued interaction with the class group throughout the term. The student must complete 3 Discussion threads of 400–450-words each (1 on each attended experiential meeting [AA, NA, Al-Anon]) and 6 replies of 200–250-words each (2 Discussion replies to each AA, NA, Al-Anon experience of a classmate). Each thread should contain a minimum of 2 academic sources, and each reply must contain 1 academic source. (CLO: A, E)

Benchmark Theoretical Models and Approaches Paper Assignment

The student will complete a paper addressing 4 models from the 8 categories of models provided.  Each module summary must include at least 3 paragraphs. The student must provide an overview of the model (with academic support), biblical truths and Christian principles that relate to this model, and must give specific reasons for why he/she felt this model provides a good explanation of addiction according to the theoretical model/category. The course textbook and 1 scholarly source must be used for each of the 4 model summaries (total of 4 scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook). The paper will be approximately 4–5-pages long (excluding the title and reference pages). The assignment must adhere to current APA style. This assignment will be submitted once in Canvas and once in CORE. (CLO: A, D)

Benchmark Support Groups and Treatment Groups Compare and Contrast Paper Assignment

During this course, the student will be required to visit a minimum of 1 meeting each of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Al-Anon. Most meetings are typically open to the public, but there are some that are closed, so the student must plan accordingly. After attending 1 of each type of support group, the student will write a paper that compares and contrasts addiction support groups with therapy groups. The paper will be approximately 8–10-pages long (not including the title and reference pages). An abstract is required. The paper must utilize at least 8 scholarly sources (note: the textbook cannot be used for this assignment). The paper must contain the following elements: Support groups brief history, support groups meeting structure and function, addition therapy groups brief history, addiction therapy groups meeting structure and function, comparing and contrasting of support groups with addiction therapy groups, and a conclusion. This assignment will be submitted once in Canvas and once in CORE. (CLO: A, D, E)

Quizzes (20)

Each quiz will cover 1 chapter of the Capuzzi and Stauffer text for the assigned Module: Week. The student will take multiple quizzes each module, which will allow the student to focus on a single chapter for each quiz. Each quiz is open-book/open-notes, contains 10 multiple-choice/true-false questions, allows for 1 attempt, and has a 30-minute time limit. (CLO: A, B, C)

Quiz: Dispositions Reflection

This quiz will allow the student to reflect on the 9 dispositions required for the program. This quiz contains 9 multiple choice and 1 essay question, allows for 1 attempt, and has a 1 hour time limit.