Each of the courses below focuses on increasing your knowledge and/or skills in one of the twelve core functions required for all ADACB-GA credentials.

With our highly acclaimed home study coursework, you can meet your professional development goals inexpensively and at your own pace.

If you have more than one credential, you can most likely use the same coursework to apply toward all your re-credentialing. We are also approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, NAADAC, and many other State credentialing bodies.

When you register for a course, you will receive all the materials you need by regular mail or e-mail, as you prefer. Complete the assignments at your own pace, return them to us by fax, mail, or e-mail, and we will send out your Certificate of Completion and Student Transcript within 48 hours of receipt.
 

Improving Cultural Competence (six clock hours) $45 Improve outcomes for your clients by increasing your cultural competence.  Learn how to integrate improved cultural competence into your practice, and why it shouldn’t be treated separately from every other kind of competence.  Avoid the most common mistakes and make the best choices for your clients. Course Outline

Trauma-Informed Care (six clock hours) $45 Don’t misinterpret the symptoms of trauma as resistance or lack of interest in treatment. Get the latest from the DSM V, and learn about trauma’s effects on the brain, gender differences, coping styles, and practical suggestions for using trauma-informed counseling techniques. Course Outline

The Stages of Treatment (six clock hours) $45 Improve outcomes for your clients by matching your approach to their Stage of Change with the most effective Stage of Treatment. You’ll learn the latest research based suggestions for engaging your clients during the engagement stage of treatment, as well as the most efficient strategies for moving clients through the persuasion, active treatment, and relapse prevention stages. This course also includes information on running stage-informed groups and writing stage-informed treatment plans. Course Outline

Teaching Self-Advocacy (six clock hours) $45 Learn to foster long-term, high-quality recovery by teaching your clients to advocate for themselves. This course covers assessing needs and resources, developing assertiveness skills, the benefits of transparency, Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAPs), and teaching self-advocacy in groups. These evidence based practices help prevent relapse.Course Outline

The Ethics of Substance Abuse Treatment (six continuing education hours) $45 This course covers the practical application of ethical principles to situations faced by addiction counselors every day. Topics include the ethics of professional relationships, confidentiality, treatment planning, documentation, fees for service, advertising, referring, evaluation and assessment, conducting research and publishing. Also includes self-assessment checklists for both counselors and clinical supervisors. Learn to act with integrity AND help protect yourself from lawsuits. Course Outline

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (six continuing education hours) $45 Get the latest on Motivational Interviewing!  Learn the principles and basic concepts of motivational interviewing. Based on years of solid research, these techniques have proven to be an excellent way to completely disarm "resistant" clients, motivate clients "in denial", and even help those who are openly hostile to the idea of treatment. Learn to assess readiness to change, avoid arguments, roll with resistance, support self-efficacy, establish rapport and trust, deal with reservations about changing, explore and set goals, initiate a change plan, and stabilize and support change. Course Outline

Improving Outcomes for Mandated Clients (six continuing education hours) $45 Learn how to turn complaints into treatment goals and prevent mandated clients from going underground with what they are really thinking. This course covers reflective listening techniques, ways to uncover hidden strengths and how to use "Columbo" questions to achieve an outcome that is welcomed by the client, the counselor, and the referring party. Course Outline

Solutions for the "Treatment-Resistant" Client (six continuing education hours) $45
This course covers therapeutic techniques that are especially helpful with challenging clients. Several specific techniques are discussed, as well as the concepts of denial and "preferred views". Written homework assignments offer the "hands-on" opportunity to practice the techniques discussed. Learn how to succeed with "hopeless" clients, mandated clients, and clients "in denial". Course Outline

Vocational Rehabilitation and Substance Abuse Treatment (six continuing education hours) $45
Years of research prove that gainful employment is one of the best predictors of successful treatment. Learn how to integrate vocational rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment services to improve your success rates. Includes resources available to counselors, vocational rehabilitation screening and assessment, and how to set and achieve vocational goals. Course Outline

Treating Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders (six continuing education hours) $45
Improve outcomes for adolescent clients by learning the outreach, assessment, placement, and treatment strategies that are most successful with this special population. This course includes placement guidelines, treatment planning ideas, and how to deal with special sub-populations like juvenile justice clients, homeless adolescents, and those with coexisting disorders. Also includes guidance on the legal and ethical issues facing those who work with adolescents. Course Outline

Treatment Approaches for Women Who Abuse Alcohol and Other Drugs (six continuing education hours) $45
Learn the most effective treatment methods and models for women. Overcome barriers to outreach and incorporate all the critical components of successful treatment to this special population. Course Outline

Confidentiality Law Compliance (six clock hours) $45 Violations of federal confidentiality laws may lead to loss of license, civil lawsuits, and criminal prosecution with a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Learn to comply with the requirements of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2. Includes sample forms, compliance checklists, and details on how to avoid the most common violations. Course Outline

Implementing Evidence Based Practices (six clock hours) $45 takes you step by step through the process of improving outcomes by implementing new program components proven to be effective. Includes how to select the right EBP to match your program, how to get your program through the pre-planning, planning, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance phases. Course Outline

Integrating Tobacco Use Interventions Into Chemical Dependence Services (six clock hours) $45 Smoking is more likely to kill your clients than drug or alcohol use, and research shows it’s best to treat nicotine dependence and other substance abuse at the same time. Learn about the most effective pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions, how smoking and quitting affects co-occurring disorders, and how to address tobacco use in a treatment plan. Course Outline

Clinical Supervision (six clock hours) $45 This course looks at several models of clinical supervision, as well as legal and ethical issues crucial to successful supervision. Learn how to address burnout and compassion fatigue, create Individual Development Plans, and structure supervision sessions for maximum impact. Also includes sample forms and templates to make your job easier.
Course Outline

Avoiding Boundary Violations (6 clock hours) $45 is most often taken as a remedial measure by those whose credential is in jeopardy.  But it’s even more effective as a preventive measure, to be sure you are making the best decisions for you, your clients, and your credential.  Part One covers the legal requirements of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.  Part Two covers the grayer area of counselor ethics, including dual relationships, conflicts of interest, self-disclosure, use of the Internet and social media, and guidelines for ethical decision-making.  Course Outline

Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment (six clock hours) $45 Improve client outcomes by learning the basics of detox, including settings, levels of care, and patient placement.  Be able to read the signs and symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal for all substances of abuse.  Prevent or resolve the most common psychosocial and biomedical issues.  Plus, detailed guidance for special populations including, adolescents, women, angry clients, and chronic relapsers. Course Outline

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (six clock hours) $45 An introduction to the theory and practice of CBT, this course covers the history of CBT, the evidence base of CBT, details on four specific types of CBT, and five universal CBT techniques. It also includes several case studies that demonstrate CBT in action, and offers suggestions for integrating CBT into your current practice. Course Outline

Comprehensive Case Management and Substance Abuse Treatment (six clock hours) $45 Research links good case management to better outcomes for substance abuse clients. This course covers core competencies, case management principles, and how to meet the challenges of case management in pre-treatment, primary treatment, and aftercare. Learn the different models of case management, how to avoid the potential conflicts that arise among providers of services to a common client, and how to evaluate the success of your case management efforts. Also includes advice on meeting the special needs of nine special populations.Course Outline

The Stages and Processes of Change (six continuing education hours) $45 Improve outcomes by learning about the transtheoretical model, supported by 15 years of research validating its effectiveness. Learn to match your interventions to the stage of change of your clients. This course includes a complete explanation of the stages of change model, and suggestions for therapeutic techniques most appropriate for each stage. Proven to improve retention rates and graduation rates, and reduce the incidence of relapse. Course Outline

Improving Outcomes for Dually Diagnosed Clients (six continuing education hours) $45 This course will help improve outcomes for dually diagnosed clients by helping both mental health and addiction professionals learn to deal effectively with this special population. Examine the differences between the mental health and addiction treatment systems, acquire knowledge of the components of successful case management for those with dual disorders, and learn about treatment considerations for those with specific mood, anxiety, and personality disorders.Course Outline

Psychotherapeutic Medications (six clock hours) $45 Learn about the uses and side effects of psychotherapeutic medications. This course covers hypnotics, antidepressants, anti-psychotic drugs, anti-manic medications, anti-anxiety drugs, narcotic and opioid analgesics, stimulants and addiction medications. Improve outcomes by developing—and helping your client develop—realistic expectations for what each medication can and cannot do.Course Outline

Addressing Suicide Risk in Substance Abuse Clients (six clock hours) $45 This could be the most important course you ever take—even if you only use it once in your life. Learn how to gather information, access supervision, and take responsible action with clients who exhibit warning signs or have risk factors for suicide. Designed for substance abuse counselors, this course is also relevant for any others who may encounter suicidal clients. Includes specific and practical information about what to do and how to do it. Course Outline

Family Involved Substance Abuse Treatment (six clock hours) $45 Learn how to improve outcomes by blending the most helpful strategies and techniques of family therapy and substance abuse treatment. This course will help you turn "co-dependents" and "enablers" into partners, and make long-term, quality sobriety a reality for your clients. Course Outline