200

The course provides an overview of addictions counseling, explores interpersonal and group interaction skills, and enhances personal and professional development as an addictions counselor. Specific content will include personality testing, goal setting, principles of life calling, prioritizing, and time-management. The remainder of the course will address major concepts in addictions counseling balanced by a Christian understanding of the human condition.

This course is intended to introduce the student to the major theories of addiction and compulsive behaviors. Students will consider addictions and case examples from a variety of theoretical perspectives. In addition to the substance addiction, this course will introduce the following topics: eating disorders, sexual compulsivity,and pathological gambling. This course will examine addictions from biological, psychological, social and spiritual domains. Additionally, individual, family, and cultural perspectives will be explored. This course will emphasize familiarity with the current research in the addictions counseling field.

This course is intended to introduce the student to drug administration, absorption, movement, and drug-receptor interactions. Students will learn the psychoactive properties of each class of psychoactive drugs including the respective withdraw abstinence syndromes. Students will become familiar with current research in regard to biochemical abnormalities and their proposed role in behavioral disorders. Students will also become familiar with the etiology and treatment of co-occurring disorders. The course will also provide an overview of clinical practice guidelines for treating psychological and substance use disorders, including the use, strengths and limitations of pharmacologic treatments.

This course is intended to provide students with an urban, cross-cultural experience as well as exposure to the diversity and universality of human experience and behavior. The experience involves a weekend spent in Chicago touring treatment facilities and cultural sites, completion of pertinent readings prior to the experience, and a final reflection paper. This immersion experience will facilitate a greater understanding of those who are culturally different as well as the complexities associated with racism, poverty, substance dependence, and mental illness. Students will reflect on the impact of this experience in terms of their own personal development, the helping profession, their faith, and sense of life calling.