Substance Abuse Counseling

Masters of Art in Counseling Psychology

PSY 690

Breyer State University
Professor: Thomas Schear, Ph.D.

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Substance Abuse Counseling, a Masters Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Masters of Counseling Psychology.  I am pleased to instruct you in this course, which will be a vital course for the remainder of your studies in the master program.

In this course you will gain a background in the applications of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, the Stages of Change Theory to the problem of substance abuse and Cognitive Therapy.

I know that as you take the time to learn as much as you can about this topic it will serve you well as you contemplate providing counseling services to future clients.

TIME FRAME: This is a six-semester hour course and is allotted 10 weeks of time.  The first day of the week will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day you should notify me that your textbook has arrived.  Please be cognizant of the time frame.  It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification.

TEXTBOOK: There are three (3) textbooks required for this course. 

Book 1: Working With the Problem Drinker. Insoo Kim Berg. New York, New York. W. W. Norton & Company. 1992. ISBN # 0393701344.

Book 2: Substance Abuse Treatment and the Stages of Change: Selecting and Planning Interventions. Gerald J. Connors, et. al. New York, New York. Guilford Press. 2001. ISBN # 1572306572.

Book 3: Cognitive Therapy of Substance Abuse.  Aaron Beck, et. al. New York, New York. Guilford Press. 2001. ISBN # 1572306599.

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EXAMINATIONS: There are three examinations for this course.  The tests are made up of between 50 and 67 multiple choice and true/false questions.  To keep you on target we recommend you hold this schedule.

The first exam is based on the Berg book and should be taken by the end of the 3rd week.
The second exam is based on the Connors book and should be taken by the end of the 6th week.
The final exam is based on the Beck book and should be taken by the end of the 10th week of the course.

The exams are programmed and are located in the classroom for this course.  I will setup the program so you will have access to the test when you are ready.  Please contact me prior to the time you take the first test so I can give you specific instructions and ensure that the test is ready for you.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

91-100%    = A
81-90%      = B
71-80%      = C
Below 70% = Failed

COMMUNICATION: You are encouraged to communicate with me. I am available as a teacher, coach and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course. Primarily, communication is through e-mail. However I am also available for conversation by telephone if you would like. Our classroom for this course has a “chat” room. I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in that chat realm at your request. From time to time, depending on how many students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we will have some schedule group chats. You’ll receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my e-mail address handy so that you can contact me whenever necessary. If at any time during this course you change your e-mail address or other contact information please be sure to notify me right away.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: There is a final written assignments for this course. As noted earlier the textbooks for this course are not as substantial as those used in the other courses up to this point and this seems to be a good opportunity for you to pull together what you have learned up to this point. The written exam is located at the “Assignments” link you will find at the BSU student site.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: My name is Tom Schear. I have a BA, MA and Ph.D. in social work, MA in counseling, and have taken some additional graduate level courses in business and human services administration. Finally, I am an E-Myth trained business coach and a graduate of Coach University. I have worked at all levels of counseling agencies in Iowa and Montana, including front-line counselor, clinical director and executive director. I now live in the town where I grew up, working out of my home providing continuing education courses for helping professionals, teaching online courses for virtual universities including Breyer State University, Canyon College and EarthNet Institute, and provide both online and telephone-based counseling and personal and business coaching services. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and spending time with my wife, Kathy and adult children, Brian and Steven and dog, Solo.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Learn about the concepts, theories and applications of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with the substance abuser.
2). Learn the application of stages of change theory to the treatment of clients with substance abuse problems.

ASSIGNMENTS: For specific assignments, please click on the link “Assignments”

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact the instructor at tschear@ccmsinc.net.

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