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Graduate Training of Counselors in the Addictions: A Study of CACREP-Approved Programs

NCJ Number
168393
Journal
Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1997) Pages: 66-76
Author(s)
O J Morgan; A M Toloczko; E Comly
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article reports results from a telephone survey of programs for graduate training of counselors in the addictions.
Abstract
The data reported here were from a survey of counselor education programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and assesses the state of addiction-related training in these widely recognized and quality controlled graduate programs. Seventy CACREP-approved courses, of the 86 contacted, responded with information about the course syllabus, including objectives, content, required texts, requirements, and course description. The large response rates in this study proved the usefulness of the telephone survey as a research tool for gathering information about counselor education. The survey disclosed that there are opportunities for addiction-related training in counselor education. In addition, 87 percent of programs responding provide student placements in chemical dependency work. A wide variety of addiction-related courses are being offered to graduate counseling students and, at least at some institutions, students are being actively challenged to integrate their formal education with personal attitudes and lifestyles. The position of professional organizations can be important in bringing about changes in the substance and quality of training for counselors. However, CACREP has no specialty standards for competent, addiction-related training, an aspect of CACREP-approved programs which should be corrected. Tables, references