Addictions Counseling

Addictions Counseling: A Competency-Based Approach is a comprehensive and essential resource for academics and organizations preparing students for certification and professional practice in the field of addiction treatment. Aligned with the credentialing standards of CACREP's Addictions Counseling specialty, the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), SAMHSA's TAP 21 core competencies, and NAADAC's ethical principles, this text equips students to meet state and international certification requirements for addictions counseling. Using a comprehensive case study that follows a client from intake and assessment through discharge, this text integrates core competencies with real-world application. Each chapter identifies the competencies and ethical principles covered within, and is structured to promote the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for competent practice. Evidence-based strategies are woven throughout, offering practical tools and clinical examples to support each stage of the treatment process. Additional topics include addiction theories, co-occurring disorders, culturally responsive care, DSM diagnosis, placement criteria, documentation, treatment planning, and other behavioral addictions. Two in-depth chapters on pharmacology explore prescription medications (including medication-assisted treatment), synthetic drugs, and herbal substances, highlighting their role in both misuse and treatment. With its clear structure and applied focus, Addictions Counseling is more than a textbook - it's a bridge between academic preparation and professional excellence.

Samuel S. Faulkner served as Professor of Social Work at Morehead State University until he retired in 2017. His positions included BSW Program Coordinator and Director of International Education, and he served as Chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for thirteen years. He has published multiple articles and book chapters and presented at numerous conferences. He is also the co-author of Research Methods for Social Workers: A Practice-Based Approach (4th ed.), published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Faulkner started working in addiction counseling over 40 years ago and has experience in both residential and outpatient settings. Cynthia A. Faulkner is Professor of Social Work at Indiana Wesleyan University, where she served four years as MSW Program Director. She previously retired from Morehead State University in Kentucky, where she served as Professor of Social Work, holding the positions of Field Education Coordinator and BSW Program Coordinator. She is currently the Editor of the British Social Science Journal: Social Work. She has published multiple articles and book chapters and presented at numerous conferences. She is the co-author of Research Methods for Social Workers: A Practice-Based Approach (4th ed.), published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Faulkner has over 30 years of practice experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and has worked in addiction counseling for the U.S. Army, as well as serving as an addiction preceptor for the U.S. Navy.