Description: This 15-hour interdisciplinary program prepares students to provide counseling or education services to individuals abusing or addicted to mood altering chemicals. Individuals who complete the program will be knowledgeable about physical and psychological effects of various chemicals and the etiology of addictions, and will have skills in prevention strategies, assessment procedures, intervention skills, and treatment of individuals abusing or addicted to drugs.  

Objectives of the certificate program:  Students who complete this 15-hour program will enhance their employment opportunities in the field of working with individuals at risk to abuse drugs, those abusing drugs and those addicted to drugs.  Completion of the certificate will prepare qualified individuals to apply for specialized national and state certifications in addiction counseling.

Upon completion of the proposed certificate program, students will be

• knowledgeable about major drug categories
• able to identify physical and psychological effects from abusing and being addicted to mood altering drugs
• able to describe long-term effects from use and addiction to drugs
• knowledgeable about physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms of drugs
• aware of treatment concerns when working within individuals abusing or addicted to drugs
• knowledgeable about the etiology of addictions familiar with theoretical orientations currently used in prevention, intervention or treatment of individual at risk, abusing or addicted to drugs
• able to demonstrate skills in applying theoretical orientation to the prevention of substance abuse or treatment of individuals at risk of, abusing or addicted to drugs
• able to review and demonstrate various assessment instruments and intake procedures appropriate for working with individuals at risk of, abusing or addicted to drugs
• able to research and gain experience in developing, monitoring, and supervising educational programs relating to alcohol and drug abuse and/or addiction.

Enrollment: This program is restricted to students admitted to any of the following graduate programs: Psychology (Clinical option), Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Nursing, Public Health, School Psychology, or Social Work, or other helping professional program with the approval of the certificate program coordinator.  A second category of eligible students will include individuals who are licensed or license-eligible in any of the above areas.  Prospective students must submit an application to the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs, Coordinator of the certificate in Addictions Counseling and Education.
        
Application: Students complete the following steps to be admitted into the Certificate in Addictions Counseling and Education

• Graduate School Application - Individuals not currently enrolled in a graduate program at Western Kentucky University will need to submit an application to the Graduate School.
• Application to Certificate in Addiction Counseling & Education - Prospective students of this certificate will need to submit an application to the Coordinator, Dr. Kelly Burch-Ragan.
• Kentucky State Police Background Report – Individuals need to apply for a police background report. Students currently involved in the Mental Health program in the Counseling and Student Affairs Department MAY already have a KSP in their folder this will suffice. Students without a KSP on file will need to submit the form and have the completed report mailed directly to the Coordinator of the certificate in Addictions Counseling and Education, Department of Counseling and Student Affairs.

Courses: Students need to be accepted into a Masters program or have completed a master’s or doctorate program. Additionally, students need to and have completed numerous courses in their masters program to enroll in these 600 level courses (e.g., Theories, Psychopathology, Ethics, Techniques).

Core Courses – 9 hours (take sequentially)
(CNS, PSY, SWRK) 637 Theories of Addictions – 3 hours
(CNS, PSY, SWRK) 647 Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis, and  Treatment Planning – 3 hours
(CNS, PSY, SWRK) 667 Substance Abuse and Dependency Counseling – 3 hours
                       
Internship–3 hours

After completion of core courses the student will complete an internship with at least 300 hours of supervised experience related to addictions in the area of prevention, health education, intervention or treatment.  The student’s major program advisor and the certificate program coordinator must approve the internship site.  Credit may be earned in any of the following courses: CNS 596 Internship; PSY 592 Psychology Internship; PH 546 Graduate Internship; or SWRK 560, 561, 660, 661.

Restricted elective--3 hours
Students must choose 3 credit hours from the following restricted electives in collaboration with the certificate program coordinator and the student's program advisor.  All courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

Contact Information

Students already admitted into a graduate program and currently pursuing courses can contact Dr. Kelly Burch-Ragan, the coordinator of this certificate for additional information. For those students not currently taking graduate classes, a graduate application needs to be completed. The graduate application is found on Graduate School's web page.

Relating links

• Download forms relating to Internship