Mission

The mission of the addiction counseling profession is to provide effective treatment for those suffering from a substance use disorder problem. Grounded in real-world practice, K-State’s addiction counseling program prepares students to empower vulnerable communities and change the lives of individuals and families experiencing addiction by addressing the life stressors contributing to the substance use disorder problem, crafting tailored intervention plans, and overcoming stigma and other hurdles standing in the way of recovery.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcome 1: Knowledge

Addiction counseling students will demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge and apply the methods of inquiry in our discipline.

• Content Knowledge:
  • Effects of addictive substances: Explain the physiological, psychological, and social effects of addictive substances on the person using and others.
  • Co-occurring disorders: Recognize the potential for substance use disorders to mimic a variety of medical and mental health conditions and the potential for medical and mental health conditions to coexist with addiction and substance misuse.
  • Diagnostic criteria: Understand the established diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders.
  • Intervention: Differentiate between various intervention methods used in addiction counseling based on core concepts, assumptions, and application methods.

• Professional Skills Application:
  • Diagnostic criteria: Identify treatment modalities and placement criteria within the continuum of care.
  • Assessment: Create assessment recommendations that demonstrate clear links between a client’s current level of motivation, cultural values, formal and informal support networks, and the proposed intervention methods.
  • Referrals: Identify existing formal services and informal supports within a client’s community and practice making and following up on referrals to facilitate gradual disengagement and avoid practicing outside one’s scope of practice.
  • Intervention: Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes.
  • Collaboration: Collaborate with clients and their support network on developing treatment, relapse prevention, and aftercare plans and updating plans based on progress/challenges.
  • Group facilitation: Enact actions necessary to form and facilitate an educational or treatment group, including determining group type, purpose, size, and leadership; recruiting and selecting members; establishing group goals and clarifying behavioral ground rules for participating; identifying outcomes; and determining criteria and methods for termination or graduation from the group.

Outcome 2: Critical Thinking

Addiction Counseling students will be able to make complex decisions and evaluate actions.

• Research: Gather and interpret information.
• Act: Respond and adapt to changing situations and help others resolve problems.

Outcome 3: Communication

Addiction Counseling students will develop and refine written and oral communication skills.

• Interpersonal communication: Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills.
• Written communication: Effectively communicate knowledge specific to our discipline in written format.

Outcome 4: Diversity

Addiction Counseling students will recognize the social, political, economic, and cultural context within which addiction and substance misuse exist.

• Risks and resilience: Identify risk and resiliency factors that characterize individuals and groups and their living environments.
• Self-awareness: Understand the importance of self-awareness in one’s personal, professional, and cultural life.
• Client-centered: Provide services appropriate to the personal and cultural identity and language of the client.

Outcome 5: Academic and Professional Integrity

Addiction counseling students will apply standards of professional ethics that correspond with the prevailing standards of practice.

• Comprehension: Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the ethical standards of our academic discipline.
• Application: Enhance professional boundaries, self-care, and the utilization of supervision to avoid causing harm to the client and/or helping professional.