Want to make a difference? Substance abuse and behavioral disorders counselors, also referred to as addiction counselors, work with individuals, families and groups to assist people recovering from substance use disorders or other damaging behavioral disorders such as gambling. These counselors teach people coping skills while facilitating cognitive and behavioral changes that will help clients create the lives they desire.
Become a part of the behavioral health treatment community by earning your Associate of Arts in Chemical Dependency Studies at Mohave Community College. At the core of each course are the related Addiction Counseling Competencies established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) Series 21. Upon completion, students will be prepared for paraprofessional work in behavioral health.
Job duties include, but are not limited to: assessing and treating individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Places of employment include: behavioral health agencies, social service agencies, jails/prisons, prevention programs, residential treatment centers, transitional homes, or group homes.
The AA in Chemical Dependency Studies can also afford many options for employment in any field requiring knowledge of substance use, such as psychology, social work, criminal justice, or any occupational field in which one works with people.
Coursework involves theory and application in assessment, diagnosing and treatment planning for substance use disorders throughout the continuum of care, psychopharmacology, ethics, mental health disorders, working with diverse individuals and groups, and the impact of substance use on families and communities.
Become job ready by learning how to apply industry standards such as Motivational Enhancement and the Stages of Change, the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Patient Placement Criteria and Levels of Care, and the most recent updates to the diagnostic criteria in substance use disorders as found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. For more information regarding the Chemical Dependency Studies, AA, see the Chemical Dependency Studies webpage.
Important Program Notes:
- With this coursework, students will earn an AA in Chemical Dependency Studies which meets the educational requirements necessary to apply for licensure as a Substance Abuse Technician (LSAT) through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE). Licensure is not required to work in the field; it is the responsibility of each student to determine if licensure should be pursued.
- It is the responsibility of each student to check with your state’s regulatory body to assure that this degree meets the state’s requirements for certification or licensure.
- CHD 100 is a prerequisite for all other CHD courses.
- CHD courses are not offered each semester.
- Students must achieve a minimum grade of 2.0 in each required course.
Note: For a course to be eligible for transfer, the student must receive a “C” or better. Acceptance of a transfer course is determined by the receiving institution
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