1. Gather client's substance use history
2. Identify withdrawal symptoms
3. Recognize signs of client overdose
4. Gather client's medical history
5. Gather client's mental health history
6. Identify potential co-occurring disorders
7. Evaluate client's willingness for treatment and state of change
8. Gather information on client's previous relapses (if relevant)
9. Gather information on client's environmental stressors
10. Practice cultural sensitivity throughout interview process
11. Obtain records and releases from client's other providers
12. Document all intake and screening information

1. Use trauma-informed practices with clients use evidence-based practices with clients
2. Engage with the criminal justice system on the client's behalf, especially probation and parole officers
3. Provide culturally sensitive care to individuals exiting the criminal justice system
4. Provide culturally sensitive care to individuals experiencing homelessness
5. Provide culturally sensitive care to LGBTQIA individuals
6. Provide culturally sensitive care to individuals from racial and ethnic minority communities
7. Provide culturally sensitive care to clients with disabilities
8. Provide culturally sensitive care to clients of different religious backgrounds
9. Provide developmentally appropriate care to adolescent clients
10. Use appropriate resources to overcome any language barriers with clients

1. Communicate treatment plan to client and client's support system
2. Collaborate with other members of treatment team as needed
3. Coordinate continued drug and alcohol screenings
4. Document treatment outcomes
5. Engage in harm reduction and HIV prevention
6. Assist with discharge planning

1. Identify signs of crisis in client
2. Intervene in client crisis situations
3. Identify impacts of co-occurring disorders in crisis situations
4. Engage in relapse prevention
5. Assist client in responding to sobriety-threatening events

1. Communicate available community resources to client
2. Make referrals to social services providers
3. Make referrals to other treatment providers for co-occurring disorders as appropriate
4. Make referrals to 12-step programs and other support groups
5. Make referrals to providers of medication for opioid use disorder as appropriate
6. Follow up with client regarding all referrals
7. Engage in care coordination with other treatment providers
8. Document all referrals
9. Maintain relationships with community resources
10. Make site visits to community resources

1. Document all client interactions, including face-to-face, phone, and telehealth interactions
2. Document results of screenings and evaluations
3. Document changes to treatment plan with evidence of client agreement
4. Maintain files in written or electronic record systems within HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements
5. Uphold all local, state, and federal privacy and confidentiality rules and regulations
6. Document date and length of time for all services provided to clients
7. Record client impressions of treatment
8. Document clinical supervision and case consultation

1. Communicate treatment plan to client's support system
2. Communicate impacts of substance use disorders on support systems
3. Engage support system in treatment as appropriate
4. Make referrals for members of client's support system as appropriate
5. Maintain client privacy and confidentiality with support system
6. Engage client's support system in discharge planning

1. Maintain regular clinical and case supervision
2. Associate with a professional organization
3. Participate in continuing education
4. Maintain awareness of state board requirements and regulations
5. Adhere to a code of ethics
6. Maintain appropriate boundaries with client
7. Engage in appropriate self-disclosure with client
8. Maintain appropriate relationships with client and client's support system
9. Maintain personal recovery and/or self-care

Sample learning objectives: Explain the goals of human services programs and organizations and list the providers of these services in the local community. Describe federal and state human services resources, locate websites that help clients understand these resources, and explain how applications must be completed and processed for clients to receive services. Describe strategies for providing comprehensive and culturally sensitive human services. Demonstrate the ability to interview clients and identify human service needs and opportunities that would support them and their families.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the history and origins of psychology. Describe key stages in human development and cognition. Describe the biology of psychology, including the central nervous system and brain function. Explain personality theory and, using case studies, identify how different types of personalities react to stressors, perceive the world around them, and engage in consciousness and self-visualization. Describe the types of physiological disorders often seen in human populations and the various treatment modalities used to help individuals cope with these disorders. Explain the purpose of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV) and demonstrate the ability to use the manual to understand the signs and symptoms of various mental health disorders or diagnoses.

Sample learning objectives: Explain the theories and etiology of addictions and addictive behaviors. Explain the neurobiology of chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders. Demonstrate the ability to assess an individual’s propensity for substance use disorders and to identify the signs and symptoms of children and adolescents living in a home where substance use occurs. Explain the ethical and legal challenges, requirements, and limitations related to addictions and substance abuse counseling. Explain the importance of community and culture in preventing or assisting in recovery from substance use or abuse. Describe the classes of drugs most frequently used and abused, their chemical effects on the brain, and types of treatment therapies used to end dependency and support patients through detoxification.

Sample learning objectives: Demonstrate the ability to interview children, adolescents, and adults to identify potential signs of substance use or chemical dependency. Explain the types of medical, psychological, and community counseling options available to assist individuals and families coping with substance use or abuse. Explain a patient’s right to privacy and the ethical requirements of counseling professionals. Demonstrate the ability to properly document key findings from client interviews, including using electronic medical records and other computer-based patient care record systems. Explain the various ways individuals can manage the cost of receiving substance use or abuse counseling, including through the use of private health insurance programs, Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans Administration benefits, and public service organizations.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the role of each member in the substance use or abuse health care team and who has the authority to make decisions about a client’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Explain the key responsibilities of a substance use or abuse counselor and the limits on the types of counseling services that can be provided based on various levels of education, licensure, or certification. Exhibit the ability to communicate clearly, listen actively, and extract key messages or themes from oral and written communication. Demonstrate the ability to prioritize among competing demands in the clinical setting. Demonstrate the ability to identify the warning signs of clients who may pose a threat to themselves or others, and describe strategies for managing and diffusing anger or tension in such situations.

Sample learning objectives: Describe the key components of intake assessments and monitoring assessments for individuals who may have substance use or abuse concerns or may be seeking support to end substance use or abuse. Describe the types of cognitive or other tests that may be performed by psychologists, social workers, or neurologists to assess an individual’s level of chemical dependency and general health status. Demonstrate the ability to contribute to the development of a treatment plan, to explain the purpose and intent of each element of sample treatment plans, and to monitor client progress in meeting the requirements of the treatment plan. Explain the types of health care providers who will provide each service, treatment, or procedure that is part of a treatment plan, and explain how the substance use counselor interacts with those providers, shares information, and seeks direction for executing a client’s treatment plan. Demonstrate the ability to use various strategies to manage or diffuse emotions among coworkers, supervisors, clients, and health care teams that may intensify as a result of disagreements, anger, mistrust, mental illness, and fear.

Sample learning objectives: Explain a patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality, including in situations where the client is a minor. Describe the various laws that protect patient privacy and the consequences to clients and practitioners when confidentiality is breached. Describe the strategies for ensuring patient records are secure and private and describe the actions that one should take if a breach occurs. Describe the importance of informed consent and provide examples of situations where someone other than the client is legally permitted to receive information about and make decisions on behalf of a client seeking substance use or abuse counseling. Describe the strategies for maintaining professional relationships with peers and clients and their families. Provide written and oral descriptions of how a professional should ethically engage in various scenarios likely to occur within clinical treatment facilities, at outpatient service facilities, during group therapy or counseling sessions, or when individuals live in group housing.