ASAM Criteria 4th Edition Skill Building
This two-day, application-focused training will provide participants with an in-depth look at some of the significant changes and improvements in the Fourth Edition. Participants will have opportunities to apply and practice key components of the Criteria, including but not limited to; the six dimensions, level of care assessment, application of Risk Ratings to each of the Five Dimensions, Dimensional Admission Criteria Decision Rules, shared decision-making and an overview of Service Characteristic Standards, Discharge and Transition Criteria.
All participants receive an in-depth electronic training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application, as part of the training.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Professionals
The training aims to provide participants with the background knowledge and practical skills that they need to address suicidal risk and behaviors in clients in care for substance use disorder treatment. Participants will have the opportunity to increase their knowledge and apply practical skills in the following areas:
Approaching Your Work: Learn how to manage reactions related to suicide and maintain a collaborative, non-adversarial stance. Acquire the necessary skills to address potential conflicts between a care professional’s goal to prevent suicide and relapse and a client’s goal to eliminate psychological pain via suicidal behavior.
Understanding Suicide: Gain an understanding of the definitions and language used when talking about suicide, as well as the data that are relevant to addressing suicide in substance use disorder treatment including risk and protective factors, warning signs, and the complicating factors of substance misuse, including opioids.
Gathering Information: Identify key points in treatment where a suicide assessment should occur, what questions to ask to learn more about a client’s suicidal thoughts and behaviors past and present, and how to ask them. Participants will practice asking questions in an interactive learning environment designed to help build confidence. The training presents key scenarios, such as when to seek supervision or consultation and what to do when someone discloses suicidal thoughts during a group treatment session.
Formulating Risk: Practice synthesizing assessment information into a risk formulation that will help inform the next steps in treatment. AMSR emphasizes the importance of using a risk formulation not for prediction but as information to make a collaborative decision regarding recovery-oriented treatment planning.
Planning and Responding: Review suggested actions to take based on a risk formulation using resources from SAMHSA’s TIP 50 and evidence-based interventions. Practice having conversations related to safety planning and addressing the potential for relapse through means counseling interventions.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Co-occurring Disorders Program
The Co-occurring Disorders Program helps organizations deliver evidence-based integrated care to clients living with co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. The full series provides a proven, effective treatment protocol which places equal emphasis on addressing all diagnoses, yet each piece of the program can be used effectively as a stand-alone curriculum. This training will cover the complete curriculum, which includes.
- A Leader’s Guide to Implementing Services for People with Co-occurring Disorders
- Screening and Assessment
- Integrating Combined Therapies
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Family Program
- A Guide to Living with Co-occurring Disorders (DVD)
Objectives:
- Demonstrate core components of the Co-occurring Disorders Program.
- Recognize value of addressing presenting concerns in an integrated manner.
- Explore protocol-driven screening tools that consider each client’s symptoms, history, and motivation for change for best treatment planning practices.
- Describe differences between the evidence-based skills of motivational Interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy and twelve step facilitation.
- Prepare learners to integrate components of the Co-occurring Disorder Program to provide comprehensive, stage-based programming.
- Demonstrate delivery of key sections within the curriculum.
- Use experiential practice of new skills and interventions in person and/or virtually.
* Note: This is a two-day training; to receive credit, participants must attend both days of the training.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Ethics and Legal Considerations for Treatment Professionals
This training increases the treatment professional’s knowledge base about ethical and legal standards, ethical principles, and the application of these principles to clinical practice. Common ethical pitfalls, such as boundary crossings, as well as federal and state laws and regulations surrounding client confidentiality will be examined. The training participants will explore case studies, ethical decision-making models, and other strategies to resolve ethical challenges.
Objectives:
- Recognize common ethical dilemmas and identify strategies for treatment professionals to effectively manage and resolve various types of ethical challenges that may arise.
- Summarize ethical codes and Georgia-specific ethical and legal standards for treatment professionals.
- Examine laws and regulations that protect and safeguard confidentiality for clients seeking mental health and substance use treatment.
- Determine how treatment professionals can best maintain personal and professional boundaries as well as competency and integrity.
- Review case studies that scrutinize ethical conflicts faced by treatment professionals.
- Outline the fundamental steps of decision-making for treatment professionals seeking to resolve ethical dilemmas.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Exploring Best Practices in Groupwork for Patients in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
Group therapy and group work is a common way to deliver SUD treatment interventions in various types of treatment settings. Participants enrolled in this training will develop professional knowledge and skill for group work services to and for diverse persons affected by mental health issues, substance use disorders, and other behavioral addictions. The phases of group development and intervention during the various group work stages provide a conceptual framework for the training experience. Participants will compare and contrast the group dynamics of a mutual aid framework and the eleven therapeutic factors that lead to positive outcomes in group therapy. This training is highly experiential, and participants will engage in a parallel process of being group members and examining the roles of group leadership during this training. Training participants will demonstrate how to navigate discord, member testing, mandated patients and conflict in group settings using a mutual aid framework of group work.
Objectives:
- Recognize the benefits of developing group norms using a mutual aid framework to establish group safety and increase trust in the early stages of group.
- Compare and contrast the group dynamics using a mutual aid framework and the eleven therapeutic factors that lead to positive outcomes in substance use disorder groups.
- Identify the different stages of group development, and short term, long term, open and closed groups and specific interventions to foster safety, universality, and group cohesion.
- Practice responding to conflict, discord, and responding and working with mandated patients in a group setting.
- Discuss strategies for clinically appropriate group endings, and transitions.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Harm Reduction Approach within ASAM Criteria Framework
This training provides skill-building in the use of the ASAM Criteria as a framework for determining the most appropriate intensity of services and how a harm reduction model/approach, specifically providing strategies for working with clients on goal setting, application of risk reduction skills and evaluation of treatment goals fits within the broader framework of the Criteria’s six dimensions and levels of care.
All participants receive an electronic copy of an in-depth training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application as part of the training.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Individualized Service Planning with the ASAM Criteria
Participants will understand the relationship between the treatment plan and the use of admission, continued stay, and transition criteria. In addition, participants will learn how to write measurable, individualized treatment plans based on the Dimensional Drivers and individualized needs and preferences of the person served. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore ways in which the patient’s stage of change impacts and drives a person-centered treatment plan and a cursory review of core motivational interviewing skills for treatment planning conversations, shared-decision making and to support readiness for and engagement in treatment.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Medications in Treatment
Medications to support recovery from opioid use disorders are critical tools in effective evidence-based addiction treatment, yet their outcomes are less than optimal because of the lack of psychosocial support typically offered to patients. Medication initiation, adherence, and persistence benefit from behavioral interventions to help patients build motivation, set goals, manage expectations, effectively communicate with their support team, overcome obstacles to staying on track, and celebrate successes along the way. This training offers an overview of the role that approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) play in the “whole-person” approach to treatment and recovery with a strong emphasis on specific science-based behavioral skills that are useful as part of comprehensive medication-assisted recovery.
All participants receive an electronic copy of an in-depth training journal to guide the training experience and as a resource for continuing skill application as part of the training.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Motivational Interviewing: An Introduction Training
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is defined as “a particular way of talking with people about change and growth to strengthen their own motivation and commitment” (Miller & Rollnick, 2023, p. 3). MI is designed to evoke and enhance the individual’s own motivation to change, using strategies that are empathetic and non-confrontational. While it has long been recognized as an effective way to promote behavior change within individuals in substance use treatment, MI has a wide range of applications beyond the clinician-client interaction. MI is designed to help draw out the individual’s own strengths and resources to help them make the behavioral changes needed to reach their goals. In this introductory training, participants will learn about spirit of MI and its basic skills and strategies, and will have the opportunity to apply and practice those core skills in an experiential skill-development training.
Objectives:
- Describe key aspects of the spirit of motivational interviewing as well as its relation to the transtheoretical model and the importance of effective engagement
- Describe the core skills of motivational interviewing, including open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries
- Generate effective responses consistent with motivational interviewing to draw out and highlight the individual’s own desire, ability, reasons, and need to change
- Demonstrate application of concept as well as use of core motivational interviewing skills in practice activities
Search below for upcoming dates.
Motivational Interviewing: Beyond the Basics Training
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is defined as “a particular way of talking with people about change and growth to strengthen their own motivation and commitment” (Miller & Rollnick, 2023, p. 3). MI is designed to evoke and enhance the individual’s own motivation to change, using strategies that are empathetic and non-confrontational. While it has long been recognized as an effective way to promote behavior change within individuals in substance use treatment, MI has a wide range of applications beyond the clinician-client interaction. MI’s guiding helping style draws out the individual’s own strengths and desires to help them make the behavioral changes needed to reach their goals. Participants will learn about the guiding spirit of MI and the four tasks, and will have the opportunity to practice core skills and appropriately respond to challenges in an experiential skill-development training.
Objectives:
- Describe key aspects of the spirit of motivational interviewing as well as the four tasks and the importance of effective engagement
- Describe common traps and communication barriers (e.g. the persuasion trap, the wandering trap) which can arise and contribute to potential discord
- Generate effective responses consistent with motivational interviewing to elicit change talk and to help clients explore and resolve ambivalence
- Demonstrate use of core motivational interviewing skills, as well as the ability to identify and appropriately respond to sustain talk and discord
Search below for upcoming dates.
Peer Coaching vs Clinical Treatment in Addiction Recovery
Join us for an immersive and transformative workshop that delves into the dynamic interplay between peer coaching and clinical treatment in the roles of prevention and addiction recovery. Designed for professionals across the spectrum of services, including clinicians, coaches, and peer support specialists, this comprehensive session will provide valuable insights and strategies to promote prevention and support individuals on their recovery journey.
We will explore how both peer coaching and clinical treatment aim to improve lives, each offering unique perspectives and tools. You'll gain a clear understanding of the distinctions between these approaches, including who is considered “the expert in the room” and how they uniquely address the challenges their clients face. Learn how clinicians' and coaches' tools can complement each other to provide a holistic support system to bolter prevention efforts or better support those in recovery. Through real-world examples, we’ll illustrate how peer coaching and clinical treatment can work together to create a comprehensive prevention or recovery plan.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Recovery Coach Academy
This training is based on the Recovery Coach Academy (RCA). This curriculum provides a basic, introductory version of Recovery Coaching to meet the needs of those who want a general understanding of the recovery process to understand better and support the recovery of their loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Although the five-day curriculum is the preferred vehicle to learn about this very important role, we do realize that not everyone has the desire to become a recovery coach or the amount of time needed for that type of endeavor. We hope many of your questions about recovery and the recovery process will be answered. Much like the recovery journey, this training provides an emotionally rich experience combined with skills and techniques for real-life application. Whether you use it to improve your relationships with those seeking recovery or apply it to your recovery - you will be transformed.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Seeking Safety: An Evidence-Based Model for Trauma and/or Addiction
The goal of this presentation is to describe Seeking Safety, an evidence-based model for trauma and/or addiction (clients do not have to have both issues). By the end of the training, participants can implement Seeking Safety in their setting if they choose to. Seeking Safety teaches present-focused coping skills to help clients attain safety in their lives. It is highly flexible and can be conducted in any setting by a wide range of counselors and also peers. There are 25 treatment topics, each representing a safe coping skill relevant to both trauma and addiction, such as “Asking for Help,” “Creating Meaning,” “Compassion,” and “Healing from Anger.” Topics can be done in any order and the treatment can be done using as few or many of them as time allows. Seeking Safety strives to increase hope through an emphasis on ideals; it offers exercises, emotionally evocative language, and quotations to engage patients and provides concrete strategies to build recovery skills. In this training, we cover (a) background on trauma and addiction (rates, presentation, models and stages of treatment, clinical challenges); (b) an overview of Seeking Safety, including its evidence-base; and (c) clinical implementation, such as the use of the model with specific populations. Assessment and treatment resources are provided. The training is highly experiential, with role-plays and exercises to “learn by doing”; methods also include PowerPoint, video, and discussion.
Objectives:
- To describe current understanding of trauma, addiction, and their combination.
- To increase empathy and understanding of trauma and addiction.
- To describe Seeking Safety, an evidence-based model for trauma and/or addiction.
- To identify how to apply Seeking Safety for specific populations, such as homeless, adolescents, criminal justice, HIV, military/veteran, etc.
- To discuss adaptation based on setting, provider, and client factors (e.g., age, socioeconomics, culture, gender).
- To provide assessment and treatment resources.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Self-Care for Providers
Self-care for Providers is a dynamic, interactive workshop that addresses the healing and self-care needs of providers, supervisors, and others who are of vital assistance to individuals, children, and families navigating substance use and mental health challenges. Topics include secondary traumatic stress, burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and building resilience on the individual and organizational level.
Objectives:
- Understand and define the elements of compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and stress
- Understand and define burnout and how it relates to organizational characteristics
- Describe and prepare strategies to build emotional resilience at an individual and organizational level
- Define the process by which individuals and organizations can move from reactivity to resilience through the use of assessment, prevention, and intervention
Search below for upcoming dates.
Serving Those Who Served: An Introduction to Providing Culturally Humble and Evidence-Based Care to the Veteran Population
Veterans have their own culture and rich life experiences that can present unique challenges and opportunities to civilian community mental health care providers. It is crucial to be informed on culturally humble practices and have a basic understanding of co-occurring disorders that are seen when working with this population, as well as resources available to mental health clinicians. This interactive training will provide an overview of what makes the Veteran population truly unique including the impact of rank, enlistment, branch of service and potential deployments. Special populations will be discussed along with the impact of Military Sexual Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. This training will assist community providers in making an effort to understand key aspects of the Veteran experience which may help to establish a connection, build trust and inform treatment planning.
Objectives:
- Identify the factors that contribute to military culture and that lead to the development of Veteran identity and the camaraderie among this population.
- Acquire knowledge regarding the potential higher risk of suicide among Veterans.
- Increase understanding of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders that are commonly treated among Veterans.
- Gain awareness of resources available to civilian mental health clinicians.
- Increase knowledge of frequently used interventions, including CBT, MI, and safety planning
Search below for upcoming dates.
Trauma and Beyond
While many organizations are trauma-informed, becoming trauma-responsive means looking at every aspect of an organization’s programming, environment, language, and values and involving all staff in better serving clients who have experienced trauma. Moving from Trauma-Informed to Trauma-Responsive provides program administrators and clinical directors with key resources needed to train staff and make organizational changes to become trauma-responsive. This comprehensive training program involves all staff, ensuring clients are served with a trauma-responsive approach.
Objectives:
- Identify three examples of “Big T” and “little t” stressors
- Describe two of the major findings from the ACE study relating childhood experience to substance use and mental
health impairment.
- Perform at least one technique for engaging consumers in a trauma informed approach.
- Describe at least one impact of trauma on cognition and physiological functioning.
- Identify one Domain of Trauma-Informed Care and how, organizationally, activating this domain enhances trauma care.
Search below for upcoming dates.
Trauma-Informed Supervision and Selfcare
This workshop will address the role that trauma plays in the teams that we supervise. Trauma-informed supervision combines the knowledge of trauma and the principles of supervision. Creating a safe environment for supervision is imperative to prevent and treat vicarious trauma that arises in staff by applying the principles of trauma-informed care to supervision. Staff self-care is essential for staff well-being, the ability to provide ethical care, and the functioning of the team/agency.
Objectives:
- Participants will review the role of supervision in a trauma-informed environment.
- Participants will review the role of vicarious trauma in the supervision process and effective strategies to mitigate it.
- Participants will discuss how to apply trauma-informed principles into supervision.
- Participants will review the role of selfcare in providing ethical treatment and managing compassion fatigue.
Search below for upcoming dates.