Course Syllabus
HR 5413: Addictions Counseling
Faculty Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Materials
- Brooks, F., & McHenry, B. (2023). A contemporary approach to substance use disorders and addiction counseling (3rd ed.). Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-394-22274-2
- DSM-5 TR (5th edition, text revision)
- Log in with your OU 4 x 4 and password
- Click on the hyperlink beside "full text available"
- Then, click on "expand all"
- Choose one of the sections of the DSM that you want to read
-
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Treatment Improvement Protocol 35.
Course Prerequisites
You should have completed 54 credit hours of course requirements in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program prior to enrollment in this course.
Course Description
An advanced study of various counseling approaches with opportunities for demonstration and evaluation of each student's counseling skills. This course is designed to provide the student with advanced exploration and analysis of current counseling practices related to chemical dependency. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, critique, and discuss, in verbal and written form, the key concepts of traditional and contemporary chemical dependency counseling.
Learning Outcomes & CACREP Standards
Course Learning Outcomes
| Learning Outcome | |
|---|---|
| CLO-A | Identify key theoretical constructs and principles in addictions theory including working with addiction populations across cultures. |
|
CLO-B |
Compare various categories of drugs and the specific drugs in each category. |
|
CLO-C |
Examine key research related to the neurobiological etiology of Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. |
|
CLO-D |
Demonstrate best practices in identifying and treating substance use, addictions, and co-occurring conditions using empirically validated counseling theories and interventions. |
|
CLO-E |
Analyze treatment settings, relapse prevention and group support methods for Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. |
Addictions Counseling
| Learning Outcome | CACREP Standard |
|---|---|
| Theories and neurobiological etiology of addiction. | 3.C.5 |
| Procedures to identify substance use, addictions, and co-occurring conditions. | 3.G.12 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track
| Learning Outcome | CACREP Standard |
|---|---|
| Strategies for interfacing with the legal system regarding court-referred clients. | 5.C.6 |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Course Learning Outcomes | CACREP Standards | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | CLO-A, CLO-B, CLO-C, CLO-D, CLO-E | 3.C.5, 3.G.12, 5.C.6 | Weekly asynchronous Live Sessions | 15% |
| Discussions | CLO-A, CLO-C, CLO-D, CLO-E | 3.C.5, 3.G.12, 5.C.6 | Periodic discussions | 15% |
| Journals |
CLO-A, CLO-B |
3.C.5, 3.G.12 | Periodic written assignments | 10% |
| Experiential Activities | CLO-A, CLO-D, CLO-E | 3.G.12 | Written assignment activities | 30% |
| Motivational Interviewing Case Study |
CLO-A, CLO-D |
3.G.12 | Written assignment | 15% |
| Knowledge Checks |
CLO-A, CLO-B, CLO-C, CLO-D, CLO-E |
3.C.5, 3.G.12, 5.C.6 | Periodic quizzes | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Participation
You can earn participation points in two ways for the Live Sessions:
- Participate Live: This option should be your preferred choice. When possible, you should attend and participate in the Live Sessions in real time. To get credit for your attendance, type in the date and time of the session you attended by clicking on the red "Submit Assignment" button at the top of the Live Session page. Your self-reported attendance log will be cross-checked against the attendance tracker in Zoom.
- Make-Up (Watch Recording-Submit Written Summary): In the event that your work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend, please review the recording of the Live Session then write a 2-3 paragraph summary of the Live Session from your perspective. Click on the "Start Assignment" button to type (or copy/paste) your paragraph into the text field. Make-up session summaries are due Sunday by 11:59 PM Central following the missed Live Session.
Discussions
You will complete an original post in response to the discussion questions provided.
- Responses should be equal to a half-page essay post (approximately 2 paragraphs).
- The initial response posts are due each week on Friday by 11:59 PM Central.
In addition, you will be required to reply to at least two of your classmates' essay posts each week.
- These replies are due on Sunday by 11:59 PM Central each week. Replies should be respectful and insightful.
- Replies are to be a minimum of four full sentences in length.
Journals
You will periodically be asked to complete journals to enhance your understanding of the complex dynamics and challenges individuals with addiction face. Additionally, topics will promote critical thinking and foster a deeper appreciation of the multifaceted nature of addiction, aiding you in your future therapeutic work with clients in the field of addictions.
Experiential Activities
Students will choose two experiential activity options to complete during the course. Each engaging activity offers unique insights into addiction topics and requires submission as specified in the course module. These activities can be initiated early in the course, if it suits your schedule, or completed as per the module deadlines.
Note: You may start on these early, as long as you turn them in on time during week 6 & 8.
Motivational Interviewing Case Study
For this assignment, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the core principles of motivational interviewing through practical application of motivational interviewing theory to a real-life client scenario.
This assignment will provide you with the opportunity to develop valuable skills for addressing addiction-related issues in a client-centered, non-confrontational, and empathetic manner using motivational interviewing.
Knowledge Checks
These quizzes will offer you the opportunity to reflect on your comprehension and understanding of content via multiple choice and short answer questions. The knowledge checks will also give you, as the learner, greater awareness of how you are doing in in the course and your mastery of the content.
Course Policies
Communication
I prefer that you contact me by email, with the name and the course number in the subject line. 24 hour reply time, with Monday through Friday specified.
Students can address me as Professor Gill. It is the responsibility of each students to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations that govern OU student conduct and activities, including all policies and procedures outlines in the program's Student Handbook and Academic Code.
Feedback
My goal is to grade your work within one week of the due date.
Late Policy
Work turned in late without an extension having been granted will lose two percentage points per day on the grade for the assignment.
If the student does not contact the instructor within one week after the late assignment is due, the assignment/s will not be accepted and it will be given a grade of zero.
Extensions:
Students may request extensions of deadlines for assignments during the term. The request must be made at least three days prior to the due date of the assignment.
The granting of an extension is at the discretion of the professor. In cases of emergency, instructors may grant an extension request received after the three day deadline. Extensions may not be granted beyond the last day of the semester as noted on the OU Online Academic Calendar
If an extension is granted, there is no penalty as long as the work is turned in by the revised due date.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
Using AI (artificial intelligence) programs such as Chat GPT is not permitted unless consulting with me first.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits.
- Assist those who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|