Addiction Treatment Counseling & Mental Health Studies (ATCMHS)

Formerly HS_AS 41 and HS 41. This course takes the student through the history of abuse of alcohol and other mood-altering substances. How persons develop the ability to abuse and become addicted to other behaviors, such as food and sex, will also be examined. Psychological, social and physical contributions and outcomes of addictive behavior will be presented. This course is designed for those students interested in the helping professions, especially those interested in a career in Alcohol and Drug Studies. This course will assist students in preparation for the California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) and/or California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) certification tests.

Formerly HS_AS 43 and HS 43. Students will examine methods for conducting initial intake assessments, designing, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans, as well as exploring various types of treatment programs and key issues related to effective client termination. The course will also address client/case manager legal and confidentiality considerations. In addition, students will be introduced to trauma-focused counseling approaches to better understand and support clients who have experienced trauma, with an emphasis on integrating trauma-informed care into treatment planning and delivery. This course is designed for individuals interested in careers in the helping professions and is required for students preparing for certification through the California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) and/or the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC).

Formerly HS_AS 46. This course examines the effects that alcohol and several other psychoactive drugs have on our brain, body, and everyday behavior. Issues including drug tolerance, co-occurring disorders and the effects of drugs on sexual performance are examined as well as how to utilize this information when developing a treatment plan. This course is required for students preparing for both the California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) and/or California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) certification.

Formerly HS_AS 47. This course examines the treatment and recovery communication process from the perspective of both the client and case manager. Several therapeutic educational approaches will be presented and applied through homework skills assignments and case presentations. This course is designed for students interested in the helping professions or pursuing a career in alcohol/drug studies. This course will assist students in preparation for the California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) and/or California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) certification exam.

Formerly HS_AS 48 and HS 48. Students will explore the counseling process from the perspective of both the client and counselor. Therapeutic orientations of group/family counseling will be learned and applied through class discussions, case vignettes, and role-play. The course is designed for students interested in the helping professions. The course will assist students in preparation for the California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) and/or California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) certification.

Formerly HS_AS 50. Topics covered include the applicable laws and ethics related to case manager/client relationships in a treatment setting. Laws addressing confidentiality, patient rights, assessments, sharing of personal information and crisis intervention requirements will be presented. Learning how to deal with issues such as evaluating a person's potential for suicide, child or elder abuse as well as when individuals pose a serious potential of harm to themselves or others are also examined. This is a core course for Human Services Generalist and Addiction Studies curricula.

Formerly HS_AS 72A. This course provides supervised field work experience in approved community agencies serving clients in the field of addiction treatment. The focus of the course is allowing the student to apply knowledge and learn new skills outside of the classroom environment. This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to develop skills that would facilitate gaining employment in the addiction services field. Development and use of helping skills, client record documentation, service coordination, self-awareness, and beginning professional growth are also emphasized.

Formerly HS_AS 72B. This course provides continued supervised field-instruction experience in an approved agency focused on addiction treatment. Students increase the development of helping skills, client record documentation, and service coordination. The course emphasizes the increased integration of theoretical human services concepts, industry-related and evidence-based competencies, and practices in the field of addiction studies and treatments. This course is intended only for students in their final semester of an Addiction Studies Program.

Formerly HS_AS 153. This course focuses on the major cultural, historical and societal themes in the United States and highlights the competencies needed to address and work effectively with people from various ethnic, racial, and religious groups. The course examines the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for the treatment providers to understand the full context of the clients’ sociocultural environment and examines those that have been disadvantaged or excluded from the mainstream of US society. Includes those with co-occurring disorders. Students seek understanding across differences and focus on psychoeducation in subject areas that serve the goals of treatment and rehabilitation.

Formerly HS_AS 162. This course is an introduction to the basic skills and techniques of counseling for addiction counselors. This course describes characteristics of an effective counselor, explores several theoretical models of counseling, and assists the individual to develop skills in active listening, building rapport and trust, reflecting feelings and content, and using evidenced-based applications of counseling practices.

This course offers students an in-depth understanding of trauma-informed counseling principles and their application within addiction treatment and behavioral health settings, emphasizing the impact of trauma across the lifespan and its relationship to substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and co-occurring disorders. Students will develop foundational clinical skills for engaging, assessing, and supporting diverse clients affected by trauma in both individual and group counseling environments, while learning to apply evidence-based, culturally responsive practices that promote safety, stabilization, resilience, and recovery and reduce the risk of re-traumatization. The course prepares students to integrate knowledge of the neurobiology of trauma, trauma screening and assessment, crisis intervention strategies, ethical practice, counselor self-awareness, and interdisciplinary collaboration into clinical decision-making. Students will also gain experience in case conceptualization, professional documentation, and treatment planning, with special attention to clients with co-occurring disorders commonly served in addiction treatment settings. Overall, the course supports students in developing the professional readiness required for practicum placement and entry-level employment in trauma-informed behavioral health environments.

This course offers an in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of substance use disorders (SUD) within the context of family and social systems. Emphasizing the complex interplay between individual behavior and systemic influences, students will examine how familial relationships, generational trauma, and cultural dynamics contribute to the development and maintenance of addiction. Grounded in family systems theory, the course integrates a variety of theoretical models of addiction with a comprehensive biopsychosocial framework. Students will critically analyze how patterns of dysfunction and trauma are transmitted across generations, and how these patterns intersect with substance use and recovery processes. Special attention will be given to the roles of codependency, enabling behaviors, attachment styles, and family roles in both the development of SUD and the healing process. Designed for students pursuing careers in addiction treatment counseling, social work, psychology, and related helping professions, this course provides foundational knowledge and practical tools for working with families affected by addiction. It is particularly relevant for those enrolled in Alcohol and Drug Studies programs and supports preparation for certification exams administered by the California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC). Through lectures, case studies, experiential activities, and applied assignments, students will gain the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to assess, support, and intervene in families coping with substance use disorders.

This course prepares entry-level mental health workers to launch a career in the field of behavioral health. The historical and contemporary evolution of diagnostic criteria for mental health disorders, along with an integrative treatment approach, will be explored. Clinical and cultural considerations in the diagnostic process will be examined, along with the legal, compulsory, and ethical aspects of mental health services. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Guiding Principles and the four major dimensions of recovery will be introduced.

Formerly HS_AS 252 and HS 252. This course explores understanding mental illness and persons with more than one mental/psychiatric disorder. It introduces students to the various disorders in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. It will introduce students to co-existing disorders and various diagnosis and treatment techniques used to treat this unique population. Students will tour two different types of mental health facilities to provide an additional understanding of mental health issues.