This training provides a broad overview of how substance use progresses from experimental or recreational stages to severe dependence, offering counselors insight into key terms such as tolerance, withdrawal, and dependence. Participants will explore the biopsychosocial model of addiction, which examines biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to substance use. By completing this course, counselors can expect to gain a strong foundational understanding of addiction, learn common terminology, and appreciate the complexity of factors that influence clients substance use.
Click Here To Access Training PageThis page is specifically devoted to providing free trainings for addiction and mental health practitioners. All trainings meet the requirements of the North Carolina Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board and have approval numbers for each training. Trainings are provided by qualified expert clinicians with significant clinical practice experience. These trainings represent the most current trends in the addiction profession and provide participants with journal articles to expand knowledge related to the topic. You are three clicks away from the training: click the image to review learning objectives; click the audio button to hear the training description; click the link to access the training page.
Introduction to Substance Use Disorders:
Pharmacology of Addictive Substances:
In this training, counselors learn about the most commonly misused substances, including alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and cannabis—and the neurochemical processes that underlie their effects. Discussions include withdrawal syndromes, toxicity risks, and how these substances interact with the brain and body. Counselors will emerge with an enhanced ability to recognize substance-specific presentations, educate clients about the physiological impact of these substances, and guide more informed treatment planning.
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Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT):
SBIRT training introduces evidence-based tools (like the AUDIT and DAST) for early identification of problematic substance use and teaches short, motivational interventions to engage clients who may be ambivalent about change. The course also covers referral pathways to higher levels of care when needed. By the end, counselors can expect to confidently implement brief, targeted interventions and link clients to the most appropriate services, improving early detection and treatment outcomes.
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Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Substance Use Disorders:
This training covers the principles of Motivational Interviewing—expressing empathy, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy—and demonstrates how to enhance client motivation and commitment to change. Through roleplays and skill-building activities, counselors learn to elicit clients own reasons for change and build stronger therapeutic alliances. Mastering MI empowers counselors to reduce resistance, increase engagement, and support positive treatment outcomes.
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Ethical and Legal Considerations in SUD Treatment:
Focusing on confidentiality regulations such as HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, this course helps counselors navigate the ethical and legal complexities of working with clients who have substance use disorders. It addresses boundary issues, dual relationships, mandatory reporting, and ethical decision-making models. Upon completion, counselors will better understand their professional responsibilities and feel prepared to uphold ethical standards while protecting clients rights and well-being.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Substance Use:
This training outlines how CBT principles can be applied to identify and restructure unhealthy thought patterns, develop coping strategies, and enhance problem-solving skills in clients with substance use disorders. The curriculum includes relapse prevention techniques designed to anticipate high-risk situations. Counselors who complete this training gain practical tools for helping clients modify thought and behavior patterns that contribute to continued substance use.
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Co-occurring emphasizes the relationship between mental health issues:
and substance use disorders. Participants learn to screen for both substance use and mental health concerns, ensuring that treatment addresses the full spectrum of a clients needs. Counselors will be equipped to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and design comprehensive, simultaneous interventions that improve client outcomes.
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Family Systems Therapy for Addiction:
This training explores how family roles, dynamics, and communication patterns can perpetuate or mitigate substance use. Counselors learn to identify behaviors like enabling and co-dependency and practice evidence-based interventions that involve family members and partners in the recovery process. Upon completion, counselors will have strategies to strengthen family support, resolve conflict, and improve overall relationship functioning in the context of addiction treatment.
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Group Therapy for Substance Use Disorders
In this training, participants review various group counseling formats, from psychoeducational to process-oriented, and examine the stages of group development. The training also addresses strategies for managing challenging behaviors and group dynamics. Counselors will develop confidence in facilitating effective group therapy sessions that enhance peer support, mutual learning, and accountability among group members.
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Trauma-Informed Care in Addiction Treatment
Understanding the influence of trauma on the brain and behavior is central to this training, which advocates for a trauma-informed approach focused on safety, trustworthiness, and empowerment. Counselors learn specific interventions that integrate addiction and trauma work. By adopting trauma-informed principles, counselors can create a supportive environment that reduces retraumatization and fosters healthier coping strategies in clients with trauma histories.
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Self-Care for Clinicians Treating Substance Use Disorders:
Clinicians working with substance use disorders often encounter high levels of stress and emotional fatigue, making self-care essential for maintaining professional effectiveness and personal well-being. This training explores strategies that help clinicians recognize and manage burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. By emphasizing healthy boundaries, mindfulness practices, and support systems, clinicians will be better equipped to sustain resilience, model healthy behaviors for clients, and continue delivering high-quality care.
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Relapse Prevention & Continuing Care:
This module emphasizes the identification of high-risk triggers and the development of effective coping strategies to support long-term recovery. Counselors review aftercare planning, involving mutual-help groups like 12-step or SMART Recovery, and learn how to maintain client engagement post-treatment. Mastery of these skills helps counselors foster clients resilience and reduce the likelihood of relapse by creating robust support networks and sustainable routines.
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