Steps of Addictions Assessment Processes
Addiction may take many forms. A person may be addicted to a substance, such as cocaine, or a behavior, such as gambling.
Individuals who enter into addictions assessment generally have exhibited certain hallmarks of addiction, such as an increase in the behavior, problems in relationships and life functioning, and withdrawal symptoms upon ceasing the behavior.
Someone with a potential addiction may be facing a host of issues. He or she might require medical and/or legal help. A teenager may be a minor requiring parental consent for any treatment and might already be receiving help from a guidance counselor or school psychologist. It is true that individual assessments have unique features and should be tailored to the needs of and aspects related to each individual being assessed. However, there are important steps common to most assessments that allow addictions professionals to gather reliable, valid, and relevant information about the clients they serve, as well as to enlist the best set of professionals to form the multidisciplinary team.
This week, you describe the steps of a standard addictions assessment and reflect on the importance of using a multidisciplinary team.
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources, including the following:
Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide
Chapter 1, "The First Contact"
Chapter 14, "The Clinical Staff"
Assignment Directions:
Submit by Day 7 a 2- to 4-page paper that includes the following:
The steps of an addictions assessment
An explanation of why each step is important
One example of a multidisciplinary team and the contribution each of the team members might make to the assessment
Cite your sources using APA guidelines.
Readings
Perkinson, R. R. (2012). Chemical dependency counseling: A practical guide (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Chapter 1, "The First Contact"
Focus on the descriptions of client perspectives in the "Treatment Works" and "How to Develop the Therapeutic Alliance" sections and how these descriptions relate to the codes of ethics and principles addictions professional should follow (see this week's Discussion area). Also focus on the information on treatment facilities and group practice to learn more about the need for multidisciplinary teams for your Assignment.
Chapter 14, "The Clinical Staff"
Focus on the various types of professionals that might need to be included in the multidisciplinary team.
Focus on the Preamble, which provides a rationale for following codes of ethical principles and standards. Focus also on the General Principles, which sets the stage for other information on ethics violations.
Focus on the standards listed in the section titled "The Counseling Relationship" for an excellent overview of expected behavior on the part of counselors.