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Treatment Planning
Treatment planning is the process of identifying and prioritizing problems needing resolution. The counselor and the client work together during treatment planning. In addition, they agree upon immediate and long-term goals, and make decisions in regards to treatment process and the resources to be used.
Global Criteria
- Explain assessment results to the client in an understandable manner.
- Identify and prioritize problems based on client’s needs.
- Formulate immediate and long-term goals using behavioral terms (book recommendation: Martin, Garry. “Behavior Modification: What it is and how to do it.” 9th ed.)
- Identify the treatment methods and resources to be used as appropriate for each client.
Miller, Geri. “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling.” 2nd ed.
Assessment
Assessment is the procedure used to identify and evaluate client’s strengths, weaknesses, problems and needs. This information is necessary in order to develop a treatment plan.
Global Criteria
- Gather information from the client regarding history of alcohol and other drug abuse.
- Use appropriate interviewing techniques.
- Obtain and corroborate information from significant collateral sources in regards to client’s alcohol and drug abuse and psychosocial history, through the use of appropriate methods and procedures.
- Identify appropriate assessment tools.
- Explain assessment rationale to client.
- Develop a diagnostic evaluation of the client’s substance abuse and co-occurring disorders based on the results of all assessments. The goal is to provide an integrated approach to treatment based on client’s strengths, weaknesses, problems and needs.
Miller, Geri. “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling.” 2nd ed.
Orientation
Orientation includes describing to the client the nature and goals of the program; the rules of client’s conduct and the violations that can lead to disciplinary measures or discharge from the program; in the case of out-patient programs, the hours during which services are available; treatment costs that need to be paid by the client, and client’s rights.
Global Criteria
- Provide an overview to the program, describing the program goals and objectives for client care.
- Provide the client with a description of the program rules, and client’s obligations and rights.
- Provide information about the program hours of operation.
Miller, Geri. “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling.” 2nd ed.
Intake
The intake is the administrative and initial assessment procedures for admissions into a program. Every new client goes through this process.
Global Criteria
- Complete require documents for admissions into the program.
- Obtain signed consents in order to protect client’s confidentiality and rights.
Miller, Geri. “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling.” 2nd ed.
Screening
Screening is a tool used to determine whether a client is eligible, and appropriate, for admission into a particular program.
Global Criteria
- Evaluate psychological, social, and physiological signs and symptoms of alcohol and other drug use and abuse.
- Determine the client’s eligibility and appropriateness for admission or referral.
- Identify any co-occurring conditions, such as medical, psychiatric, physical, etc. This will indicate the need for additional assessment and services.
- Abide by applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies governing alcohol and other drug abuse services.
Miller, Geri. “The Language of Addiction Counseling.” 2nd ed.
How many questions are there on the LCDC certification exam?
Hello everyone!
According to the IC&RC ADC candidate guide, the last 13 questions on the test are for the Case History (see Exam Structure). These questions measure the counselor’s competency and cover the 12 Core Functions of Addictions Counselors.
Click on each core function to see a full description of it and its global criteria.
- Screening
- Intake
- Orientation
- Assessment
- Treatment Planning
- Counseling
- Case management
- Crisis Intervention
- Client Education
- Referral
- Report and Record Keeping
- Consultation with Other Professionals in Regards to Client Treatment Services
The first 137 questions are about the 8 Practice Domains. It is very important that we understand the 12 Core Functions because they overlap with the 8 Practice Domains and all this is required to pass the test.
Reference:
Miller, Geri. “Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling.” 2nd ed.
IC&RC ADC Candidate Guide
Preparing for the LCDC Exam (State exam)
Hello everyone! I am finally getting ready to take the LCDC exam. For those of you who are not familiar with this acronym, it means Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. LCDCs are professionals who want to help people overcome alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD – another acronym) addictions.
I am creating this blog for many purposes. The first one is because I want to post everything I have learned about becoming an LCDC, aka drug addictions counselor. By doing this, it will be sort of a review for me before I take the exam; that way I can have everything I need to study in one place, it will be always available (all I need is a computer with internet access), and I can keep adding new information to my “study guide.” The third purpose of my blog is to share this information with people out there who are interested in addictions counseling and addictions science. This blog might be useful for those who want to become LCDCs in Texas, and like me, are getting prepared to take the state examination. I also believe that this is a good way for me to find out if I am learning the right stuff. As long as people read my blog, and most importantly, other LCDCs and experienced professionals in the field, provide me with feedback, this will end up being a great opportunity for me and others to learn what are the most effective ways nowadays to help people with ATOD addictions.
Ok, the last purpose of creating this blog is to link it to my other blog, which I started in March of this year (2012). I like to write, although I do not consider myself a good writer and I know I need lots of practice, but I especially like to write about a passion of mine which is the study and understanding of human behavior and mental disorders linked to drug addiction.
I hope this blog is helpful and useful. This is all for now, but I will start blogging pretty soon.
Thanks for stopping by.
-Samantha Delint
LCDC Exam Review 