Home Study
Diploma Course in Addiction Psychology
Addiction is one of the most pervasive problems faced by our society today. Addiction problems cut across age, gender, nationality, and income. Addiction is often hidden and even when recognized is seldom addressed. Increasingly, more and more people from a variety of professions such as prison administration, medical and youth services workers, teachers, personnel managers, parents and other family members, and recovering addicts, find themselves having to deal with the multitude of problems caused by Addiction. Problems they may not have the educational background required to properly deal with.
Learning Objectives and Course Benefits
The purpose of this Home Study Diploma Course in Addiction Psychology is to provide you with up to date information and actionable knowledge on the problem of Addiction. Through the lessons offered you will gain insight into the causes of substance and behaviorial addiction and learn how to better assess addiction situations and intervene appropriately. You will lean how to examine and improve your own ability to review situations properly and intervene appropriately. You will learn how to improve those core skills you already possess that are generally required to help those addicted by drug/alcohol use. You will develop your expertise in dealing with the behaviour of addicted people. You will lean how to develop positive and comfortable attitude while dealing with those affected by addiction.
Knowledge
By the end of this course, students will have.- A greater understanding of the biology and psychology of addiction.
- A better understanding of the causes and effects of substance addiction and illicit drug addiction.
- A better understanding of behaviorial addictions such as gambling and obsessive compulsive behavior.
- Increased knowledge of the latest treatment models and theories.
- A better understanding of how to work with individual's with drug problems and how to help those affected by their drug use.
Skills
By the end of this course students will have developed the ability to:- Interact more effectively with those whose behaviors they may find difficult.
- Improve their ability to listen effectively and understand.
- Examine their ability to assess situations and intervene appropriately.
- Improve on their ability to help those affected by drug use to make better decisions.
- Be aware of the choices for making appropriate referrals.
Attitudes
By the end of this course students will have developed:- Greater sensitivity toward the behaviorial and emotional problems of others.
- Greater acceptance of individuals struggling with addiction problems.
- Greater awareness of and increased confidence around drug and alcohol issues.
- The ability to be more comfortable dealing with those affected by addiction.
- An increased awareness of themselves.
- The ability to better understand and cope with their own feelings.
Course Outline
Types of Addiction
- Definitions & concepts of Addiction.
- Information on types & impact of drug Addiction, including Inhalants, Depressants, Sedatives.
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Alcohol, Stimulants, Amphetamines, ‘Club/Recreational’ Drugs, Hallucinogens, Opiates & Sport Drugs.
- Street names & terminology.
- The drug scene today.
Theories of Addiction
Focussing on the major Theories & Models of Addiction:
- The Moral model
- The Psychological Model: Psychoanalytic, Behavioural, Cognitive
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The Medical/Disease Model: Genetic, Addictive Personality, Allergy, Illness & Biological
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The Socio-Cultural Model: Modelling, National & Cultural Conditions & Family Systems Theory
Addiction Apartments
- Pharmacotherapy: Antabuse, Ibogaine, Methadone & Detox-5
- The Minneosta Model: 12 Step & Alcoholics Anonymous
- Counselling & Therapy: Motivational Interviewing & Reality Therapy
- Harm Reduction Model
- Treatments in practice
Addiction in Society
- Drug policies, legalisation & de– criminalisation
- ICommunity change, Outreach, Harm Reduction or Abstinence
- Alcohol & drug education
- Alcohol & drug-related issues in the workplace
Addiction in Families
- Co-dependency, children of alcoholic families, parenting styles, & family factors
- Relapse for families, ‘letting go’, dependent attitudes & dependent behaviours
- Al-Anon
- The intervention approach
Working with Addiction
- Why be a helper, motives & attitudes
- Helper qualities & attitudes
- The art of accepting
- Counselling/helping skills. Helping the helpers
Note: The cost of the course is €595 and is payable on commencement. This cost covers administration, all reading/study material (there will be no need to buy any additional books) and a Diploma in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis on successful completion of the course.
