Chemical Dependency Prevention and Counseling
Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Certificate in Chemical Dependency Prevention and Counseling provides valuable preparation for careers in human services, including substance use disorder treatment, mental health, criminal justice, and health care.
This 18-credit program introduces students to concepts related to chemical dependency, prevention, and treatment, while examining models, theories, and research active across the current industry.
Upon program completion, you’ll have earned the 270 hours of education required by the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) for certification as an addictions counselor.
Certificate Benefits
- Required courses are offered virtually
- Provides fundamental information on chemical dependency, recovery, and substance use disorders for a variety of disciplines
- Provides students with the educational requirements necessary for state certification
Next Steps
- Complete the 6 required courses (18 credits)
- 2 courses are required for the RHS major (RHS 301 and RHS 303)
- The additional 4 courses can simultaneously serve as electives, thus RHS students would not need to take any additional credits beyond the required 120.
- RHS 301- Introduction to Counseling as a Profession- Overview of the counseling theories that are often used in human service and rehabilitation practices.
- RHS 303- Group Work in Rehabilitation Practice and Human Services- An overview of essential elements and dynamics for conducting groups and various team-related activities will be the major focus.
- BBH 143- Drugs, Behavioral, and Health- This course will review fundamental information about recreational and therapeutic drugs, along with the impact of substance use on the health and well-being of the individual and the underlying reasons for drug use and misuse. The effects on society, social norms related to drug use, laws pertaining to use, and the historic context of substance use will be explored.
- CNED 401- Foundations of Chemical Dependency Counseling- An overview of diagnosis and assessment, models for chemical dependency prevention, counseling, and recovery; contexts of chemical dependency treatment.
- CNED 420- Chemical Dependency: Youth at Risk- Study of youth who are at-risk of developing chemical dependency including the characteristics and factors related to chemical dependency or CNED 416- Interpersonal Relationships and Alcohol and Other Drugs Dependency- This course examines families with chemically dependent members, dynamics, appropriate interventions, and treatment.
- CNED 421- Counseling Strategies for Preventing Chemical Dependency- Study of youth who are at-risk of developing chemical dependency including the characteristics and factors related to chemical dependency.
Students who wish to participate in the certificate program MUST select the certificate in Lionpath to have it included in their degree audit.
Contact
Teri Kistler
Lecturer of Rehabilitation and Human Services (RHS)
Kistler's career includes over 20 years of experience in the addiction and mental health field prior to joining the faculty at Penn State Lehigh Valley. She acknowledges the strengths of the Lehigh Valley campus, including the "small class sizes that provide us the opportunity to build close relationships with our students to ensure they receive the support they need for success both in and out of the classroom."
