Course Description

The evaluation process is key to proper diagnosis and treatment planning. Clinical evaluation is the first steps to helping individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD), and co-occurring disorders receive appropriate care.  The counselor should always ensure that the individual receives the best and most appropriate treatment and services available, even if it requires referring the individual somewhere else.

The counselor performing evaluations, must have knowledge of SUD and mental illnesses to ensure the appropriate information is gathered for an accurate diagnosis, an appropriate treatment plan, and/or referrals. In addition to knowledge, counselors conducting evaluations must have personal qualities such as empathy, active listening, and specific personal traits.

 OBJECTIVES: Participants will

  • Review qualifications and competencies for conducting clinical evaluations
  • Review DSM5 categories and provide specific examples of disorders
  • Describe the evaluation process and various components included in a comprehensive clinical evaluation.
  • List tools for screening and assessments

Course Modality: This is an independent home-study course. Students will take the course according to their own timeline. 

Course Completion: To receive the course certificate, each student is required to agree to Student Learning Contract, read all text-based materials, view any media posted, complete and pass course examination, and complete and submit course evaluation. 

Course fee applies for continuing education hours and a certificate of completion.

(c) ACTS Consulting, Inc.

Senior Instructor

Diane Sherman, PhD

Dr. Diane Sherman, Ph.D., a substance abuse profession since 1975, beginning her career while serving in the U.S. Army for in the capacity of Behavioral Science Specialist.  She holds the national advanced credential of Master Addiction Counselor, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and Certified Addiction Counselor-II. Dr. Sherman earned her Doctorate in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from Capella University in 2007. Since 2008 she has taught and supervised students who are in pursuit of the certified addiction counselor credential. She is a national, regional and state presenter offering topics relevant to addiction professional, clinical, and ethical practices and clinical supervision. Dr. Sherman is the past President of the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association and recipient of the GACA President’s Award, and Bernard Carter Humanitarian Award. She also served on the board of the Georgia School of Addiction Studies, and in 2015 was honored to receive the Bruce Hoopes Pioneer Award in Addiction Treatment, a personally meaningful award, for excellence in the addiction profession.

Course curriculum

Reviews

5 star rating

Clinical Evaluation and DSM-5

michelle murray

This course shared some very valuable information on how to perform evaluations and knowledge on DSM-5. I think this is a great course for anyone who is ...

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This course shared some very valuable information on how to perform evaluations and knowledge on DSM-5. I think this is a great course for anyone who is in the addiction and mental health profession.

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