ACTS Consulting Online School

There is strong evidence that family involvement increases the probability of a client’s recovery from SUD. Thus, the family has become a strong theme of many treatment approaches.

Since family systems are complex in nature, treatment of one member with substance use disorder (SUD)should include the entire family to account for the multiple interactive relationships addiction affects. The complexity of family systems is based on hierarchy, with unspoken rules and patterns that govern these interlocking relationships. Therefore, counseling approaches should be addressed separately from individual counseling techniques.

Though substance abuse counselors should not practice family therapy unless they have proper training and licensing, they can be informed to discuss it with their clients and to know when a referral is needed. Also, substance abuse counselors can benefit from incorporating family therapy ideas and techniques into their work with individual clients, groups of clients, and family groups.

TIP 39 and this Quick Guide were developed to describe the Impact of substance abuse on families, the differences between Family-Involved Therapy and Family Therapy, which Family Therapy concepts and Techniques can be used by an addiction counselor, how the different integrated treatment models work, and how to recognize and approach domestic violence and neglect.

Objectives: Participants will

• Learn about substance abuse affects the entire family
• Review basic information about family therapy for substance abuse treatment professionals and
• basic information about substance abuse treatment for family therapists.

• Complete “Application to Practice” discussion questions.

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. 

Note: Posted materials are free from SAMHSA and other public domain sites. 

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