Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 609: Advanced Co-Occurring Clinical Practice (Fall 2023)

Credits - 3

Description

Building on the SSWO 585 Substance Use: A Social Work Perspective course, this course further prepares students for direct clinical practice with individuals and their families experiencing substance use disorder through a co-occurring treatment lens. Students will be introduced to the ASAM Assessment criteria as it relates to the biopsychosocial – spiritual perspective of social work practice using a mental health and addictions focused lens to inform their assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and interventions. Students will integrate the foundational content of prerequisite 585 while examining the 12 core competencies of addiction counseling as they relate to co-occurring clinical practice. Students will explore best practices for co-occurring treatment and engage in practical applications of evidence-based theories and treatment modalities that utilize a mind body approach to healing through role play, case studies, discussions and reflections.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution. EPAS Competencies 2 & 3
2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building, being respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competencies 3 & 6
3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competency 8
4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based in social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. EPAS Competency 1
5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 2, 5, & 6
6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research as it relates to assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies 4, 7, 8 & 9
7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Synthesize the 12 Core Functions of Addictions Counseling with Social Work practice and their respective Codes of Ethics to generate a co-occurring lens and approach to prevention, intervention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery – EPAS 1
2. Interpret, summarize, define and devise a co-occurring diagnostic assessment and treatment plan – EPAS 7
3. Intervene using evidence-based co-occurring practice modalities with individuals and families – EPAS 8
4. Describe alternative treatment and recovery approaches through the lens of pharmacology, psychedelics, etc EPAS 4
5. Describe the philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addiction and other substance-related problems. EPAS 4, 5
6. Recognize that a crisis may indicate an underlying substance use disorder and may be a window of opportunity for change. EPAS
7. Compare how different medical and pharmacological resources are used in the treatment of substance use disorders. EPAS 4
8. Interpret and apply information from current counseling and psychoactive substance use research literature to improve client care and enhance professional growth. EPAS 4

Assignments

Week 1: Screening Tools

In Week 1 you will choose between two films to use as a case study for the course. This first week, in the role of an outpatient clinician you will complete two screening tools of your choice for your fictional client. You will also complete an ASAM Level of Care screening tool.

Week 2: Biopsychosocial Assessment

Continuing with the case you chose in Week 1, use the DSM-V-TR to formulate a diagnostic co-occurring impression of your client providing both a mental health and a substance use disorder diagnosis.

Week 2: Reflective Journal—Parts

Also in Week 2, you will write a 2–3-page reflection on the concept of “parts” as raised in Fisher’s discussion of “fragmentation.”

Week 3: Preliminary Treatment Plan

This week is an opportunity to draft a treatment plan for your fiction client. Consider the principles of person-centered planning you are being introduced to in this early stage of the course. In Week 7 you will revise this treatment plan based on further learning about person-centered planning and with insight into the treatment modalities covered throughout the course.

Weeks 4 & 5: Attend and Reflect on Open Self-Help Meeting

This activity steps away from the case study and asks you to attend an online or in-person 12-Step Meeting. You will then write a 5–7-page paper reflecting on the meeting. If possible, attend the meeting in Week 4. This will leave ample time to write and submit your paper by the end of Week 5.

Weeks 6: Motivational Interventions Role Play

You and a partner will meet to practice motivational interventions. You will meet over Zoom and take turns role-playing as the client, using the details from your film/case study for inspiration. The deliverable for this assignment is a 5–10-minute recording of your session.

Week 7: Final Treatment Plan

This week you will revise your treatment plan from Week 2 using insight from the treatment modalities, theories, and other concepts from this course.

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown