PREMASTER’S TRAINEESHIP

Co-occurring Disorders: Chemical Dependency and Addiction in Clients with Mental Health Diagnoses

Trainees are given the opportunity to gain skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism, chemical dependency and process addictions with special emphasis on the treatment needs of those with one or more addictions and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. Training focuses on building assessment and treatment skills through structured case presentation in supervision group, where trainees are encouraged to work collaboratively with other trainees in designing treatment and relapse prevention plans. Trainees have an opportunity to work with substance abusers, their partners and families. Trainees are encouraged to work in treatment dyads with other trainees and interns in the program to help build skills.

Estimates are that three out of ten persons diagnosed with a mental health disorder also have a substance use disorder some time in their lives and about 64 percent of drug abusers in treatment also meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. Mental health practitioners can no longer afford to dismiss the needs of such a large treatment population without severely limiting their skills set. Students will learn to treat mental health and addiction issues concurrently to provide competent and appropriate client care.

Meeting Times:
Supervision group is scheduled for Tuesdays (10:00 AM-1:00 PM). Counseling sessions are recorded and then reviewed in supervision, as are session notes and case files. Clients are seen at our center, residential treatment centers, outpatient facilities, schools, and in other settings as arranged by the Counseling Center.

Requirements:
A minimum of one year’s sobriety is required of those who identify as recovering from alcohol, drug and/or other behavioral dependency/addiction.

Openings Available: up to 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor:
Kim Nakae, MA, LMFT
Phone: 310-666-1813
Email: knakae@pgu.edu