Addictions Counseling
About the Program
Powerlessness is reflected in the human condition, as is our inability to transcend it without divine intervention. Individuals and families suffering through addictive disorders appreciate and comprehend this more than most.
Indiana Wesleyan University’s Bachelor of Science with a major in Addictions Counseling degree program is a 22-month program that provides an in-depth education from a Christian perspective for persons who desire to understand and/or serve addicted persons and their families. Most coursework is completed online, with practicums offered at mutually agreed-upon sites.
Through its undergraduate and graduate Addictions Counseling programs, Indiana Wesleyan University is an Approved Education Provider of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), 1001 N. Fairfax St., Suite 201, Alexandria, VA 22314, 800-548-0497, and the Indiana Association for Addiction Professionals (IAAP), 1829 Cunningham Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46224, 317-481-9255.
Program Objectives
Addictions Counseling graduates should be able to:
- Explain the biopsychosocial-spiritual dimension of addictions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of sin and God’s transformative power and grace using helpers and helping systems across the biopsychosocial and spiritual dimensions of addiction/recovery.
- Synthesize assessment and enhancement of client motivation within a broader context of assessment, treatment planning, and client/system change.
- Differentiate among and evaluate the theories underlying addictions counseling and apply them in practice.
- Discuss the pharmacological properties of major drugs and their impact on the brain and behavior.
- Demonstrate an understanding of ethical practice with diverse populations.
- Effectively facilitate group therapy for addicted individuals.