Alcohol and Drug Education in Psychology Training

Become a Licensed Alcohol and drug counselor

Alcohol and Drug Education in Psychology Training (ADEPT) Center

The Alcohol and Drug Education in Psychology Training (ADEPT) Center at William James College aims to increase the fund of knowledge, competence, and interconnectedness of practitioners in the community who work with substance use disorders (SUDs) and addictions. We pursue this goal through partnerships with treatment providers throughout Massachusetts, collaboration with educational partners, and the delivery of educational programming surrounding SUD treatment and evaluation.

A major motivation behind the development and continued efforts of the ADEPT Center is the unique impact the opioid epidemic has had on Massachusetts and the broader New England area. Communities throughout the state have consistently observed rising incidence of opioid overdose deaths, which have become the leading cause of accidental deaths nationally. While the professional community has achieved successes in improving the quality and access to SUD specific treatment, the need for competent professionals remains staggeringly high. The high prevalence of co-occurring disorders presents an additional complexity within the treatment of SUD, further highlighting the need for programming intended to raise the number and skill level of practitioners working in this field.

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Academic Study

The ADEPT Center weaves educational programming in addiction treatment and evaluation throughout William James College’s many academic departments. Students in the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and Bachelor’s in Psychology and Human Services are both able to become Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC I and LADC II respectively). These paths to licensure are available through the bachelor’s program’s Minor in Addictions Counseling and the master’s emphasis in Substance Use and Addictions.

Both of these programs include coursework in the assessment of SUDs, the treatment of co-occurring disorders, and the utilization of evidence-based interventions to treat SUDs, including motivational interviewing and community-based interventions. The integration of the knowledge and skills covered in these courses is made possible with supplementary field education experiences with partnered treatment providers.

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Professional Development

In combination with the training, education, and supervision the ADEPT Center provides to students of William James College, the ADEPT Center also develops and organizes various forms of professional development for the college community and local treatment providers. The ADEPT Center hosts professional conferences, continuing education presentations, and panels featuring local practitioners with expertise in treating those afflicted by SUDs.