Post on 27-Apr-2020
Advancing Professionalism for Addiction Counselors Jeffrey Quamme, ICADC, ICCDP, MATS,
CARC Executive Director
Connecticut Certification Board
Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Patricia Mulready
5/17/51-‐7/23/13
Why Professionalism? O “Like other troubled industries, addictions
treatment needs financial and technical investments as well as incentives to raise quality and to attract the best personnel. Indeed…without modernization and investment, the addictions treatment system will…fail to meet the public’s needs”
O Tom McLellan, 2003
Why Professionalism? O “Dealing with [clients] is a much more
intimate experience, we are dealing with the aspects of healing, patient care, mental and social health.”
Robert J. Wolff, Ph. D Program Director, Health Sciences
South University, Columbia, SC (2013)
Why Professionalism?
O Lowest Common Denominator= We want to be compensated as professionals, so we certainly need to behave accordingly!
A (Ridiculously) Brief History of Addiction Treatment
Slaying the Dragon The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery In
America William L. White
Chestnut Health Systems Bloomington, Illinois 1998
Treatment in Historical Context
O 18th Century Benjamin Rush Father of American psychiatry, in 1782 offered the first articulation of the disease concept
O 19th Century Inebriate Asylums
Treated medical issues and attempted ambulatory detox
Treatment in Historical Context
O 19th Century Early Professionalization The American Association for the Cure of Inebriates (1870)
O “It is possible that the cure of inebriates may become a specialty of medical practice, to which those, gifted with the requisite talent, will devote their lives.”
Parton, J. (1868) Inebriate Asylums, and A Visit To One. The Atlantic Monthly, 22:385-404, (October).
Treatment in Historical Context
O 20th Century O Large hospitals for alcoholics, supported by
taxes and levies on the manufacture and sale of alcohol.
O Recognized the inebriate as a “diseased person” and not a criminal
O Involuntary detox O Continuum of Care O Psychological Approaches
Treatment in Historical Context
O 20th Century O Free standing specialty clinics O Specialized Credentialing O Professional Advocacy O Evidenced Based Practice
O 21st Century O Affordable Care Act O ????????
Disclaimer O Certainly not meant to be a complete history O Peer supports and 12 Steps specifically not
mentioned because they are not considered treatment.
O This is not meant to discredit their importance, they are not the focus of this presentation, but will be used for comparison.
Role Delineation and Differentiation
Peer Supports/Coaches 12 Step Sponsorship Addiction Counselors
Peer Supports/Coaches
Non Clinical Role
O Reconnect addiction treatment to the more enduring process of addiction recovery
O Link clients from treatment institutions to indigenous communities of recovery
Peer Supports/Coaches
Non Clinical Role
O Use of self is encouraged
O Helps people in recovery look outside of themselves
O Some roles include resource broker, community organizer, mentor, problem solver, a friend/peer/equal
Peer Supports/Coaches
What they are NOT
O Sponsor O Therapist O Nurse or physician O Clergy
O They do not espouse a particular program of recovery, do not respond to specific questions of religious doctrine or provide medical advice
Sponsors
Non Clinical Role
O Much more governed by oral tradition than written procedures
O Serve as a representative of voluntary, self supporting mutual aid society
O Relative isolation from professional helpers
O Support WITHIN a particular program of recovery
Sponsors
Non Clinical Role
O Primary focus is on the use of Twelve Step tools
O Guided by concept of anonymity
O Reciprocity of need (the sponsor, by doing the work, is also supporting his/her own recovery)
Sponsors
What they are NOT
O Physician O Pharmacist O Clergy O Therapist O Able to accept money
for services
O “A sponsor is strictly a sober alcoholic who helps a newcomer solve one problem: how to stay sober” AA World Services, 1983
Addiction Counselors
Clinical Role
O Facilitate the process of recovery initiation
O Legitimacy and credibility comes from education and credentialing
O Power differential in a non-peer relationship
O Self disclosure is discouraged and in some cases discredited
Addiction Counselors
Clinical Role
O Guided by confidentiality laws
O Interventions based upon brain science and evidence based practices
O Main goal is bio-psycho-social stabilization
O Focus on therapeutic relationship, increasing motivation
Addiction Counselors
Clinical Role
O Use of core competencies (TAP 21, SAMHSA)
O Durational: Beginning, middle and end
O Teaching client a new language
O Specific documentation requirements
Addiction Counselors
What they are NOT
O Peers (even if they are, they are NOT)
O Sponsors (No walking clients through the steps)
O Clergy (NO prostheletyzing)
O Moral compasses O Medical advisors O Therapists (unless
appropriately trained)
Common Misperceptions About Professionalism
How Do Others Perceive Us? How Do We Perceive Us?
Is Either Perception Accurate?
Your Turn! You Tell Me: O What do your friends (those with no addiction
experience) think that we do?
O What do other human service professionals think that we do?
O Is there a stigma to what we do?
Andddd perhaps more importantly…
Are They Correct?
Fine Print: If it’s not especially positive, they may be partially right
Stigma marginalizes
those we serve
and…
Stigma Marginalizes
Addiction Professionals
MUCH Bigger Issue:
O What do we, as well as others in the field, think that we do?
O How do we display it in our behavior?
Seems simple, but are we: O Dressed appropriately for work? O On time (early?) for our appointments? O Using recovery language? O Complaining about workplace policies? O Staying off of our cell phones? O Actively seeking supervision?
In Reality… O We MAY unknowingly be the cause of the
misperceptions of our field.
What is Professionalism? O Simple characteristics include:
O Specific knowledge O Competency O Honesty & Integrity O Accountability O Self-Regulation O Image
Specific Knowledge O Awareness of more than the basics
O Evidenced Based Practices (EBPs) O Current erends O Intellectual curiousity O The language of your profession O “Knowing what you know” and recognition of
what you don’t O Others????
Competency O Demonstration of your acquired skills O Practice, Practice, Practice O Active involvement in supervision O TAP 21!!!!!!!!
Honesty and Integrity O Respect for…
O Yourself O Those you serve O Other professionals O Your agency O The profession as a whole
Accountability O Best and simplest way to earn respect
O Words backed up by action O “I’m not the kind of person who________” is a
pretty good indicator that you are that kind of person!
O When it’s your fault, own it. People forgive mistakes, they don’t forgive attitude! O When it’s not your fault, keep quiet about it!
Self Regulation
Image O Dress O Demeanor O Language O Communication skills
Your Turn O Do you recognize any
potential barriers to your own continued professional
growth? O Can you identify 3 ways that
you can jumpstart your process?
Your Turn O Your clients depend on you to be professional
(so do your co-workers, agency, credentialing bodies, peers, the field as a whole…) O Most ethical complaints can be avoided by
accepted professional behavior
O Hold yourself to high standards. Rise above the stigma.
Questions? Contact Info
O Jeffrey Quamme CCB 100 South Turnpike Rd. Suite C Wallingford, CT 06492 203.284.8800 203.284-9500 (Fax) JQuamme@ctcertboard.org
O Follow the Connecticut Certification Board on Twitter
@ctcertboard