Human Services: Co-Occurring Disorders - Certificate of Achievement

This program map only provides one possible pathway for degree and/or certificate obtainment and is for reference only. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor to develop your individualized Student Education Plan.

This certificate program is designed for students preparing for or advancing their careers in social services, mental health or addiction treatment where it is beneficial to possess knowledge of the special needs of persons with both mental illness and substance use disorders. Persons with co-occurring disorders, also called dual diagnosis or dual disorders, have long been overlooked or underserved by the traditionally separated mental health and addiction treatment fields, but a movement is underway in many agencies, including Santa Barbara County's drug, alcohol and mental health services, resulting in sweeping changes in how all clients and their needs are conceptualized and how services are coordinated and integrated. A certificate in this field will put graduates in the forefront of this movement and may significantly enhance opportunities for employment or promotion.

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Possess knowledge and skills that will enable them to competently and ethically carry out the duties and responsibilities of jobs in specialized settings with clients who have complex and multiple needs as the result of having one or more substance use disorders and one or more mental disorders, occurring together. The knowledge and skills that they will possess fall under the following three rubrics: (1) Interpersonal Helping Skills; (2) Ethics and Boundaries; and (3) Documentation.

Interpersonal Helping Skills: Graduates will possess interpersonal skills required to engage empathically with clients who have co-occurring disorders, develop safe and trusting relationships with them, assess their strengths and problems and recommend appropriate interventions and/or referrals. They will demonstrate the ability to manifest the core conditions of helping relationships, including empathy, non-possessive warmth, genuineness and congruence. They will recognize the importance of the family and societal contexts in which their clients live and utilize this information in providing helping services. They will understand the importance of, and demonstrate the ability to work as part of, a comprehensive, continuous, integrated system of care.

Ethics and Boundaries: Graduates will be familiar with a professional association’s code of ethics and demonstrate the ability to behave in accord with it. They will be able to define appropriate professional relationship boundaries and detect when these boundaries are crossed or violated. They will be able to maintain client confidentiality and know the conditions under which confidentiality must be broached. They will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of culturally competent practice.

Documentation: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to create and maintain appropriate client documentation, including intake notes, service or treatment plans, progress notes, discharge notes and other documentation such as informed consent and release of information forms.

Program Map

Requirement
GE General Education
E Elective

Fall Year 1

12 units
HUSV 104
Group Dynamics
Explores the process and content of counseling groups and families. Topics include developmental stages of groups, group formation, constructive and ineffective processes, behavioral ground rules, interventions, entry into and exit from groups, ethics, cultural and ethnic diversity, documentation of client behavior, and self-awareness in group situations.
            HUSV 101
            Introduction to Human Services: Becoming a Helping Professional
            An introduction to a variety of aspects relating to human service helping professionals, including required education/training, certification/licensure, ethical/legal issues, motives, values, cultural sensitivity/competency, special populations, life transitions, transference/countertransference, boundary issues, stress, burnout, and self-care.
                      HUSV 102
                      Case Management Skills
                      An introduction to basic concepts and skills of case management with diverse populations including cultural competence, ethics, intakes, assessment, case planning, referrals, implementation and documentation.
                                HUSV 103
                                Basic Counseling Skills
                                Introduction to counseling skills for the human services worker with applications to different work settings and diverse populations.

                                          Spring Year 1

                                          9 units
                                          FCS 131
                                          Life Management
                                          Provides individuals with skills for understanding and using internal and external resources to function effectively in our present and future society. Major topics include: effects of cultural forces and future trends on values, standards, and goals; skills for decision making, time, energy, stress, and conflict management; and techniques for improving self-understanding and interpersonal relationships in a culturally diverse society. Students who have received credit for more than three life management modules may not enroll in this course.
                                          1. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                                              1. Category 5: Living Skills
                                                HUSV 106
                                                Family Systems, Addiction & Trauma
                                                Examines family systems dynamics and intergenerational transmission of addiction, and the interacting effects of these phenomena with abuse and psychological trauma.
                                                      1. Category 5: Living Skills
                                                        HUSV 111
                                                        Addiction Treatment and Recovery
                                                        Survey of the theory, practice, and process of addiction treatment including such topics as ethics; assessment and diagnosis; planning; case management; cultural diversity; counseling strategies; aftercare; motivational interviewing; harm reduction; and relapse prevention.
                                                        1. Advisories: HUSV 102
                                                        2. Advisories: HUSV 103
                                                        3. Advisories: HUSV 110
                                                                Core Elective - Co-Occuring Disorders (Cert.)
                                                                This course provides a vibrant and detailed view of the important subjects of food behaviors and eating disorders. It examines the nutritional, psychological, and physiological factors which lead to healthy and unhealthy weight management strategies. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying basic nutrition principles in daily life. As a vital part of the learning experience, students are invited to participate in assessing their own eating and physical activity behaviors. A series of interactive, practical activities will guide students through the processes of planning, implementing, evaluating and maintaining healthful nutrition and lifestyle strategies. Students will learn techniques for applying these skills in diverse counseling situations. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for FCS 112.
                                                                Survey of culturally competent strategies and approaches for working in human service settings with clients who are culturally, ethnically, and physically diverse.
                                                                An overview of major issues related to women who have substance use problems and disorders. Topics include effects on pregnancy, drug-exposed children, family relationships, feminist issues, women's reactions to substances, and women's specific addiction treatment needs.

                                                                Fall Year 2

                                                                6 units
                                                                HUSV 110
                                                                Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Addiction
                                                                An overview of the role of alcohol and other drugs in society with emphasis on such topics as patterns of use, major categories of drugs, use/misuse/addiction, and approaches to prevention, intervention, and treatment. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for SOC 106 or PSY 106.
                                                                    1. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development
                                                                    1. Category 5: Living Skills
                                                                      HUSV 142
                                                                      Co-Occurring Disorders: Engagement
                                                                      Concepts, definitions, and features of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders emphasizing attainment of empathic engagement with persons who have these disorders. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or who have received credit for PSY 142.

                                                                                Spring Year 2

                                                                                10 units
                                                                                HUSV 132
                                                                                Drugs, the Brain and the Body
                                                                                Provides an overview of the pharmacology of drugs in substance use disorders with emphasis on drug effects, how drug effects occur, how the body processes drugs, and health consequences of drug use and addiction. Physiologic aspects of addiction and tolerance are explored. Pharmacologic interventions are integrated with other substance use disorder treatment modalities. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for PSY 132.
                                                                                1. Advisories: HUSV 110
                                                                                2. Advisories: SOC 106
                                                                                3. Advisories: PSY 106
                                                                                        HUSV 140
                                                                                        Co-Occurring Disorders Practicum
                                                                                        Provides students with a combination of practicum/supervised work experience in a helping agency or facility that serves clients with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (2 units/120-150 hours required). Permission of instructor is required if the student has not satisfactorily completed all other requirements in the certificate prior to enrolling.
                                                                                                  HUSV 141
                                                                                                  Co-Occurring Disorders Practicum Seminar

                                                                                                  Provides students with a seminar format in which to discuss, analyze, and critically evaluate their fieldwork experience in local human services agencies as it relates to co-occurring disorders. Designed for the student who is concurrently enrolled in HUSV 140.

                                                                                                            HUSV 143
                                                                                                            Co-Occurring Disorders: Integrated Interventions
                                                                                                            A study of the intervention to benefit persons who have both psychiatric problems and alcohol or other drug use problems. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or who have received credit for PSY 143.
                                                                                                            1. Advisories: HUSV 142
                                                                                                            2. Advisories: PSY 142