Counselor Training for Improved Functioning in CD Client

It is well known that alcohol and drug abuse tend to be associated with significant medical,employment, legal, family and social difficulties, and psychiatric problems. Our principal aim is todevelop and test training modules specifically designed to improve client functioning in the areas ofemployment, legal responsibility, family and social interactions, and psychiatric difficulties througheffective training of counselors who treat chemical dependency problems (medical problems will not beincluded) . The training modules will be designed for counselors and other mental health professionalswho conduct the substance abuse treatment in this country. Each module will include a manual to beused in conjunction with specially developed videotapes. The effectiveness of these training materialswill be empirically tested. specifically the central hypothesis is that the clients of counselors trained ineach of the modules will achieve superior outcomes in targeted areas over the clients of counselors whohave not received the training. Affordable, transferrable training modules with demonstrated efficacyin improving the functional outcomes of clients of CD counselors will have wide-spread utility throughoutthe country including hospitals, clinics, mental health centers, and other agencies offering chemicaldependency treatment.