Introduction

Addiction is one of the most pervasive problems faced by our society today. Addiction problems cut across age, gender, nationality, and income. Addiction is often hidden and even when recognized is seldom addressed. Increasingly, more and more people from a variety of professions such as prison administration, medical and youth services workers, teachers, personnel managers, parents and other family members, and recovering addicts, find themselves having to deal with the multitude of problems caused by Addiction. Problems they may not have the educational background required to properly deal with.

Learning Objectives

The purpose of this Certificate Course in Addiction Psychology is to provide students with up to date information and actionable knowledge on the problem of Addiction. Students will gain insight into the causes of substance and behaviorial addiction as well as eating disorders and learn how to better assess addiction situations and intervene appropriately.

Knowledge By the end of this course, students will have:

• A greater understanding of the biology and psychology of addiction.
• A better understanding of the causes and effects of substance addiction and illicit drug addiction.
• A better understanding of behaviorial addictions such as gambling and obsessive compulsive behavior.
• A better understanding of eating and body image disorders.                                                           
• Increased knowledge of the latest treatment models and theories.
• A better understanding of how to work with individual's with drug problems and how to help those affected by their drug use.
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Skills By the end of this course students will have developed the ability to:

• Interact more effectively with those whose behaviors they may find difficult.
• Improve their ability to listen effectively and understand.
• Examine their ability to assess situations and intervene appropriately.
• Improve on their ability to help those affected by drug use to make better decisions.
• Be aware of the choices for making appropriate referrals.

Attitudes By the end of this course students will have developed:

• Greater sensitivity toward the behaviorial and emotional problems of others.
• Greater acceptance of individuals struggling with addiction problems.
• Greater awareness of and increased confidence around drug and alcohol issues.
• The ability to be more comfortable dealing with those affected by addiction.
• An increased awareness of themselves.
• The ability to better understand and cope with their own feelings.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction to Addiction Psychology
   • Understanding addiction
   • Images of addiction. Definition and origin of addiction
   • Word choice
   • Theories of addiction
   • Causes of addiction
2. Biology of Addiction
   • Genetic theory
   • Biochemistry theory
   • Disease theory
   • Recent research
3. Psychology of Addiction
   • Psychodynamic theory
   • Behavioral theory
   • Cognitive theory
   • Humanistic/existentialist theory
4. Personality Theories
5. Social/Cultural Perspective of Addiction
   • Culture and addiction
   • Responsibility: personal or culture? Interactions: drugs, individual and
   • environment
   • Ethnic issues
   • Socio-economic status
   • Spirituality and religion
   • Global legality
   • Media
6. Substance Addiction
   • Alcoholism
   • Prescription drug addiction
7. Illicit Drug Addiction
8. Behavioral Addictions
   • Controversy
   • Gambling addiction
   • Sexual addiction
   • Internet Addiction
   • Other addictions
     • Obsessive compulsive disorder
     • Hoarding
     • Exercise
     • Computers and gaming
     • Shopping
9. Work
10. Eating Disorders
    • Body image
      • Healthy
      • Unhealthy
    • Body dismorphic disorder
    • Anorexia Bulimia
    • Overeating
    • Addiction and families
    • Living with addiction
    • Enabling
    • Co-addiction
      • Breaking apart
11. Impact on Children
12. Addiction and Youth
    • Children of Addicts
      • Dealing with life
      • Moving forward
      • Genetic and learned concerns
    • Youth with Addictions
      • Children and teens with substance addiction
      • Children and teens with eating disorders
13. Children and teens with behavioral disorders
14. Current issues in addiction
    • Working with Addiction
    • Homelessness
    • Changing Opinions on Drug Use
    • Art Therapy
    • Educating Addiction Specialists

"There is no time like the present to begin taking those first steps to your new career in the exicting field of Psychology. "

Contact Psychology Academy today for more information!