This book provides information regarding the enormity of substance abuse problems in the population, how to assess the problems, and how to treat individuals and families who seek assistance. It educates beginning clinicians and counselors about substance abuse by guiding them through the process of working with substance-abuse clients. Written in an understandable, and easy-to-grasp manner, it covers the basics of substance use and abuse—Terminology, physiology, psychokinetics, and psychodynamics. Case histories are used in selected chapters to help readers integrate the various approaches by offering a sample of the types of issues presented when working with this population. An emphasis on special populations includes minority populations, women, elderly, special needs groups, and children/youth. For substance abuse counselors seeking information on the stages of counseling—from assessment and diagnosis through relapse prevention.
Patricia W. Stevens, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of the Leadership and Secondary Education Department at Morehead State University in Kentucky. As a Counselor Educator, she has more than 15 years of experience in training counselors for school and agency settings. She is the past president of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors and a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Stevens is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Supervisor, and a National Certified Counselor. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and has received awards for teaching, research, and service as well as the IAMFC Mentoring Award. Dr. Stevens has written and presented extensively at the local, regional, national, and international levels in the areas of substance abuse, gender issues in training and learning, and ethical and legal issues in counseling.
Robert L. Smith, Ph.D., is Professor, Chair of the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department, and Doctoral Program Coordinator at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. As a licensed psychologist, he has worked as a private practitioner in addition to serving as the chair of three counselor education programs. He is the author of several books and more than 60 professional articles. He serves as the Executive Director, and was one of the founders of, the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. He is also the founder of the National Credentialing Academy for Family Therapists. Dr. Smith authored the initial prospectus for this text and surveyed professionals concerning the need for this manuscript. His research interests include the efficacy of treatment modalities in individual psychotherapy, family therapy, and substance abuse counseling. He is a Diplomate-Fellow in Psychopharmacology with the International College of Prescribing Psychologists.
