12 core functions of substance abuse counseling and clinical documentation reflection

Overview The final project for this course comes in two parts: a reflection and the submission of the final versions of your clinical documentation. This document provides guidance for composing your reflection on the 12 core functions and the process of clinical documentation. The disease of addiction is often a complex disease of the brain, impacting a person’s biology, psychological health, and social wellness. Therefore, when determining how to address a person’s risk factors for relapse, a clinician should be focused on identifying the biopsychosocial risks of the client. One way substance use counselors do this is in the assessment process, utilizing the clinical interview and a biopsychosocial assessment. The biopsychosocial model is an inclusive, well-rounded approach to gain insight into a person’s whole being, versus focusing just on the substances being used. To be a substance use counselor, one must understand the 12 core functions of substance abuse counseling. The 12 core functions have been set in place as a standard for counselors to use in their practice and as a way deliver treatment services effectively and uniformly. Essentially, they define the functions of a substance use counselor. The associated global criteria dictate how a counselor should perform the functions of his or her job. Throughout the course, you will create a collection of clinical documents about a client. The first part of this assessment gives you an opportunity discuss how the 12 core functions of substance abuse counseling apply to the exercise of creating those clinical documents, and to think more broadly about the role of the 12 core functions in real-world clinical practice. You will also discuss how the information about your client was gathered. Finally, you will explain how you used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to inform your preliminary diagnosis. This assessment allows you to reflect on the process as you prepare to finalize your clinical documents. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: Articulate the role of the 12 core functions of substance abuse counseling in their application to real-world scenarios Interpret the symptoms presented by an individual suffering from a substance use disorder through appropriate use of the criteria established in the current DSM Determine relevant client information for informing an individualized treatment plan Prompt In this assessment, you will reflect on the experience of creating the clinical documents for the client in this case study. You will focus on how the 12 core functions apply to this case, and you will think more broadly about the role of the 12 core functions and the 46 global criteria in real-world clinical practice. You will also discuss how you used the DSM-5 to inform your preliminary diagnosis of the client. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: The 12 Core Functions: In this section, you will discuss the application of the 12 core functions, both in the context of the course and in the real world. Throughout the course, you created a collection of clinical documents regarding your client. Identify the core functions that were used in this exercise and describe how you used them. Describe the limitations of this exercise in regard to applying the global criteria. Support your response by providing examples of global criteria that you were not able to achieve by not meeting the client face-to-face. Reflect on how learning about the 12 core functions has expanded your knowledge of the responsibilities of a substance use counselor and has helped prepare you to be a professional in the industry. Gathering Client Information: In this section, you will discuss assessment tools used to gather client information and how they influence treatment decisions. Describe the limitations of the biopsychosocial approach in regard to learning relevant information about your client through the case study. Explain how the assessment process for your client would have been different if you had used ASI or ASAM’s six dimensions as an assessment tool instead. Would you have collected different information from the client? In the diagnostic interpretation, you identified and ranked the client’s top three problems. Defend why you selected those three problems over the others reported by the client and why you ranked them in that order. Using the DSM-5: In this section, you will explain and defend the thought process behind your preliminary diagnosis reported in the your diagnostic interpretation. Identify the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of substance use disorder that you believe the client meets. Explain what the client said or did to indicate that he meets the diagnostic criteria that you identified. Use specific examples from the case study as evidence to defend your identification. Milestones While no milestone is specifically associated with Final Project Part I, it will be helpful for you to review the milestones as you prepare your reflection.