A Center for Hope
Michael Kelley, Ph.D., MFT
Marriage & Family Therapists, Inc.

Working With Adolescent Substance Abuse
Provider # PCE 1987

The Center conducts continuing twelve-week open drug awareness seminars.  Open means that a participant can join a group at any point in the cycle and complete the program in 12 weeks.
 

Out-of-home treatment programs for adolescents can be extremely expensive for both parents and counties.  One of the goals of this program is to provide an intervention for the adolescent before receiving out-of-home placement.  It is anticipated that many participants will not have to receive out-of-home placement after participating in this seminar series.
 

Assessments can be given prior to enrollment to determine if this is the right program for an adolescent or if a more comprehensive program might be necessary.  Kids are tired of adults asking them, "Why do you smoke marijuana?" or "Why do you drink?"  Frankly put, they don't know! One of our major goals is to meet em' where they're at in order to get our message across.
 

There is one firm requirement to attend the seminar series.  Each adolescent must have at least one parent in attendance with them.  There is no limit on the number of family members who may attend a seminar as long as at least one member is present.  This is a "hard" requirement and absolutely no exceptions will be made.  The Center considers adolescent substance abuse to be a family problem, not just an individual problem.  The cost per seminar, per family is $25.00. When an adolescent has attended all twelve seminars, a Certificate of Completion will be awarded.

The Center also offers a 6-hour course to counselors who want to learn more about working with adolescent substance abuse.

Course Content and Objectives:

• to provide specialized training to professionals working with adolescent substance abuse

• to provide information on adolescent substance abuse to professionals who may not have knowledge of the specific issues facing this population

• to suggest guidelines for working with adolescent substance abuse that emphasize the physical, mental, and emotional transformation of the adolescent while assisting him or her in taking responsibility for his or her own recovery

• to acquaint professionals with some of the videos, materials, and exercises that are available to utilize when working with this special population

This course is structured to be taught on-site at the contracting agency's facility.  Please call The Center for rates.

This course meets the qualifications for six hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.  For further information, please contact A Center for Hope at (408) 431-6317 or send e-mail to: thecenter@pacbell.net