Educational Enhancement

Addiction Counseling News and Blog

Be the CHANGE we need!

3 Simple Steps to Manage a Crisis as a Substance Use Counselor

3 Simple Steps to Manage a Crisis as a Substance Use Counselor Crises don’t wait for perfect timing. They'll appear for a substance use counselor mid-session, in the parking lot, or in your inbox at 8 a.m., especially with a court-mandated client on the verge of...

A substance use counselor uses de-escalation techniques to manage a crisis while attentively listening to a client in a counseling session.

Recognizing Signs of Substance-Induced Psychoses: A Guide for Substance Use Counselors

If you’re a CASAC, CADC, or CAC, you’ve likely encountered situations like this before. A client enters the room, appearing paranoid, pacing, and visibly agitated. They believe someone is watching them. When you ask a question, their responses are scattered and...

A distressed woman sits against a brick wall, holding her head in fear, symbolizing confusion and paranoia. The educational banner text highlights the importance of recognizing substance-induced psychosis, identifying signs of intoxication, and understanding the connection between psychosis and substance use. This resource is designed for CASAC, CAC, or CADC professionals and substance use counselors seeking to improve client care.

Ethical Decision-Making Model in Substance Counseling

What Every CASAC, CAC, or CADC Needs to Know About the NAADAC 10-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model Key words 6X: ethical decion making; NAADAC ethical descision making; CASAC, CAC, or CADC; substance use counselor Let’s get real for a minute. You can memorize the...

A thoughtful woman stands in front of a chalkboard with arrows pointing in different directions, symbolizing decision-making. The text overlay highlights the importance of ethical decision making for substance use counselors. This educational image promotes the NAADAC ethical decision-making model and emphasizes what every CASAC, CAC, or CADC should know to strengthen professional integrity.

The Easiest, Quickest Certifications to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Just 3–6 Months

7 Reasons Substance Use Counseling Is One of the Easiest Certifications to Get.And How You Can Be Working in 3–6 Months If you’ve been out of work, stuck in a job that drains the life out of you, or just sick of scrolling job boards hoping for something...

A smiling woman sits at a wooden table typing on a laptop in a bright, modern living room with a bowl of bananas nearby. Text overlay reads, “The Easiest, Quickest Certifications That Pay Well: How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Just 3–6 Months,” promoting CASAC training online and highlighting the easiest certifications to get for becoming a substance use counselor.

Personality Types in Substance Use Disorder: What Every CASAC, CADC, or CAC Should Know

If you’re a CASAC, CADC, or CAC, you’ve probably seen the stereotype: the wild party kid, the loner, the thrill-seeker—people chalked off with an “addictive personality.” But science disagrees. There’s no one “type” doomed to develop a substance use disorder. What...

Banner image showing a substance use counselor reflecting on a mountain with the title “Personality Traits in Substance Use Disorder: What Every CASAC, CADC, or CAC Should Know,” promoting awareness of key personality traits in substance use counseling.

Why People with Use Disorders Manipulate: What Every CASAC, CADC, or CAC Should Understand

Why People with Use Disorders Manipulate: What Every CASAC, CADC, or CAC Should Understand If you're a CASAC, CADC, or CAC, you may have asked yourself why people with substance use disorders manipulate those who are trying to help them. This behavior can be...

A distressed man sits in bed at night with his hand on his face, appearing overwhelmed. The text overlay reads: “Manipulation in Recovery: Understanding Clients’ Behaviors.” This image represents why people with use disorders manipulate, linking substance use counselor insight with the emotional toll of cravings and manipulation in recovery.

Traits of People with a High Risk of Developing Substance Use Disorder: A Guide for CASAC, CADC, and CAC Counselors

Introduction If you are a CASAC, CADC, or CAC working with clients who have substance use disorders, you understand the diversity of their personalities and backgrounds. Some clients may test limits daily, while others tend to withdraw under pressure. This...

A dark green workspace with a coffee cup, plant, pencils, paperclips, and notebooks, overlaid with bold white text that reads “Traits of People with a High Risk of Developing Substance Use Disorder: A Guide for CASAC, CADC, and CAC Counselors.” This educational banner highlights substance use disorder risk factors, addiction risk factors, and traits of people with substance use disorder risk.

Substance Use Counselors: Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

What Substance Use Counselors Need to Know About Alcohol Use Signs, Symptoms, and Warning Signs This article provides a comprehensive overview of what substance use counselors (CASAC, CADC, or CAC) need to know about alcohol use disorder, with a focus on...

A distressed man sits at a table with his head in his hands beside a glass of whiskey and a bottle, representing visible distress linked to alcohol use disorder. The image highlights alcohol addiction warning signs, including physical and psychological warning signs of alcohol addiction, and underscores the need for early identification of alcohol addiction by substance use counselors.

Substance Use Counselor Essentials: How to Resolve a Crisis

How to Resolve a Crisis: Crisis Intervention Fundamentals for CASACs, CADCs, and CACs This article explores the role of crisis resolution in substance use counseling and why it’s a necessary skill set for CASACs, CADCs, and CAC professionals. When clients...

A counselor sits across from a client in a calm, supportive setting, engaged in a serious conversation. The image represents the use of crisis resolution and real-time problem-solving techniques by trained professionals. The text overlay reads: “How to Resolve a Crisis: Crisis Intervention Fundamentals for CASACs, CADCs, and CACs,” highlighting the need for practical skills in substance use counseling.

The Benefits of Crisis Management in Substance Use Counseling

The Benefits of Crisis Management in Substance Use Counseling In substance use counseling, the fundamentals of crisis management are essential for effective practice, especially for professionals like CASACs, CADCs, or CACs. Crisis management in...

A bold red word “CRISIS” is written across a blackboard background, with chalk outlines of people and arrows suggesting urgency and response. The overlaid text reads “The Benefits of Crisis Management in Substance Use Counseling,” highlighting the crisis management fundamentals that CASAC, CADC, or CAC professionals need to support clients in high-risk situations.

Principles of Crisis Intervention for Substance Use Counselors

Understanding the principles of crisis intervention can empower counselors to provide effective support, stabilize clients, and guide them toward recovery. If you’re a CASAC, CADC, or CAC, you know that crisis isn’t a rare event—it’s part of the job....

Ethical Considerations in Substance Use Counseling Essentials

Navigating Ethical Landscapes in Substance Use Counseling Ethical considerations are paramount in substance use counseling. Counselors often find themselves at the crossroads of moral relativism and absolutism, each presenting unique challenges and insights....

A purple notebook titled “CODE OF ETHICS” rests on top of a teal book against a wooden background. Bold text reads: “Ethical Considerations in Substance Use Counseling: Ethical Relativism & Ethical Absolutism.” This image highlights key ethical frameworks—ethical relativism and ethical absolutism—that CASACs, CADCs, and CACs must understand when navigating substance use counseling ethics.

Conveying Counselor Empathy: Key to Successful SUD Counseling

If you’re a CASAC, CADC, or CAC, you already know this work isn’t just about treatment plans or clinical hours. It’s about connection. And at the core of that connection? Counselor empathy. When empathy is lacking, the entire process falls short. Clients shut down....

Alt text: A pair of older hands gently cradles a red heart-shaped object against a soft pink background. Overlaid text reads: “Conveying Counselor Empathy: Key to Successful SUD Counseling.” The website educationalenhancement-casaconline.com appears at the bottom. This image symbolizes the importance of counselor empathy and compassionate care for CASACs, CADCs, or CACs working in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, reinforcing why conveying empathy is critical to effective counseling outcomes.

Stop Telling, Start Listening: Why Authoritarian Addiction Counseling Fails Clients

Why authoritarian substance use counseling fails and how to stop using an authoritarian counseling style. You’re in session. Your client nods along, but their eyes are somewhere else. You suggest detoxification, push a job search, and outline next steps....

A stern-looking woman with glasses raises her index finger in a commanding gesture, wearing a striped shirt and standing against a white wall. Bold text across the image reads: “Stop Telling, Start Listening: Why Authoritarian Addiction Counseling Fails Clients.” The banner is from educationalenhancement-casaconline.com and highlights a message for CASACs, CADCs, and CACs about the ineffectiveness of authoritarian counseling approaches.

Understanding SOAP Notes for Substance Use Counseling with Examples

How to Write Clear, Client-Centered SOAP Notes That Support Recovery and Meet Compliance Standards In substance use counseling, documentation is not just a bureaucratic necessity; it’s a lifeline. It’s the thread that connects the therapist to the client,...

A blog banner image featuring a therapist writing notes on a clipboard during a session with a client, who is seated and slightly blurred in the background. Large bold text overlays the image and reads: “Understanding SOAP Notes for Substance Use Counseling with Examples in Substance Use Treatment.” At the bottom of the image, the website “educationalenhancement-casaconline.com” is displayed. The image visually supports content focused on teaching SOAP notes and documentation practices in substance use counseling.

The Benefits of Collaborative Documentation in Substance Use Treatment

How Collaborative Documentation Strengthens Engagement in Substance Use Recovery Collaborative Documentation, or collaborative clinical notes, is changing how we engage clients in substance use and mental health treatment. The recovery journey is rarely...

A blog header image showing a Black woman therapist engaged in conversation with a client during a counseling session. She holds a notepad and appears attentive and focused. Large bold text over the image reads: “The Benefits of Collaborative Documentation in Substance Use Treatment.” At the bottom of the image, the website “educationalenhancement-casaconline.com” is displayed. The image visually supports the topic of using collaborative documentation as a tool for client engagement in substance use treatment.

The 25 Seeking Safety Coping Skills Substance Use Counselors Need to Know

If You’re a CASAC, CAC, or CADC Professional, You Need These 25 Seeking Safety Coping Skills—Here’s Why Let’s be real: many treatment models weren’t built for our clients' chaos. However, Seeking Safety coping skills were developed for the front lines. They’re...

A blog header image featuring a woman in a cozy sweater sitting on a couch, looking at a worksheet or workbook while holding a pen. A laptop and notebook are in front of her on the table. Bold white text across the image reads: “The 25 Seeking Safety Coping Skills Substance Use Counselors Need to Know.” The bottom of the image includes the website link: educationalenhancement-casaconline.com. The image visually supports educational content about Seeking Safety Coping Skills for counselors working in trauma-informed substance use treatment.

Drug Counselors: The Truth about Addiction A Brain Disease?

Is Addiction a Brain Disease? Why the Science Still Says Yes and Why That Changes Everything Critics argue that calling addiction a brain disease undermines personal agency and hope. But the latest research shows the opposite. Understanding the brain’s role in...

asks, “Drug Counselors Want to Know: Is Addiction a Brain Disease?” referencing the ongoing debate in addiction science.

What Substance Use Counselors Should Know About the Cycle of Addiction

Understanding the Cycle of Addiction The cycle of addiction isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the reality millions live with daily. Addiction doesn’t strike randomly, nor is it just a matter of poor choices. It’s a chronic condition that rewires the brain, creating a...

A professional substance use counselor takes notes during a session with a client, symbolizing the importance of understanding the cycle of addiction. The image emphasizes key knowledge for counselors pursuing substance use counselor certificate renewal or taking addiction counselor courses online.

How to Stay Laser-Focused and Study CASAC Online Every Day—Even With a Full-Time Job.

Balancing a full-time job while pursuing studies can feel like juggling flaming torches. It’s a challenge that many face, yet it’s entirely possible to thrive in both areas. I’ve been there, navigating the chaos of deadlines, meetings, and exams. Here’s how I...

study CASAC online, study CADC online, online CAC certificate, and addiction counselor courses

Join Our Newsletter!

Stay up-to-date with changes in the addiction recovery field, new illicit drug trends, treatment modalities, and new addiction counselor training opportunities.

Address

Staten Island, NY, USA

Call or Text Us

(201)701-3205

Email Us

John Makohen

Admin- Candace Nia