The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

This program will:

Describe the significance of alcohol problems in the couple and family context;
Provide you with a Clinical Toolbox to conduct effective screenings and assessments of alcohol problems;
Help you to decide whether to treat, when to treat, and how to select an appropriate intervention;
Teach you the essentials of providing brief interventions for alcohol problems; and
Examine a range of treatment alternatives and discuss the factors to consider in choosing a treatment strategy or making a referral.

This guide helps therapists and other health care professionals identify and treat individuals (or families) who currently are experiencing or are at risk for experiencing alcohol problems. The guide includes screening and assessment tools, brief intervention strategies, and treatment alternatives for longer term care.

Part 1: Purpose of the Guide
  Purpose
Part 2: Alcohol Problems and Your Practice
  An Alcohol Problems Framework
  The Continuum of Alcohol Problems
  The Prevalence of Problems
  Alcohol Problems: The Couple and Family Context
  Implications for Intervention
Part 3: Screening and Problem Assessment
  Introduction
  Screening for Alcohol Problems
  Alcohol Problems Assessment
  From Screening and Assessment to Decisions and Action
Part 4: Brief Interventions: Initial Decision-Making
  Introduction
  Raising Drinking Issues in the Context of Family Therapy
  Some General Therapeutic Principles
  Applying the General Principles
  Some Common Pitfalls
Part 5: Brief Interventions: When the Drinker is Present
  Introduction
  General Therapeutic Approach - Motivational Interviewing Style
  Assessment
  Feedback
  Choice
  Personal Responsibility
  Family Involvement
  Follow-Up
Part 6: Brief Interventions: When the Drinker is Not Present
  Introduction
  Assessment and Feedback About the Drinker's Drinking
  Assessment of Family Coping Strategies
  Assuring Family Safety
  Changing Family Coping
Part 7: Longer-Term Approaches to Alcohol Problems
  Introduction
  Change Through Family-Involved Treatment
  Change Through Referral
  Self Help Groups
Part 8: Summary
  Summary
Part 9: Notes
  Notes
Appendix A. Clinical Toolbox
  Clinical Toolbox for Screening and Assessment
  Tools for Screening
  Tools for Collateral Screening
  Tool for Assessing Alcohol Consumption
  Tool for Assessing Dependence
  Tool for Assessing Consequences
Appendix B. Standard Drinks
  What is a Standard Drink?
Appendix C. NIAAA Recommended Resources
  Resources
CE Test
Course Evaluation