Substance Use Evaluation and Counseling
Alcohol and drug misuse and abuse can significantly interfere with a student’s ability to function on many levels such as academic performance, interpersonal relationships, as well as, personal growth and development. Susan Ellingwood, LICSW is our full time counselor on staff who specializes in early identification, assessment, and intervention.
Students seeking individual counseling to address their alcohol and or drug use may be experiencing a wide range of difficulties within their lives. In addition to counseling provided by the substance use counselor, individual counseling is also available with all Personal Counseling Center staff for students who are concerned about a friend or family member’s alcohol or drug use.
There are many contributing factors to each student’s difficulties and struggles with alcohol and/or drug use. Several significant areas which are addressed with students when they meet with the Substance Use Counselor are: patterns of use/abuse, impact of alcohol/drug use on student’s life, family history of alcohol/drug abuse as well as exploring any academic, social or personal pressures. The initial stages of counseling and assessment assist the student in identifying and acknowledging the emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, and physiological impact of their substance use as well as determining the most appropriate treatment options. After a thorough assessment, an appropriate treatment recommendation will be discussed with the student. Substance use counseling services include:
- Screening and Assessment
- Intervention
- Treatment planning
- Ongoing individual counseling treatment
- Group therapy
- Alcohol and drug education that includes harm reduction methods
- Connection to PC Graduate Peer Recovery Support Network
- Referrals (as needed) to higher levels of care including partial hospital programs, intensive outpatient programs and detox.
- Additional referrals can include community-based peer recovery coach, groups such as: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and Gambling Anonymous just to name a few.
