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Certified Addiction Counsellor – Asia (CAC – Asia)
The impact of addiction on individuals, families, and society has motivated many to commit themselves to train and assist those who seek help to recover.
These professional people realize that chemical addiction leads to a degenerate state affecting the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological condition of a person.
CCPC Global Inc. provides the opportunity for all competent workers in the field of addiction and related fields, to be certified and recognized as Professional Addiction Counsellors.
The Certified Addiction Counsellor – Asia (CAC – ASIA) certificate will be issued to those who apply and are approved by the CCPC Global’ s Examining Board.
Purpose of Certification
The purpose of Certification for the Certified Addiction Counsellor – Asia (CAC – ASIA) is to recognize, by way of the certification process, those who have acquired an acceptable level of training, skills, and effectiveness as an Addiction Counsellor.
The CCPC encourages everyone having the required qualifications to apply regardless of age, race, nationality, religion, sex, or disability.
The focus is
- To provide the avenue for qualified persons who have studied, worked, and developed skills in the addiction field to receive professional recognition.
- To provide the public with confidence that Addiction Counsellors have obtained an acceptable level of competency.
- To provide Certified Counsellors with encouragement for continual education and professional development.
The Caritas A G Counselling Program has developed 2 levels of training which can lead to a Certified Addiction Counselling – Asia (CAC – Asia) certification designation.
The Program consists of two levels with the following three Objectives:
- To enhance a professional’s conceptualization of addiction.
- To strengthen the helping professional’s clinical knowledge, case assessment and intervention on those with addiction.
- To equip the helping professional’s capacity as a Certified Addiction Counsellor – Asia.
Who may be certified?
Any person may apply for credentials as a Certified Addiction Counsellor – Asia (CAC Asia). However, he or she must be able to meet the Standards Criteria for education and experience set by the Examining Board of the CCPC Global Inc. They must be prepared to work through Caritas A.G Counselling Program.
The application process provides the opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate adequate skill, knowledge, and competence as an addiction counsellor.
Certified Addiction Counsellor – Asia
The Certified Addiction Counsellor (CAC) – Asia Course is a specialized course in addiction specially designed for the helping professionals in Asia. This course has two levels. Level I focuses on the overview, assessment and intervention of various kinds of addiction. This is a 40 hour introductory level. The students do not receive a designation when they complete Level 1. They must go on to level 2 to receive a designation.
Level II is divided into three separated streams – Sex, Gambling, Drugs. Each stream goes further into details of the specific addiction based on local clinical experience in treating the Asian people especially in Hong Kong. Completion of all of the level 2 programs should qualify the student for the education section of the Certified Addiction Councillor II (Asia) designation.
Certified Addiction Counsellor (Sex) – Asia
Sex Addiction Level II
This is a 40 hour program dealing with the basics of sex addiction. Completion of this segment can result on a designation of CAC (Sex) Asia. It covers a wide range of Sex-related topics from construction of a sex addictive story to re-discovering sex, sexuality and socio-cultural contributions. The focus is put on the conversation with sex addiction in order to reconnect with preferred sexual expression. The concept of Narrative Therapy will be adopted in the course.
Certified Addiction Counsellor (Gambling) – Asia
Gambling Addiction Level II
This a 40 hour program dealing with the fundamentals of gambling addiction. Completion of this segment can result on a designation of CAC (Gambling) Asia. It covers specific assessment and treatment of the persons addicted to gambling, Treatment for male and female gamblers will be differentiated. Handling of debts and dealing with loan-sharks will be illustrated. A gambling study trip to Macau will be arranged. All the teaching materials used are based on local experience.
Certified Addiction Counsellor (Drugs) – Asia
Drug Addiction Level II
This is a 40 hour program dealing with all aspects of drug addiction. Completion of this segment can result on a designation of CAC (Drugs) Asia. It covers the overall drug addiction, including alcohol, from micro-perspective of assessment, drug test, treatment and evaluation to micro-perspective of prevention and policy-making. Localized experience in treating the persons addicted to drugs will be illustrated and demonstrated. Visits to drug-related services will also be arranged.
12 Core Functions
There are a number of basic Core Functions which are required. CCPC Global Inc. expects that these Core Functions will be the minimum requirements for certification.
The globally recognized 12 core functions of counselling are:
- Screening
- Intake
- Orientation
- Assessment
- Treatment Planning
- Counselling
- Case Management
- Crisis Intervention
- Client Education
- Referral
- Records and Record Keeping
- Consultation with Other Professionals
Experience Required
CCPC Global Inc. Inc. has set the following standards for the experience portion of the certification process:
Experience is defined as supervised work, paid or voluntary, working directly with clients who have a primary problem of alcoholism and/or drug addiction.
Formal education or unsupervised work experience may NOT be substituted for the experience requirement. All experience must be documented.
The applicant must have the equivalent of 500 hours of work experience (3 months’ full time) providing direct, supervised counselling services to clients whose main diagnosis is drug and alcohol addictions. Supervised, direct counselling is described as work done under supervision of another counsellor or supervisor who consults and reviews their work. If the applicant aims at getting certification of both CAC (Drugs) – Asia and CAC (Gambling) Asia, they require 500 hours of work experience in each area for a total of 1000 hours.
Volunteer, part-time or placement hours may be acceptable providing it was under direct supervision. Actual time spent in a supervised alcoholism or drug addiction internship or in a human service setting may be applied toward a maximum of 500 hours of the requirement.
Education Required
CCPC Global Inc. has set the following standards for the Education part of the certification process:
Professional Counselors with university education and degrees in counselling must have a minimum of 80 hours of CAC – Asia education from Caritas A.G. Counselling Program as a prerequisite for applying for a CAC – Asia designation. Requirements for minimum hours of education include 40 hours for Level 1 plus 40 hours for either gambling or drugs. If the candidate aims at applying for both gambling and drugs, they should study 40 hours for gambling and 40 hours for drugs.
Applicants should have the education required in counselling, psychology, social work, or other disciplines related to helping professions. Having a degree would be beneficial but it is not a requirement in the above fields.
Education is defined as formal classroom education (workshops, seminars, institutes, in-services and college or university work) in the addiction field. Education must be related to the base of knowledge and skills associated with the Core Functions listed. All education must be documented.
An applicant applying for certification must have a minimum of 80 documented hours of education from Caritas A.G. Counselling Program. This education must cover all Core Functions. On the application form, applicants must indicate where their education has covered each area. Copies of certificates and diplomas of all completed courses relevant to the core competencies must be submitted with the application.
Caritas Training Program will check the legitimacy of the degrees of the applicants before sending their applications on to CCPC Global for certification.
After a person has been certified, it is expected that they will continue to attend workshops, seminars, and courses to keep abreast with new developments and maintain a high standard of professional competence in the addiction field.
Professional Responsibilities
The applicant must:
- Adhere to the established code of ethics and professionalism which holds them accountable for ethical behaviour and professionalism in their relationships with clients, colleagues, and external partners;
- Maintain government and agency regulations concerning addictions by following proper procedures to preserve the client’s rights;
- Set up and maintain a program of self-assessment of professional conduct (strength and weakness) using ethical and legal standards; and
- Continue the process of professional growth and development by assessing one’s training needs and obtaining the necessary education.
Professional References
All applications must be accompanied by two professional references. All references are for the purpose of assisting the Examining Board of CCPC Global Inc. to make a fair and complete evaluation of the competency of the applicant.
All references are treated with strict professional confidentiality.
They should be addressed to CCPC Global Inc. and included with the application under confidential cover.
These two current written references should include the following information concerning the applicant:
- How does the applicant demonstrate self-control?
- How has the applicant demonstrated reliability?
- Show how honesty is a part of the applicant’s personal/professional conduct.
- Give examples of the applicant’s ability to work with others.
- How informed is the applicant about the Addiction field?
- Comment on the communication skills of the applicant.
- Comment on the applicant’s ethical (professional) conduct.
CCPC Global Inc. reserves the right to request additional information if required.
Supervisor Evaluation and Letter
All applications must be accompanied by a completed Supervisor Evaluation (See page 20) and a letter from your current supervisor on employer letterhead. The letter should confirm your position title, length of time in position, and number of hours of work experience as outlined in the Experience section of the Manual.
To download a copy of the manual go to the Forms & Manuals tab.