For more than half a century, substance use has been taught primarily through a disease and abstinence- only lens—not because it reflects clinical reality, but because of historical criminalization and outdated

assumptions. As a result, substance use remains siloed as a “specialty,” even though it is one of the most
pervasive issues students will encounter in real clinical practice.
Graduates enter the field largely unprepared for how substance use actually appears in therapy: quietly,
relationally, often hidden, and deeply intertwined with shame, ambivalence, and coping. When clinicians
are trained only in rigid or punitive models, clients conceal their use, disengage, or avoid treatment
altogether—undermining both care and ethics. This training offers students what they deserve: a contemporary, evidence-aligned framework that reflects the real conditions of modern practice. Rather than enforcing abstinence-first assumptions, it teaches how to work skillfully with ambivalence, gradual change, and mixed goals, while maintaining safety, dignity, and therapeutic connection. It prepares students for the world they are entering.

If you are interested in a one-year license for your students please contact [email protected] for
pricing information.