The growing prevalence of behavioral addictions makes it clear that the majority of counselors (if not all) will work with clients with addictive behaviors. This book is the culmination of 18 months of investigation into the most current information related to behavioral addictions. In each chapter, the author answers what she thought would be the most meaningful questions for clinical practice: How do I conceptualize it?, How do I identify it?, How do I assess it?, How do I treat it?, and How do I learn more? The books covers eleven behavioral addictions, including: internet gaming addiction, social media addiction, sex addiction, pornography and cybersex addiction, love addiction, gambling addiction, nonsuicidal self-injury, food addiction, exercise addiction, work addiction, and shopping addiction. Although not exhaustive, this list includes many of the most widely accepted behavioral addictions and those that the majority of counselors will encounter in their clinical practice. Along with describing each behavioral addiction in detail, the book also addresses important issues related to the addictive behaviors, such as distinguishing between gaming enthusiasts and those with internet gaming addiction, the association between social media addiction and cyberbullying, ethical considerations when clients disclose viewing illegal pornography, considerations related to adolescent sexting, the relationship between love addiction and codependence, the difference between sex addiction and sexual offending, the effects of legalized sports betting on gambling rates, distinguishing between nonsuicidal self-injury and a suicide attempt, the relationship between shopping addiction and hoarding disorder, the potential impact of neuromarketing, cultural considerations of work and study addiction, and conceptualizing exercise addiction with and without an eating disorder. Additionally, each chapter has a section devoted to the current state of neuroscience related to the behavioral addiction.

When the authors began writing this textbook, the United States was in the grips of an opioid epidemic in which overdose deaths have been ever-increasing, and perhaps amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the opioid epidemic took center stage in the media, there were also surges in cocaine and methamphetamine use and related deaths, as well as increases in cannabis vaping especially among adolescents and young adults. Additionally, behavioural addictions such as sex and pornography addiction, internet gaming addiction, and gambling continued to impact individuals and communities across the globe. History provides us with several lessons, one of those lessons is that substance use trends wax and wane over decades. Cocaine epidemics existed in the 1920’s, coinciding with alcohol prohibition, only to resurface again in the 1980’s. Morphine addiction was prevalent following the Civil War, especially among wounded soldiers and opioid addiction again surged in the past five years. Therefore, it is imperative that each new generation of mental health professionals are equipped to recognize and respond to addiction. Co-authors and the author all share the conviction that whatever area of counseling we decide to specialize in, or whatever counseling program we work in; we will be treating individuals who are either directly or indirectly impacted by substance use disorders (SUDs) and behavioral addictions. Therefore, they wrote this textbook with this mind. The book opens by providing students with an overview of the current state of the addiction counseling profession and the ever-increasing need for addiction counselors and mental health counselors who possess specific knowledge and skills pertaining to treating SUDs, as well as information on counsellor credentialing and ethical concerns specific to addiction counseling.