This book originates from author’s interest in and commitment to promoting the counseling profession as separate and distinct from related fields, such as social work and psychology. Many practicum and internship texts combine discussions of these noble professions in an amalgamation that blurs the numerous boundaries that exist between them. The author’s intention is to offer a counselor’s practicum and internship manual targeted at and to be used specifically in graduate counselor education programs. Although psychology and social work programs certainly do an excellent job in educating and training future psychologists and social workers, counseling is an ancillary, as opposed to a primary, function for professionals in those fields. This best-selling guide to the practicum and internship experience, written expressly for graduate counseling students by a seasoned counselor and educator, is now substantially revised with updated and expanded content including the 2014 ACA Standards of Ethics. With a strong focus on counseling as a specific professional identity, the book includes new information on developing one’s own approach to counseling and supervision, maintaining satisfactory working relationships with supervisors and colleagues, developing good writing skills and record keeping, and managing crisis and trauma. With a concise, accessible writing style, the book describes everything students need to know as they enter and progress through the practicum and internship process. With plentiful case examples and downloadable sample forms and templates, this supportive manual encompasses information addressing how to select and apply for practicum/internships in all settings, including mental health, rehabilitation, schools, addictions, and marriage and counseling. It examines ethical and legal issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, client records, boundary issues, and liability insurance. The book also discusses in detail the multicultural considerations that impact counseling along with the importance of self-care including stress management and dealing with aggressive client behaviors.

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.