Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care – Day 8: Practical Exercise/Counseling Practice

This practical exercise provides a comprehensive introduction to foundational counseling techniques and Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills. Participants will learn to effectively engage with clients, establish rapport, and conduct initial intake and assessments. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice, participants will develop the necessary skills for a successful career in counseling.

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for nurses, psychologists, social workers, and certified counselors. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.

Learning Objectives

  1. Apply foundational counseling techniques and MI skills to establish rapport and engage a simulated client during an initial intake and assessment.
  2. Elicit clinically relevant information related to presenting concerns, substance use, and assessment criteria through structured questioning in a facilitated role-play environment.
  3. Integrate didactic knowledge of substance use disorders, ASAM criteria, and evidence-based models to inform initial clinical impressions regarding diagnosis, level of care, and treatment planning.
  4. Demonstrate effective client engagement, reflective listening, and appropriate intervention strategies during a simulated counseling session.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 7.50 ANCC

    DHA J-7 CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Course for a maximum of 7.50 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.50 APA

    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. Participants may earn 7.50 CE credits for completing this activity.

  • 7.50 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA J7 CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 7.50 General continuing education credits.

  • 7.50 Attendance
  • 7.50 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, DHA J-7 CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 7.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

  • 7.50 NBCC Credit Hours

    DHA J-7 CEPO has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6955. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. DHA J-7 CEPO is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

    ACEP Contact Information
    Defense Health Agency, J-7, Continuing Education Program Office
    7700 Arlington Blvd
    Room 3M107
    Falls Church, VA 22042
    Phone: (240) 398-4809
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.dhaj7-cepo.com

Course opens: 
03/09/2026
Course expires: 
11/13/2026
Part of: 
Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care Individual Counseling Course

Melissa Lee, PhD, LCSW, BCD, MAC, ACSW. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose.

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, planners, authors, faculty, and content reviewers for this educational activity have no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Available Credit

  • 7.50 ANCC

    DHA J-7 CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Course for a maximum of 7.50 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.50 APA

    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. Participants may earn 7.50 CE credits for completing this activity.

  • 7.50 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA J7 CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 7.50 General continuing education credits.

  • 7.50 Attendance
  • 7.50 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, DHA J-7 CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 7.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

  • 7.50 NBCC Credit Hours

    DHA J-7 CEPO has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6955. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. DHA J-7 CEPO is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

    ACEP Contact Information
    Defense Health Agency, J-7, Continuing Education Program Office
    7700 Arlington Blvd
    Room 3M107
    Falls Church, VA 22042
    Phone: (240) 398-4809
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.dhaj7-cepo.com

Please login or create an account to take this course.



Requirements: CE/CME certificates are awarded to participants who fully complete the activity, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest. The deadline to claim credit is Nov 13, 2026.

Access Code: Some activities require an access code to register or claim credit. Please contact the organization providing the activity for the access code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.

Accommodations: Please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations. For additional accommodation requests and/or technical support, email [email protected].

Required Hardware/software