CASAC study plan

Map the full assessment workflow from intake through diagnosis, listing each decision point a counselor must document

Differentiate screening, assessment, and diagnosis in writing, with one concrete example of each from a substance use setting

Apply the DSM-5-TR criteria for substance use disorder severity levels to three written client vignettes and defend each severity call

List at least eight standardized screening and assessment instruments and state what each one measures and its limits

Explain how withdrawal syndromes and intoxication states for alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants change assessment priorities

Identify the common co-occurring mental health conditions that mimic or mask substance use and describe how to screen for each

Practice writing a diagnostic impression that integrates substance use, medical, and psychiatric findings without overstating certainty

Distinguish tolerance and withdrawal from other causes of presenting symptoms in two written cases

Translate assessment findings into measurable, time-bound treatment plan goals and objectives for three different client profiles

Match each identified need to at least one appropriate level of care using ASAM criteria dimensions

Build a referral packet checklist that verifies eligibility, consent, and warm handoff steps for three referral types

Draft a coordination note that documents interagency communication and follow-up commitments

Demonstrate at least five core counseling microskills in written transcripts and label each one

Apply motivational interviewing techniques to a written resistance scenario and explain why each response reduces or increases discord

Sequence stage-appropriate interventions for precontemplation, contemplation, and action stages

Identify and correct at least three common counseling errors in sample dialogue excerpts

Design a family education session outline that explains substance use disorder as a chronic condition without blame language

Adapt the same education content for an adolescent audience and for a community group, changing vocabulary and examples

Describe how to involve family and support persons in treatment planning while respecting confidentiality boundaries

List community resources and prevention messaging channels relevant to a chosen local population

Write progress notes, treatment plan reviews, and discharge summaries that meet common audit standards for accuracy and timeliness

Apply the major ethical principles to four written dilemmas involving dual relationships, self-disclosure, and impaired colleagues

Explain confidentiality limits, including 42 CFR Part 2 protections and mandatory reporting duties, in plain language for a client handout

Correct at least five documentation or ethics errors embedded in sample records

Describe the mechanism, main effects, and risks of the major medication-assisted treatment options for opioid and alcohol use disorders

Explain how medication side effects and interactions can be mistaken for relapse or psychiatric symptoms

Outline how to coordinate with prescribers and monitor adherence and response without practicing outside scope

Compare integrated and sequential treatment models for co-occurring disorders and state when each is preferred

Apply a risk assessment framework to written scenarios involving suicide risk, overdose, and withdrawal emergencies, stating immediate actions

Sequence de-escalation and safety planning steps for an aggressive or acutely intoxicated client

Identify the ethical and reporting obligations triggered in each crisis scenario

Rehearse weak-area content from Domains 1 and 7 using timed practice and review every missed item