TPC-Digest-Vol-3-Iss-1

TPC Digest 6 T he addictions field continues to grow and is expanding beyond the area of substance abuse and substance dependence. Process addictions (PAs) are now an integral aspect of addictions assessment, diagnosis and treatment. This pilot study was conducted to initiate an understanding of levels of knowledge counselors have in diagnosing, assessing and treating clients suffering with process addictions; identify indicators of where and how they learned about process addictions; and explore how they integrate their level of the treatment of process addictions into to clinical practice. The total sample for our study included 37 counselors who were post-graduate clinicians. The counselors who participated in the study included 59% with a master’s degree in community counseling/ mental health counseling, 8 % with a master’s degree in a counseling- related field with a certificate in addiction, 3% with an educational specialist degree in a counseling- related field and 22% with a doctorate in a counseling-related field. Approximately 89% of respondents indicated that learning about PA for clinicians was very important, 6% noted that it was important and 6% indicated learning about PA was a neutral issue. Less than 13 % of the participants understood that process addiction included compulsive behaviors. Sixty-four percent of the counselors surveyed acknowledged they treated clients with process addictions, but were lacking the training to assess and screen for addictions. Counselors’ Understanding of Process Addiction: A Blind Spot in the Counseling Field—DIGEST Angie D. Wilson is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Pennie Johnson is the Vice President for Project Management at the International Institute for Trauma and Addic- tion Professionals (IITAP) and a doctoral student at Walden University in the Department of Coun- selor Education and Supervision. Correspondence can be addressed to Angie D. Wilson, 1700 Hwy 24, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education (Binnion Hall), Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX 75429, angie.wilson@tamuc.edu .