Online Info Sessions
Questions about our programs? Join the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences for one of our helpful online info sessions.
Register
important information
- Join us for our next virtual information session on July 9! Register
- The Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate program is open only to applicants residing within the United States.
Drug and Alcohol Counseling (Certificate Online)
Overview
The Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate program prepares master's- and doctoral-level professionals to:
- Effectively counsel individuals with substance use disorders and their families.
- Provide coursework and expert consultation on practice in a convenient online environment.
- Become eligible for certification in substance use treatment by select national organizations such as:
- As applicable, allow hours of experience to be accrued concurrently to meet BBS, AAMFT, and other certifying organization requirements.
Students enrolled in the Marital and Family Therapy MS or Counseling MS programs within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences are able to graduate with this certificate by adding one three-unit course and four units of practicum to their program of study.
The Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate program at Loma Linda University has graduated substance use treatment professionals for twenty years. This 100% online program has continually been refined to stay current with advancements in the field. Our alumni are drug and alcohol counselors working in outpatient and inpatient substance use treatment settings, for-profit and non-profit organizations, specialty private practices, and developers of their own substance use treatment programs.
Curriculum and Timeline
The program is 13 quarter units and anticipated to be completed in one year with full time enrollment. The 100% online program consists of both synchronous and asynchronous content. Each practicum course is synchronous—students and the professor meet via Zoom for two consecutive hours every other week during the quarter (5 meetings each quarter). All other courses are asynchronous—students and the professor remain in consistent contact but there are no required meeting times. The program is available online only and is authorized in these states.
A suggested course schedule:
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|
|
|
|
Additional requirements: 200 hours of supervised clinical field work.
Course Schedule Course Descriptions
Please Note: The curriculum of this program includes attendance during the Summer term.
Cost of Attendance
Get details on the standard cost of attendance at LLU. View Estimates
Students entering an MS degree program within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences who are interested in obtaining certification in Play Therapy or Drug and Alcohol Counseling will receive a tuition waiver for the certificate program of their choice. Students interested in this benefit are required to enroll in elective courses specified by their academic advisor. Given available spaces, students enrolling in the Systems, Families, and Couples PhD program may also take advantage of this benefit. Tuition waivers do not apply to any units used to support the student's primary degree program.
Admissions
Applications are accepted for each Summer term. At this time, applications are accepted from 29 states in the United States. Please check here to see if your state is included. Applicants must:
- Hold a bachelor's degree in behavioral health or closely related field from an accredited university. Students enrolled in the Marital and Family Therapy MS and Counseling MS programs may apply and complete the drug and alcohol certificate during their master's program. Applicants who are enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at the time of application to the program must be in good standing.
- Along with the Loma Linda University application, an application essay stating how the applicant will integrate the Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate into their clinical work, and how the applicant will contribute to their profession and the addiction-treatment field by completing the certificate.
- Three letters of reference are required.
- An interview by the program director is required. This interview is completed via Zoom.
Contact Information and Application
For further details and additional information about the Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate, please contact the interim program director, Dr. Nichola Ribadu at nribadu@llu.edu or 909-558-4547 x47005.
Student Story
Through collaboration and education from the Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate program, I've learned to factor in the varying aspects of substance use disorders in helping clients and members of their relational systems. Both faculty and fellow students are compassionate in their roles of walking with clients through the recovery process.
Play Therapy (Certificate Online)
Overview
The Play Therapy certificate offers a theoretically-based approach for working with children and adolescents presenting with a number of behavioral health issues. This approach utilizes toys and other expressive activities as forms of communication and as an intervention method for problem solving and promoting well-being.
The fully online Play Therapy certificate program is designed to meet the educational requirements of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to become a registered play therapist (RPT) and is designed for behavioral health professionals with or in the process of obtaining a licensable graduate degree from an accredited college.
Curriculum and Timeline
Length of Program: 4 academic quarters—based on part-time enrollment
- PLTH 513 Introduction to Play Therapy (3 units)
- PLTH 516 Child-Centered Play Therapy (3 units)
- PLTH 546 Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (3 units)
- PLTH 550 Trauma Focused Play Therapy (3 units)
- RELE 510 Service Learning (1 unit)
Cost of Attendance
Get details on the standard cost of attendance at LLU. View Estimates
Students entering an MS degree program within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences who are interested in obtaining certification in Play Therapy or Drug and Alcohol Counseling will receive a tuition waiver for the certificate program of their choice. Students interested in this benefit are required to enroll in elective courses specified by their academic advisor. Given available spaces, students enrolling in the Systems, Families, and Couples PhD program may also take advantage of this benefit. Tuition waivers do not apply to any units used to support the student's primary degree program.
Admissions
Admissions
Applicants must meet the admission requirements as follows:
- A fully completed LLU application form.
- A graduate with a licensable mental health degree from an accredited university. (Official transcripts are evidence of degrees and courses completed.) Individuals already licensed as a mental health professional must be in good standing with the relevant licensing board.
- Consideration for admission will be given to individuals in the process of completing a licensable mental health graduate degree from an accredited university. Applicant must be in good academic standing and have permission from their current program to enroll.
- Submit three letters of recommendation from an academic source, professional peer, and/or a work supervisor.
Contact Information and Application
For further details and additional information about the Play Therapy certificate, please contact the program director, Dr. Danielle Clair at dclair@llu.edu or 909-558-3540.