Seminars/Workshops

Working with Addictions

9 March to 11 March 2009
10:00am to 6:00pm
(3 days workshop)
Addictions continue to rise in Singapore especially among the young. With the soon-coming integrated resort, the longer opening hours of bars and nightclubs and also with the rising popularity of Internet, it is likely that more people will be aware of problematic substance or behavioural dependencies. There is limited training available locally in addictions especially with regards to addictions faced by a young adult population. This workshop in addiction will enhance social service and other helping professionals to be able to work with pertinent current concerns.

Participants will together examine the broad topic of addiction and examine how mind and behavior are so integrated in this area. The motivations for addictions and how to intervene in their lives will be addressed. The course will provide practical ideas on how to speak to addicts, how to undertake group work with them and how to work with the family systems of addicts

Course Syllabus:

Lesson 1: What is Addiction
This lesson briefly defines addiction and how it impacts the individual. It discusses DSM classifications but critically evaluates its usefulness.

Lesson 2: The Inner Conversations of our Mind
Our life is a reflection of the thoughts and beliefs we translated into action. In order to create desired outcomes, one must learn to work in balance with our beliefs and thoughts. This lesson examines the way cognition and behavior works particularly in the context of addiction.

Lesson 3: Belief System
What makes us who we are? In a nutshell, our beliefs, the way we were trained and the experiences we were exposed to help shape the way we view our and ourselves.

Lesson 4: Identifying Goals
Before you can engage in any particular form of change. You need to determine what are the most vital goals. You need to evaluate what is essential and what is currently needed.

Lesson 5: Working With Fear
In this lesson we will explore how fear can block your work with clients.

Lesson 6: Speaking with addicts
Motivational interviewing continues to be an important approach to reaching addicts. This lesson assesses such methods and attempts to provide modified approaches to perform such interviews.

Lesson 7: Doing group work with addiction.
This lesson examines the possibility of group work among addicts. The way to facilitate such groups and the integration of styles similar to Alcoholic Anonymous and other 12 step approaches will be discussed.

The Lecturer
Keith McCann received his MA in Marital & Family Counselling from Western Seminary, California. He is a licensed professional marriage and family therapist in the state of California and has received specialized training in various counselling modalities. He currently is a therapist working for a youth mental health institution in United States and runs both group & individual therapy for people struggling with addictions.

Cost of Workshop
$450 per person (Inclusive of class material). Staff and Volunteers of VWOs may apply for VCF grant which subsidises up to 80% of total workshop fees. Alive Community Network provides subsidies to deserving applicants who may not qualify for VCF grant. Please contact us for more information.

Closing date for registration is on 28th February 2009.

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