6-Hour CE Course Understanding Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions in Clients With Substance Use Histories

Categories: Mental Health Professional CEU credits-Professional Training

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This 6-hour continuing education course provides mental health professionals with a comprehensive understanding of how co-occurring mental health symptoms interact with a client’s history of substance use.
The course focuses on behavioral health principles, ethical responsibilities, trauma-informed practices, safety planning, and appropriate referral pathways—without teaching addiction treatment interventions.
Participants will be able to:
Define co-occurring behavioral health presentations and explain how substance use histories may influence mental health symptoms.
Identify clinical red flags that indicate the need for further assessment or referral.
Apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches when discussing substance use histories with clients.
Describe ethical and legal responsibilities related to documentation, boundaries, scope of practice, and referral protocols.
Implement general behavioral health safety screening and basic safety planning for high-risk clients.
Communicate effectively and non-judgmentally with clients while maintaining professional boundaries and appropriate care coordination.

Course Content

Module 1：Co-Occurring Conditions Overview（1 hour）

MODULE 1 — Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions（1 Hour）
1.1 What does “co-occurring” mean in behavioral health?
Not diagnosing SUD
Understanding mental health symptoms within context
Distinguishing active use, past use, and remission (non-clinical definitions)
Why co-occurring issues are common
1.2 Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Symptoms
1. Anxiety
2. Depression
3. Trauma Responses
4. Sleep Disturbance
5. Mood Dysregulation
1.3 Scope of Practice Clarification
✔ LPC/LMFT/LCSW Can/can not Discuss Mental Health Symptoms
Ethical Response Model: Assess → Support → Refer When Needed
QUIZ

MODULE 2 — Clinical Symptoms & Behavioral Patterns（1 Hour）

2.1 How Substance Use Histories Influence Symptom Presentation
1. Irritability
2. Cognitive Fog
3. Anxiety Spikes
4. Emotional Reactivity
5. Trauma Activation
2.2 Clinical Red Flags Requiring Closer Attention
1. Sudden Functional Decline
2. Increased Isolation
3. Loss of Emotional Regulation
5. Reports of Life Instability
2.3 Appropriate Clinician Responses
1. Ask Open-Ended, Non-Judgmental Questions
2. Clarify Impact on Functioning
3. Clarify Safety
4. Maintain Boundaries
5. Document Objectively
QUIZ

Module 3：Trauma, Culture & Social Factors（1 hour）

3.1 Trauma and Substance Use History Interaction
Trauma Response vs. Addiction Response
Hyperarousal, Dissociation, and Shutdown
1. Hyperarousal (Fight / Flight)
2. Dissociation (Freeze / Detach)
3. Shutdown or Collapse (Fawn / Immobilization)
Clients Often Carry Shame or Secrecy
3.2 Cultural Considerations in Discussing Substance Use Histories
1. Cultural Stigma
2. Family Beliefs
3. Community Norms
4. Cultural and Language Barriers When Discussing Substance Use
3.3 Social Determinants of Health and Co-Occurring Symptoms
1. Housing Instability
2. Economic Pressure
3. Relationship Conflict
4. Medical Comorbidities
QUIZ

Module 4：Ethical & Legal Responsibilities（1 hour）

4.1 Scope of Practice Rules
You CAN Ethically: 1. Ask General Questions
2. Explore Impact on Mental Health
3. Document Behavioral Observations
4. Refer When Needed
You CANNOT Ethically:
4.2 Documentation Best Practices
1. Objective, Behavior-Based Documentation
2. No Substance Use Labels
3. Describe Function, Not Assumption
4. Clear Referral Notes
4.3 When to Refer
1. Safety Concerns
2. Active Severe Use
3. Client Requests Addiction Treatment
4. Court-Mandated Addiction Programming
QUIZ

Module 5：Risk Screening & Safety Planning（1 hour）

5.1 Behavioral Health Risk Indicators
1. Suicidal Ideation (SI) / Homicidal Ideation (HI)
2. Psychosis
3. Severe Mood Instability
4. Domestic Violence Risk
5. Medical Concerns
5.2 Basic Safety Planning
1. Identify Emotional or Environmental Triggers
2. Identify Support Persons
3. Identify Safe Spaces
4. List Emergency Contacts
5. Provide Crisis Resources
5.3 When Substance-Use History Increases Risk
1. Emotional Volatility
2. High Impulsivity
3. Social Conflict
4. Relationship Instability
QUIZ

Module 6：Communication, Boundaries & Referral Pathways（1 hour）

6.1 Non-Judgmental Communication Strategies
1. Open-Ended Questions
2. Reflective Listening
3. Avoid Labels
4. Avoid Moral Language
6.2 Clinical Boundaries
1. Protecting the Clinician Role
2. No Coaching on Detox
3. No Treatment of Addiction Protocols
6.3 Referral Pathways
1. When to Refer to an LCDC
2. When to Refer to a Psychiatrist
3. How to Document a Referral (Best Practices)
4. How to Follow Up Ethically
quiz

Final Quiz 10 questions

Course Completion Message
Congratulations on successfully passing the final exam. You have officially completed this six-hour continuing education course. Your commitment to professional growth, ethical practice, and high-quality client care is truly commendable. By finishing this course, you have demonstrated dedication to expanding your clinical skills, strengthening your scope-of-practice understanding, and advancing your work as a behavioral health professional. You may now download and save your CE Certificate of Completion for your records. Thank you for choosing this program as part of your ongoing professional development.

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A course by

mindlifta

Mental health, EAP counseling and court ordered services

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1：Co-Occurring Conditions Overview（1 hour）

MODULE 1 — Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions（1 Hour）

1.1 What does “co-occurring” mean in behavioral health?

Not diagnosing SUD

Understanding mental health symptoms within context

Distinguishing active use, past use, and remission (non-clinical definitions)

Why co-occurring issues are common

1.2 Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Symptoms

1. Anxiety

2. Depression

3. Trauma Responses

4. Sleep Disturbance

5. Mood Dysregulation

1.3 Scope of Practice Clarification

✔ LPC/LMFT/LCSW Can/can not Discuss Mental Health Symptoms

Ethical Response Model: Assess → Support → Refer When Needed

QUIZ

MODULE 2 — Clinical Symptoms & Behavioral Patterns（1 Hour）

2.1 How Substance Use Histories Influence Symptom Presentation

1. Irritability

2. Cognitive Fog

3. Anxiety Spikes

4. Emotional Reactivity

5. Trauma Activation

2.2 Clinical Red Flags Requiring Closer Attention

1. Sudden Functional Decline

2. Increased Isolation

3. Loss of Emotional Regulation

5. Reports of Life Instability

2.3 Appropriate Clinician Responses

1. Ask Open-Ended, Non-Judgmental Questions

2. Clarify Impact on Functioning

3. Clarify Safety

4. Maintain Boundaries

5. Document Objectively

QUIZ

Module 3：Trauma, Culture & Social Factors（1 hour）

3.1 Trauma and Substance Use History Interaction

Trauma Response vs. Addiction Response

Hyperarousal, Dissociation, and Shutdown

1. Hyperarousal (Fight / Flight)

2. Dissociation (Freeze / Detach)

3. Shutdown or Collapse (Fawn / Immobilization)

Clients Often Carry Shame or Secrecy

3.2 Cultural Considerations in Discussing Substance Use Histories

1. Cultural Stigma

2. Family Beliefs

3. Community Norms

4. Cultural and Language Barriers When Discussing Substance Use

3.3 Social Determinants of Health and Co-Occurring Symptoms

1. Housing Instability

2. Economic Pressure

3. Relationship Conflict

4. Medical Comorbidities

QUIZ

Module 4：Ethical & Legal Responsibilities（1 hour）

4.1 Scope of Practice Rules

You CAN Ethically: 1. Ask General Questions

2. Explore Impact on Mental Health

3. Document Behavioral Observations

4. Refer When Needed

You CANNOT Ethically:

4.2 Documentation Best Practices

1. Objective, Behavior-Based Documentation

2. No Substance Use Labels

3. Describe Function, Not Assumption

4. Clear Referral Notes

4.3 When to Refer

1. Safety Concerns

2. Active Severe Use

3. Client Requests Addiction Treatment

4. Court-Mandated Addiction Programming

QUIZ

Module 5：Risk Screening & Safety Planning（1 hour）

5.1 Behavioral Health Risk Indicators

1. Suicidal Ideation (SI) / Homicidal Ideation (HI)

2. Psychosis

3. Severe Mood Instability