Friday-Saturday, May 16-17- 2025, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. PST
Americans are using more lethal substances than ever before, with 2024 marking the highest number of annual overdose deaths in U.S. history, and 13.5% of Americans reporting using an illicit substance within the last year (NCADS, 2023 & 2024).
Given these trends, it can be concluded that many of our clients—whether they are actively using or not—are impacted by substance use.
This interactive, online workshop is designed to fill the current gaps in training around addiction and substance use, and provide mental health clinicians with essential information and considerations to incorporate into their existing work with clients.
This workshop will address:
- Current addiction trends in Oregon and Washington
- Assumptions, biases, and misconceptions about substance use, addiction, and recovery
- Concerns about scope of practice, and when to refer to higher levels of addiction care
- Participants will engage in conversations and role playing exercises, practicing various ways to discuss substance use and/or addiction with clients.
Note: this workshop is beneficial to all mental health practitioners, but is not designed for those who are already certified addictions counselors.
Alexia de León, PhD currently serves as co-director of the Professional Mental Health Counseling-Addictions Specialization program. She is also the Director of Lewis & Clark’s Latino Problem Gambling Services. Her clinical experience includes working with adolescents and families struggling with substance abuse, as well as working with college-aged students and athletes struggling with a myriad of mental health concerns. She currently provides culturally responsive supervision to Latino Problem Gambling Services and works with problem gamblers and their families at Lewis & Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. Her research interests include: cross-cultural supervision and support for Latina supervisors, integrating contemplative practices into learning environments to foster social justice learning and the intersection of communities of color and addictions counseling.
Chelsey Torgerson, PhD is a therapist, educator, clinical supervisor, and researcher with a passion for training the next generation of family therapists to be addiction-informed, trauma-centered, and culturally responsive practitioners. Dr. Torgerson holds the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation and is an Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and a Certified Addictions Counselor (CADC III) in the state of Oregon. Dr. Torgerson uses her clinical experiences to inform her teaching, research projects, and community training opportunities for clinical professionals and the general public.
