Family Therapy in Substance Abuse Counseling

This workshop will provide participants with an overview of how family members are an often-overlooked resource in the behavioral health field when working with persons with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health challenges. Participants will learn about historical and contemporary models with an emphasis on evidence-based approaches that teach skills to family members to better navigate the territory of addiction. 

Objectives:

•  Describe differing approaches to working with family members of persons who use drugs.
• Articulate common familial responses to addictive behaviors, and their consequences (both negative and positive).
• Describe the differences between support groups (Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, etc.), an "Intervention", and evidence-based approaches. Understand how approaches like CRAFT, Invitation to Change and the Family Empowerment Project seek to assist persons with addictions by working with family members. 

About Brian Serna, LPC, LADAC:

Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC is the CEO/Founder of Serna Solutions and is a well sought after trainer and consultant in behavioral health issues related to Evidence Based Practices, Cultural Considerations and Ethical Issues. He has a BA in Psychology from New Mexico State University and an MA in Counseling from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Serna has trained and consulted with programs in over twenty different states, five different countries, and sixteen different tribal communities. In addition to his role as the CEO of Serna Solutions he is also the current President of the New Mexico Association of Addiction Professionals (NMAAP) a member of Senator Ben Ray Lujan’s Mental Health Consortium and he has been appointed to serve on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Council on Racial Justice in the Health Subcommittee.  Mr. Serna has the following certifications:  Member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Certified as a trainer in Motivational Interviewing Supervisor Training (MIST) Certified trainer and supervisor in the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), Adolescent-Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) and the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA). Certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Certified as a trainer in Contingency Management.