Outpatient center to be training site for addiction counselors

Professionals in north Mississippi seeking to become Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC) can now access classes closer to home.

At the 2017 MAAP Conference in Pearl, MS: Clinical therapists Barry Doughty and Amy Woodward; Outpatient Manager Barbara Cox; CEO Billy Young.

The Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals (MAAP) has approved Oxford Treatment Center’s new outpatient campus as the north Mississippi training site for its Mississippi Addiction Counselor Training (MACT) program. Courses are also offered in south Mississippi at William Carey University’s Biloxi campus and in central Mississippi at the MAAP office in Jackson.

Previously, professionals in north Mississippi have had to travel to Jackson to attend the classes, said Martha Wittig, PhD, chair of the Education Committee for MAAP.

“Many people are already licensed as counselors or psychologists, but are not necessarily trained to work in alcohol and drug treatment,” she said. “This program offers specific training in working with addiction, and provides these professionals the opportunity to become certified as alcohol and drug counselors.”

Those who work toward CADC certification include allied health professionals like social workers, nurses, and marriage and family therapists. The training is open to those who do not have a college degree. Students must have a high school diploma or GED to enroll in MACT.

Barry Doughty, ICADC, clinical therapist at Oxford Treatment Center:

Said hosting a MAAP training site in Oxford would benefit the entire community.

“This program will be training the next generation of treatment professionals, who will in turn help many people recover from the disease of addiction,” said Doughty, who represents northeast Mississippi on the MAAP Board of Directors. “For professionals in our area, it will now be easier to take advantage of these MAAP classes and earn a valuable certification.”

Core coursework through MACT includes Addiction Pharmacology, Counseling Theories, Counseling Skills and Counseling Process. People can join the training schedule at the beginning of any quarter and complete the coursework in a year.

MACT courses at the Oxford Outpatient Center begin with the Counseling Process sequence on Sept. 22-23, Oct. 20-21 and Nov. 3-4. Registration information can be found on the MAAP website, including the registration form and 2017-18 course schedule. Deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 8.

To learn more, call the MAAP office at (601) 321-2085.

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