Clinical Evaluation and DSM-5

Clinical Evaluation and DSM-5 is organized by ACTS Consulting, Inc. This Text based course has been approved for a maximum of 6 contact hours.

Course Description:
The evaluation process is key to proper diagnosis and treatment planning. Clinical evaluation is the first steps to helping individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD), and co-occurring disorders receive appropriate care.  The counselor should always ensure that the individual receives the best and most appropriate treatment and services available, even if it requires referring the individual somewhere else.

The counselor performing evaluations, must have knowledge of SUD and mental illnesses to ensure the appropriate information is gathered for an accurate diagnosis, an appropriate treatment plan, and/or referrals. In addition to knowledge, counselors conducting evaluations must have personal qualities such as empathy, active listening, and specific personal traits.

Objectives:
Participants will
• Review qualifications and competencies for conducting clinical evaluations
• Review DSM5 categories and provide specific examples of disorders
• Describe the evaluation process and various components included in a comprehensive clinical evaluation.
• List tools for screening and assessments