News & Events

NERI develops novel web-based training course for substance abuse counselors

NERI, ATTC New England and the Boston University school of Social Work are working together on an innovative Web-based interactive course to teach CBT. The study has closed enrollment and is currently in the final stages of data collection.

The National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has funded NERI, Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network of New England (ATTC-NE), and the Boston University School of Social Work (BUSW) to design and develop a Web-based interactive course to teach the principles and skills of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The information presented on the Technology to Enhance Addiction Counselor Helping (TEACH-CBT) web site for this interactive course was developed by expert faculty from many authoritative sources including NIDA’ s treatment manual on CBT.

The project has recruited eligible substance abuse counselors from 54 agencies nationwide to participate in the research study to evaluate the effectiveness of the web-based course. Counselors were randomly assigned to either the “control” group or the “intervention” group and are eligible to receive 16 Continuing Education Credits upon completion of the course.

According to Mary Jo Larson, PhD, the Principal Investigator of the study, “the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy is well-established yet few counselors in agencies that serve people with addictions have the opportunity for training. This web course is designed to bring more evidence-based interventions into everyday field practice.”  For more information contact Mary Jo Larson or visit the web site: http://www.teachcbt.com.