2021 National Recovery Month theme “Recovery is For Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community,” reminds people in recovery and those who support them that no one is alone in the journey through recovery. Everyone's journey is different, but we are all in this together.

As part of our recognition of National Recovery Month, LPCA presents:

Clinical Work with Behavioral Addictions: A Primer 

 This is a live, synchronous webinar for 1.5 Core Hours.  Behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling, gaming, sex, shopping, pornography) are rewarding behaviors that become compulsive, out of control, continue despite negative consequences, and induce cravings or mental preoccupation (ASAM, 2019; APA, 2013; Griffiths, 2005; Kardefelt-Winther et al., 2017). Like drugs of abuse, potentially addictive behaviors activate reward circuitry in the brain (APA, 2013; Karim & Chaudhri, 2012; Wise & Koob, 2014; Wise & Robble, 2020) and are both positively and negatively reinforcing (Goodman, 2001). 

Among vulnerable individuals (e.g., those with genetic predispositions, a history of trauma, specific mental health concerns, or exposure to social modeling), rewarding behaviors can become the primary means of emotion regulation and lead to detrimental outcomes. In light of the accessibility, affordability, and frequency of potentially addictive behaviors, counselors in all settings (e.g., schools, college counseling centers, community agencies, hospitals, private practice) should be equipped to recognize and respond to behavioral addictions. In this presentation, attendees will learn how to conceptualize behavioral addictions using a public health model, be able to recognize behavioral addictions in their clinical work, and become knowledgeable of treatment considerations for several prominent behavioral addictions. The presenter will describe relevant neuroscience related to addictive behaviors, updates to diagnostic manuals, and 12-step programs specific to behavioral addictions.

Presenter:   Amanda Giordano, PhD, LPC  Dr. Giordano is an associate professor of counseling at the University of Georgia. She specializes in addiction counseling and has clinical, instructional, and scholarly experience related to both chemical and behavioral addictions. Dr. Giordano is the sole author of a clinical reference book titled, A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions and co-author of an addictions textbook titled, Addiction Counseling: A Practical Approach. She works to advance the counseling field with rigorous research and has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Dr. Giordano regularly teaches addiction counseling courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. In 2018, she was awarded the Addictions/Offender Educator Excellence Award from the International Association of Addictions & Offender Counselors. Additionally, Dr. Giordano has experience as an editorial board member for several prominent counseling journals including the Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, Journal of Counseling & Development, and Counseling & Values. Dr. Giordano serves on the American Counseling Association (ACA) of Georgia Leadership Council, the board of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC), and is a member of several other ACA divisions.