Real-Time Course

starting on January 10, 2025.

CGAC I Precertification for ICD-PG Specialists entails FOUR virtual meetings with instructors and fellow learners on Friday mornings, starting on January 10, 2025. Meetings are held between 9 am and 1 pm PT. The course also includes self-paced lessons in between the meetings. The course is approved by the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) and the Mental Health & Addictions Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) for 15 continuing education (CE) hours. To earn CE hours, you will need to 1) attend all course sessions and complete all required course activities and 2) complete the course evaluation survey. A certificate of attendance will be made available on the Student Dashboard upon course completion and upon the receipt of evaluation survey responses.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome!

    2. How to navigate this course

    3. Course Overview

    4. Course Objectives

    5. Continuing Education Credits

    6. Before we continue...

    7. Your Professional Background

    1. Session 1 Zoom Invite

    2. Introduction

    3. Learning Objectives

    4. Relevant Core Competencies

    5. OHA Problem Gambling Assessment

    6. Getting Real about Gambling Disorder-The ASAM Criteria

    7. Video: Session 1 Recording

    1. Session 2 Zoom Invite

    2. Introduction

    3. Overview

    4. Learning Objectives

    5. Additional Resource: Handouts for Clients on Gambling and the Brain

    6. Additional Resource: Online Resource for Clients

    7. Optional Reading: NCRG Monograph on Gambling and the Brain

    1. Learning Objectives

    2. Additional Resource: IGD 20 Screening Tool

    3. Optional Reading: Treatments for Internet Gaming Disorder and Internet Addiction - Systemic Review

    4. Video: Session 2 Recording

    1. Session 3 Zoom Invite

    2. Introduction

    3. Learning Objectives

    4. Relevant Core Competencies

    5. Presentation: Slide Deck

    6. Handout: Instructor Slide Deck

    7. Additional Resource: Values Activity

    8. Additional Resource: Mindfulness Activities

    9. Additional Resource: ACT Matrix

    10. Additional Resource: Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention in Problem Gambling

    1. Overview

    2. Objectives

    3. Competencies Related to Psychoeducation

    4. Additional Resource: Problem Gambling: The Issues, The Options - camh Psychoeducation Resource for Clients

    5. Additional Resources: Facilitator Outlines for Psychoeducation Groups

    6. Additional Resource: Problem Gambling Multifamily Group Facilitator's Guide

    7. Additional Resources: Online Resources

    8. Additional Resources: Oregon Factsheets

    9. Additional Resource: A Guide For Families

    10. Video: Session 3 Recording

About this course

  • $99.00
  • 59 lessons
  • 21.5 hours of video content

Instructors

Instructor Dave Hsiao

Dave Hsiao, MA, LPC, CADC III, CGAC II has been working in the counseling field for 20 years. He specializes in Substance Use and Problem Gambling with other co-occurring mental health diagnoses. Focusing on improving outcomes, Dave compassionately addresses multicultural issues in the program he manages by working closely with his team in communication with vulnerable populations and their families. He trains and supervises recovery mentors and counselors, and he provides leadership in outreach to communities with developed programs he facilitates in the Portland area and at the Oregon coast.

Senior Instructor Teresa McDowell

Teresa McDowell, Ed.D., LMFT is a professor emerita at Lewis & Clark, in Portland, Oregon, where she served as Department Chair and co-founded Lewis & Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. Dr. McDowell has served as a licensed marriage and family therapist, family therapy educator, program director, educational administrator, and consultant over the past 40 years. Her work has primarily focused on counselor education and workforce development, organizational consultation, international family therapy, equity-based clinical practice, integrated treatment for problem gambling, and clinical supervision. She currently serves as a social researcher, program evaluator, and consultant with Partners in Social Research and is the senior instructor for the Advanced Career Online Resource Network (ACORN). Dr. McDowell has published over 50 refereed journal articles and book chapters. She has presented her work at numerous conferences across eight countries. She is the author of Applying Critical Social Theory to Family Therapy Practice and first co-author of Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Guidelines for Equity-Based Theory and Practice (1st and 2nd Editions). Her work in problem gambling treatment includes authoring the Working with Families in Problem Gambling Treatment handbook, research on core competencies for problem gambling counselors and prevention specialists, and extensive contributions to the development of Oregon’s problem gambling treatment workforce.

Instructor Alberto Lepe-Romero

Alberto Lepe-Romero, MSW, BA, CADC-I, CGAC-R, QMHA-R graduated with a Masters of Social Work degree and has been working in the substance use disorders (SUD) treatment world for six years. His focus has been on micro and macro work in the field of social work. Before that, Mr. Lepe-Romero completed his undergraduate work at the University at Oregon, with a major in Family and Human Services and a minor in legal studies. During his training, Mr. Lepe-Romero learned various treatment approaches in both detoxification and outpatient counseling settings. In his free time, Mr. Lepe-Romero enjoys playing video games, skateboarding, participating in martial arts, and spending time with family and friends. He has been working in Community Plaza (Centrolatinoamericano) for almost 5 years and it has been a pleasure for him to provide bilingual, culturally-specific services to clients.

Instructor Alberto Lepe-Romero

Alberto Lepe-Romero, MSW, BA, CADC-I, CGAC-R, QMHA-R graduated with a Masters of Social Work degree and has been working in the substance use disorders (SUD) treatment world for six years. His focus has been on micro and macro work in the field of social work. Before that, Mr. Lepe-Romero completed his undergraduate work at the University at Oregon, with a major in Family and Human Services and a minor in legal studies. During his training, Mr. Lepe-Romero learned various treatment approaches in both detoxification and outpatient counseling settings. In his free time, Mr. Lepe-Romero enjoys playing video games, skateboarding, participating in martial arts, and spending time with family and friends. He has been working in Community Plaza (Centrolatinoamericano) for almost 5 years and it has been a pleasure for him to provide bilingual, culturally-specific services to clients.

Veronica Valdez

Vernoica Valdez, marriage and family therapist registered associate, CGACII, CADC-R & QMHP-R provides integrated mental health, gambling, Neurofeedback, and substance use disorder treatment in Eugene, Oregon at Emergence Addictions and behavioral health. She currently holds a Masters of Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy from Lewis and Clark College, where she interned at Lewis and Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. When Veronica is not working, you can find her salsa dancing, reading anything romantasy, or cuddling her 6 year old Pitbull Dante.

OHA Instructor David Corse

David Corse (he/him/his), LPC, CADCIII, CGACII has worked in the behavioral health field for over a decade. David has worked as a crisis counselor, gambling counselor, SUD counselor and mental health counselor in community mental health settings. David has also worked as a program director and clinical supervisor in both non-profit agencies and County Mental Health Organizations. David has worked at Oregon Health Authority since 2018 – initially in coordinating the Oregon Problem Gambling Treatment System, and most recently in developing the OHA Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment and Recovery system. In addition to his work at OHA, David maintains a small private practice where he works with individuals and couples, and provides post-graduate clinical supervision for Licensed Professional Counselor Associates. David lives with his spouse and youngest of their three children – and their four cats – in Lincoln City, Oregon.

Pricing

Workshop cost is subsidized by the Oregon Health Authority Problem Gambling Services (OHA PGS).

ACORN

is committed to excellence.

ACORN has been approved by the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) and the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) to provide continuing education courses. Additionally, ACORN has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7274. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACORN is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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