TAP21 8 Practice Domains and 12 Core Functions and Competencies of Addiction Counseling

The City Vision University Addiction Counseling program offers a full range of instruction on the skills necessary to succeed as a licensed addiction counselor.

These skills are defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in a publication often known as TAP 21. This is a Technical Assistance Publication entitled Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice, which can be downloaded from https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma12-4171.pdf.

After you have receive a BS or a certificate in Addiction Counseling from City Vision University, you will still need to follow the steps necessary to get licensed by your state’s accreditation board. Most states require at least 180 hours of training (the equivalent of 2 courses) to satisfy the instructional requirement for licensure; typically you will simply need to supply a transcript of completed coursework, and, at most, the syllabi of the courses which you took.

City Vision has collected resources for you on how to become a certified addiction counselor in your state.  Send an email to info@cityvision.edu if you need assistance with this process.

Note that if you have already completed an initial course of study in addiction counseling, any of the courses listed below should count as 45 CEUs (continuing education credits), since each provides 3 academic credits. Most states require 40 CEUs every two years, though some require the ethics course in person.

TAP21 outlines Eight Areas of Competency and Twelve Core Functions for the addiction counselor, which are briefly defined here. The following lists show how these correspond to the courses offered by City Vision University, and should be of assistance in documenting your learning to accrediting bodies. Click on the name of each course to read its description, and see which of the core functions are covered each in each of the 8 weeks of instruction. The following chart shows how the Eight Practice Domains and Twelve Core Functions relate.

Eight Practice Domains Twelve Core Functions
1. Clinical Evaluation 1. Screening
2. Intake
3. Orientation
4. Assessment
2. Treatment Planning 5. Treatment Planning
3. Referral 10. Referral
4. Service Coordination/Case Management 7. Case Management
5. Counseling 6. Counseling
8. Crisis Intervention
6. Client, Family, and Community Education 9. Client Education
7. Documentation 11. Reports and Record Keeping
8. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities  

Skip to Twelve Core Functions

How City Vision Courses Prepare You for the Eight Practice Domains

1. Clinical Evaluation (Screening, Assessment)
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
411 – Spirituality and Addiction
412 – Counseling Foundations
413 – Drugs of Abuse
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
2. Treatment Planning
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
420 – Addiction Counseling Practicum
 
3. Referral
 
404 – Case Management
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
4. Service Coordination (Implementing the Treatment Plan, Consulting, Continuing
Assessment and Treatment Planning)
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
 
5. Counseling
 
Individual Counseling
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
411 – Spirituality and Addiction
412 – Counseling Foundations
413 – Drugs of Abuse
414 – Counseling Alcoholics
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
416 – Mental Illness and Addiction
 
Group Counseling
417 – Group Counseling Practices
 
Counseling for Families, Couples, and Significant Others
419 – Family Issues and Recovery
 
6. Client, Family, and Community Education
 
401 – Counseling in Urban and Multicultural Environments
402 – Curriculum Development for Recovery and Ministry
416 – Mental Illness and Addiction
418 – Sexual Issues in Addiction
419 – Family Issues and Recovery
420 – Addiction Counseling Practicum
 
7. Documentation
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
8. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
 
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices

Twelve Core Functions

I. Screening: The process by which the client is determined appropriate and eligible for admission to a particular program.

306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
413 – Drugs of Abuse
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
II. Intake: The administrative and initial assessment procedures for admission to a program.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
III. Orientation: Describing to the client the following: general nature and goals of the program;
rules governing client conduct and infractions that can lead to disciplinary action or discharge
from the program; in a non-residential program, the hours during which services are available;
treatment costs to be borne by the client, if any; and client rights.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
 
IV. Assessment: The procedures by which a counselor/program identifies and evaluates an
individual’s strengths, weaknesses, problems and needs for the development of a treatment
plan.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
 
V. Treatment Planning: Process by which the counselor and the client identify and rank problems
needing resolution; establish agreed upon immediate and long-term goals; and decide upon a
treatment process and the resources to be utilized.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
411 – Spirituality and Addiction
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
VI. Counseling: (Individual, Group, and Significant Others): The utilization of special skills to assist
individuals, families or groups in achieving objectives through exploration of a problem and its
ramifications; examination of attitudes and feelings; consideration of alternative solutions; and
decision-making.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
411 – Spirituality and Addiction
412 – Counseling Foundations
413 – Drugs of Abuse
414 – Counseling Alcoholics
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
416 – Mental Illness and Addiction
417 – Group Counseling Practices
418 – Sexual Issues in Addiction
419 – Family Issues and Recovery
 
VII. Case Management: Activities which bring services, agencies, resource, or people together within
a planned framework of action toward the achievement of established goals.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
 
VIII. Crisis Intervention: Those services which respond to an alcohol and/or other drug abuser’s
needs during acute emotional and/or physical distress.
 
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
416 – Mental Illness and Addiction
 
IX. Client Education: Provision of information to individuals and groups concerning alcohol and
other drug abuse and the available services and resources.
 
402 – Curriculum Development for Recovery and Ministry
401 – Counseling in Urban and Multicultural Environments
411 – Spirituality and Addiction
412 – Counseling Foundations
413 – Drugs of Abuse
414 – Counseling Alcoholics
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
416 – Mental Illness and Addiction
417 – Group Counseling Practices
418 – Sexual Issues in Addiction
419 – Family Issues and Recovery
 
X. Referral: Identifying the needs of a client that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and
assisting the client to utilize the support systems and community resources available.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
XI. Report and Record Keeping: Charting the results of the assessment and treatment plan, writing
reports, progress notes, discharge summaries and other client-related data.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
415 – Professional Counseling Practices
 
XII. Consultation With Other Professionals in Regard to Client Treatment/Services: Relating with
in-house staff or outside professionals to assure comprehensive, quality care for the client.
 
306 – Managing Residential Recovery Programs
404 – Case Management
411 – Spirituality and Addiction
412 – Counseling Foundations
415 – Professional Counseling Practices