Monthly Archives: January 2013

DUI is Not a Reason for Diagnosing Alcohol Use Disorder

DUIs to Be Excluded as Reason for Diagnosing an Alcohol Use Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association has decided to exclude a DUI or underage drinking from  the DSM-V, the official APA guide used for diagnosing alcohol problems. 
For many clients, a DUI is the reason that they enter (court-ordered) counseling. However, legal trouble has not been found to be significantly related to either alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence (Shmulewitz, Keyes, Beseler, Aharonovich, Aivadyan, Spivak, & Hasin, 2010).
Removing the legal trouble criterion will not affect diagnosing severe cases of Alcohol Use Disorders,  but it will reduce severity in some cases.
Removing the legal criterion may altogether eliminate some diagnosis (and stigma) of  an alcohol use disorder for individuals mandated to counseling due to a single alcohol-related incident (e.g., a DUI, a case of underage drinking or public drunkenness). 

Register for online classes at Tom Wilson Counseling Center
 

8 Hour Online Alcohol Drug Class $150
12 Hour Online Alcohol Drug Class $225
16 Hour Online Alcohol Drug Class $300
20 Hour Online Alcohol Drug Class $375
 24 Hour Online Alcohol Drug Class $450
 4 Hour Online Minor in Possession Class $75
24 Hour Online Drug Diversion Class $450
26 Hour Online Deferred Entry of Judgment Class $450

ALL classes developed and monitored by Tom Wilson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who is also a Certified Alcohol and Substance Prevention Specialist. Tom is the author of “Taming Anger and Aggression”, an anger management program which has been taught to hundreds of people at the counseling center over the last twelve years. He specializes in adapting evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for delivery through the web and other electronic media. 

Deferred Entry of Judgment Class to Suspend Criminal Prosecution for First Offenders

Court Procedures for Deferred Entry of Judgment in California

Under California Penal Code 1000 (PC 1000) the defendant must agree to have his or her case referred to the probation department to determine if they are eligible for the diversion program. If the probation department agrees that the offender is eligible, the judge will set a hearing after the referral to the probation department.

At the DEJ hearing the judge will determine eligibility for the diversion program. If found eligible by the judge, program requirements will be described to the defendant, including the program length and the consequences of not enrolling or completing the program.

In court, the defendant is advised that he or she must plead guilty to the charges, and pay a restitution fee of not less than $100 and not more that $1000.

The defendant is advised that they are responsible for treatment, education or rehabilitation costs, and also for reasonable probation fees and costs.

The defendant is advised that if he or she successfully completes the program, the criminal charges will be dismissed and the arrest for the charge(s) deemed to have never occurred.

However, if the defendant fails to enroll in the diversion program or fails to comply with or complete the program requirements, diversion will be terminated and criminal proceedings against the defendant will proceed.

ALL classes developed and monitored by Tom Wilson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who is also a Certified Alcohol and Substance Prevention Specialist. Tom is the author of “Taming Anger and Aggression”, an anger management program which has been taught to hundreds of people at the counseling center over the last twelve years. He specializes in adapting evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for delivery through the web and other electronic media. 

APA Says No to DUI as Symptom of Alcohol Abuse or Dependence.

DUIs to Be Excluded as Reason for Diagnosing an Alcohol Use Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association has decided to exclude a DUI or underage drinking from  the DSM-V, the official APA guide used  for diagnosing alcohol problems. 

For many clients, a DUI is the reason that they enter (court-ordered) counseling. However, legal trouble has not been found to be significantly related to either alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence (Shmulewitz, Keyes, Beseler, Aharonovich, Aivadyan, Spivak, & Hasin, 2010).

Removing the legal trouble criterion will not affect diagnosing severe cases of Alcohol Use Disorders,  but it will reduce severity in some cases.

Removing the legal criterion may altogether eliminate some diagnosis (and stigma) of  an alcohol use disorder for individuals mandated to counseling due to a single alcohol-related incident (e.g., a DUI, a case of underage drinking or public drunkenness).

Superbowl Fans Need Anger Management Skills

Football Fans need to keep their cool this Superbowl Sunday

Tom Wilson Counseling Center – Anger Management

If you are attending a Superbowl party this weekend that includes fans from both teams you might want to bone up on your Anger Management skills.  It is important to remember that this is a game for entertainment but the addition of rowdy participants and alcohol could cause some tempers to escalate.  Keep these facts in mind if you feel your level of anger rising.


Definition of Anger

Anger is seen as the emotional response to actual or imagined provocation or threat. In these pictures, the railroad tracks represent anger, while the train represents aggression, or the physical response to anger.

Purpose of Anger

Anger, when it is controlled can provide the energy needed to solve a problem, stand up for one’s rights and help overcome obstacles to goals that have been temporarily blocked. However, when anger leads to aggression, anger is being misused.

Definition of Aggression

Aggression in relationships is any behavior or action intended to harm, control, or dominate others. Although anger can lead to aggression, most people do not resort to physical or verbal aggression.

How is it Different?

Aggression differs from anger because of the severity, intensity and long-lasting nature of it’s consequences.

Are We Born Aggressive?

Aggression is learned socially. Most aggressive behaviors are learned early in life and passed on from one member of a family to another. Other times aggressive behaviors are learned in one’s environment or culture.

Instrumental or Planned Aggression

Aggression without anger can be seen as a desire to exert control over another person rather than as a need to express anger. Examples include robberies, gang violence, organized criminal activity, and terrorism. In intimate partner relationships, making threats of violence, destroying personal property, controlling social contacts and taking control of financial resources are examples of a need for control.

Types of Aggression – “All I did was push him/her out of my face”

Physical Aggression or abuse includes: Pushing, shoving, hitting, slapping, grabbing, restraining, blocking exit, using a weapon, spitting, bumping into, biting, unwanted sexual or other physical contact.

Psychological Aggression or abuse includes: Name-calling, criticizing, threatening to harm self or others, threatening with a weapon, making unwanted phone calls, going to a place where someone works against their wishes, unwanted contact, controlling contacts with friends, checking up on someone, showing up at a person’s residence against a court order, calling a person stupid or other put downs, using body language to intimidate or scare them.

Direct Aggression

Direct physical, psychological or verbal acts.

Indirect Aggression (Passive-Aggressive)

Indirectly expressing anger by forgetting an important date or event. Being late, making a sarcastic comment, playing practical jokes, intentional inefficiency or “dragging your feet.” Indirect aggression is often accompanied by resentment.

Reactive Aggression

Self defense is an example of becoming aggressive for self-preservation. In determining your level of defensive aggression, you must consider the risks and consequences of defensive aggression.

Rage Reactions

Some persons may have such poor control over their anger, that they “see red” and lose control over aggressive feelings, not remembering what triggered them. These persons may have brain functioning problems and do not plan their reactions at all. They may require medical treatment in addition to anger management counseling.

ALL classes developed and monitored by Tom Wilson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who is also a Certified Alcohol and Substance Prevention Specialist. Tom is the author of “Taming Anger and Aggression”, an anger management program which has been taught to hundreds of people at the counseling center over the last twelve years. He specializes in adapting evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for delivery through the web and other electronic media.

REGISTER FOR

8 Hour Online Anger Management Class $150.00
12 Hour Online Anger Management Class $225.00
16 Hour Online Anger Management Class $300.00
32 Hour Online Anger Management Class $600.00