The Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors Association (ODAPCA) held its Spring 2015 conference April 8th and 9th at the National Center for Employment and Development (NCED) Hotel and Conference Center in Norman, Oklahoma. The theme for the conference was The Road Less Traveled, and was attended by more than 700 Drug and Alcohol Counselors, Prevention Specialists and Treatment Providers from throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states.
ODAPCA
ODAPCA serves as the membership and advocacy organization for Oklahoma Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC), Certified Prevention Specialists (CPS), and Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselors (LADC).
The organization seeks to be the one voice representing and advocating on behalf of addiction professionals throughout the state of Oklahoma. In keeping pace with the Drug and Alcohol profession, ODAPCA strives to better serve industry professionals; identifying new ways to address challenges while maintaining integrity and professionalism of its field.
ODAPCA was established with the vision of educating, assisting and maintaining the integrity of Oklahoma addiction professionals by means of evidence-based training, competency-based testing, and certifications and licensure which is nationally recognized.
Arrowhead's Public Relations Officer attended, accompanied by the Arrowhead Senior Director for Production and the Treatment Team Director. The conference was an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded Oklahoma organizations, and those attending from surrounding states.
The ODAPCA Spring Conference was also an opportunity for Oklahoma drug and alcohol professionals to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEU) needed to meet state certification and licensing requirements. This is an important aspect of the ODAPCA vision for drug and alcohol professionals in our state.
The Road Less Traveled Spring Conference
The Road Less Traveled Spring Conference brought together Oklahoma addiction specialists from throughout Oklahoma.
One of two featured speakers was Dr. Ken Winters, Ph.D., and professor in the University of Minnesota department of psychiatry. He also serves as director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, and is a Philadelphia, PA-based Treatment Research Institute senior scientist.
Also a featured conference speaker was Dennis C. Daley, Ph.D. and Professor of Psychiatry and Social Work. Dr. Daley served as Chief of Addiction Medicine Services (AMS) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC).
The Publics Relations Officer was fortunate to meet Ric Pierson, the Executive Director of ODAPCA; and to attend a number of excellent speaker presentations on drug and alcohol dependency-related issues.
Afternoon topics featured on the first day of the two-day conference included Increasing Positivity in Thinking, Emotions and Relationships, Benefits of Dog Therapy, Veterans Informed Care, Domestic Violence and Advanced Family Counseling.
Those of us in attendance were presented with a broad and insightful look at innovative ways to approach addiction recovery.
The morning of the second day of the spring conference featured keynote speaker Dr. Ken Winters discussing clinical skills in addressing adolescent substance abuse which co-exists with another condition.
Other sessions topics throughout the afternoon featured topics including Compassion Fatigue, Circle of Trust, Intimacy in Relationships, Transcendence in Therapy, What Counselors Need to Know, The 12-Steps in Layperson’s Terms, and Domestic Violence.
Coming together with our peers to learn new information and tools applicable to our field of drug and alcohol treatment was a very special opportunity for us all.
Naronon Arrowhead wants to extend its sincere appreciation and thanks to ODAPCA for hosting an innovative and highly-informative Spring 2015 conference. It was a pleasure to meet so many other professionals also in attendance.
It is exciting and rewarding to exchange ideas and visions for the future of Oklahoma addiction professionals.
