Overview

Are you concerned about someone who is struggling with substances?

You can be an agent of change for your loved one and yourself. The Invitation to Change Approach® draws on our decades of clinical and research experience, as well as hundreds of hours spent talking with and training families.

In self-paced lessons, this course will share actionable steps you can take to better understand the relationship your loved one has with substances, discuss how they could change this relationship, and keep yourself sane in the process.

  • Learn on your schedule - complete lessons at your own pace.
  • Supplement your learning with exercises, video lectures, and practice quizzes.
  • Begin your journey with the Invitation to Change Approach® - Learn more about this approach here.

Pricing Options

All proceeds from this course directly support CMC: Foundation for Change as we continue to share the evidence-based methods that have been transformative for so many.

We welcome you to start this course by picking the price option that works best for you. Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated.

To access the course for free, enter the code ‘cmcffc’ at checkout.

Objectives

  • Build a Foundation

    In each lesson, we will share with you a new concept from the Invitation to Change Approach®. Learn the fundamentals of understanding, action, and awareness.

  • Practice New Skills

    After understanding comes action. Change takes practice! We will encourage you to find ways to bring our tools and concepts into your daily life.

  • Explore the Process of Change

    Open up discussions with your loved one and discover what the process of change looks like for you both.

  • Set Up Healthy Boundaries

    As part of this process, you will begin to set and maintain boundaries that prioritize self-care and promote a healthy relationship with your loved one.

  • Become a Change-Maker

    We hope you will begin to appreciate your impact as a ‘helper of change.’Our goal is to help you utilize your full potential as a powerful part of your loved one’s growth!

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction to The Invitation to Change Approach

  • 2

    Behaviors Make Sense

    • Overview: What is "Behaviors Make Sense"?

    • Presentation: A New Way to Understand Behaviors

    • Testimonial: Jaime's Story
  • 3

    Behaviors Make Sense - Exercises & Review

    • Exercise: When I Know There is a Reason

    • Review
  • 4

    One Size Doesn’t Fit All

    • Overview

    • Presentation: There Are Many Paths to Change

    • Testimonial: Collin's Experience
  • 5

    Ambivalence is Normal

    • Overview

    • Presentation: "I'm Not So Sure About That"

    • Testimonial: Jaime's Experience
  • 6

    Self-Awareness

    • Overview

    • Testimonial: Collin's Experience
  • 7

    Self-Compassion

    • Introduction - Listening

    • Testimonial: Rhonda's Story
  • 8

    Willingness and Meaning

    • Overview

    • Testimonial: Rhonda

    • Testimonial: Jamie
  • 9

    Communication Tools

    • Overview

    • Testimonial: Jaime
  • 10

    Behavior Tools

    • Introduction - Listening

    • Testimonial: Collin

Instructors

Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director

Carrie Wilkens, PhD

Carrie Wilkens, PhD, is the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of CMC:Foundation for Change, as well as the Center for Motivation and Change in NYC and in the Berkshires. She co-authored an award-winning book, Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change with Drs. Foote and Kosanke. Together they also contributed to a user-friendly workbook for parents: The 20 Minute Guide: A Guide for Parents about How to Help their Child Change their Substance Use. Prior to these ventures, Dr. Wilkens was the Project Director on a large federally-funded Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant examining the effectiveness of motivational interventions in addressing the problems associated with binge drinking among college students.

Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director

Jeff Foote, PhD

Jeff Foote, PhD, is the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of CMC:Foundation for Change, as well as the Center for Motivation and Change in NYC and in the Berkshires. Dr. Foote is a nationally recognized clinical research scientist who has received federal grant funding for his work on motivational treatment approaches and substance abuse treatment research, focused on the implementation of evidence-based treatments. Before co-founding CMC and CMC:FFC, Dr. Foote was the Deputy Director of the Division of Alcohol Treatment and Research at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in NYC, as well as Senior Research Associate at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) in NYC. Dr. Foote also served as Chief of the Smithers Addiction Treatment and Research Center as well as Director of Evaluation and Research between 1994 and 2001.

More classes, videos, and workshops are in development!

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