Recognizing and Responding to Behavioral Addictions

Description

Behavioral addictions are rising at an alarming rate—and many go undetected in clinical settings. When overlooked, these addictions can sabotage therapeutic progress, no matter how skilled the provider.

Even the most experienced clinicians may feel underprepared to assess and address these complex, often hidden behaviors. This course provides the essential knowledge and tools needed to recognize behavioral addictions and respond effectively—transforming uncertainty into confidence and helping clients find real relief.

Amanda L. Giordano, PhD, LPC is an associate professor at the University of Georgia and one of the foremost experts on behavioral addictions. A nationally recognized educator and researcher, Dr. Giordano is the author of A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions and co-author of Addiction Counseling: A Practical Approach. With more than 120 presentations and 55 scholarly publications, she brings both research rigor and clinical insight to this timely course.

Dr. Giordano’s teaching style is clear, compassionate, and deeply informed by both neuroscience and evidence-based counseling practices. Her approach empowers clinicians to detect behavioral addictions early, conceptualize them accurately, and intervene using a public health framework.

This course explores how behavioral addictions are defined and identified, including how they differ from high involvement or enthusiasm in a behavior. Participants will learn to apply a public health model to conceptualize addictions and discover the powerful neurobiological mechanisms behind compulsive behaviors. Topics include trauma, reward circuitry, supernormal stimuli, and emotion regulation—along with tools for screening and intervention.

Key Takeaways:

• Conceptual Clarity: Understand the evolving definition of addiction and distinguish behavioral addiction from non-compulsive behavior.

• Clinical Confidence: Learn how to recognize and assess behavioral addictions using the Four Cs and other validated tools.

• Neuroscience-Informed Practice: Gain a deeper understanding of the brain-based mechanisms behind behavioral addictions and their public health implications.

Why This Course?

• Research-Based & Practical: Grounded in neuroscience and counseling practice, this course bridges the gap between theory and clinical utility.

• Expert-Led: Taught by Dr. Amanda Giordano, a leading authority in the field of behavioral addictions and addictions counseling education.

• Mission-Driven: Offered by the Telehealth Certification Institute, whose mission is to empower clinicians with exceptional education that elevates the standard of care.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the evolving definition of addiction and conceptualize behavioral addictions using a public health model.

• Explain the criteria for behavioral addictions and how to differentiate between high involvement in a behavior and a behavioral addiction.

• Synthesize current research and relevant neuroscience related to the prevalence and nature of behavioral addictions.

Behavioral addictions are often hidden in plain sight—and clinicians who know how to recognize and treat them are invaluable. If you're ready to strengthen your clinical insight and support clients more effectively, this course provides the knowledge and strategies to help you do just that.

Enroll now to develop your skills, boost your confidence, and enhance your impact as a behavioral health professional.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course that consists of 90+ minutes of video instruction, a post-test and a course evaluation.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 1.5 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits, effective 2/20/2024. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 90 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement