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6 WEEK – Live course + 12 CEU’s + 6 BONUS consultation calls

Registration for October Cohort is Open!

Charting the Course

Taking the mystery out of navigating client substance use.

You want to help your clients move away from coping with substances, but you wish you were more knowledgeable in that area.

You became a therapist to help people heal and live more fulfilling lives. You learned everything you could in school, soaked up knowledge from colleagues, listened intently to clients and learned the art of being a therapist.

Over the years you’ve seen countless clients with a wide range of issues. You’ve learned how to work with all sorts of people and all of their different issues. You’ve taken training to learn new skills and approaches. You’ve read, you’ve listened and you’ve watched to help yourself grow as a therapist.

There’s one area where it’s been hard to find the answers you need, substance use. Your clients trust you, like talking with you and you don’t want to refer out. You’ve searched and perhaps gone to trainings, but haven’t found what you are looking for. You want to be able to work with client’s substance use in-house.

You wish you could find a way to learn how to treat substance use without going back for another license or learning a new modality. You know that there must be a way to help your clients without sending them away. You’re ready to dig into this area with your clients, now you just need the right information.

What would it be like
if you felt confident addressing substance use
without needing to specialize?

  • Imagine if you would know how to accurately assess your client’s use of substances
  • Imagine if you would be able to quickly determine what your client needed and what to do next
  • Imagine if you could use the skills you already have to address substance use
  • Imagine if you wouldn’t have to refer out to a different therapist and could build on the relationship you already have
  • Imagine if you could feel confident in your knowledge of substances and addiction
  • Imagine if you would know how substance use impacts mental health and progress in therapy
  • Imagine if you wouldn’t feel hesitant in asking your client about their substance use

I created the Charting the Course program to give you the information you need to feel confident and competent to effectively address your clients substance use no matter who comes your way.

betsy byler

Hi, I’m Betsy.

I’m here to help you gain confidence and competence
in working with substance use.

I’m a licensed therapist, substance use counselor, clinical supervisor and a person in long-term recovery from substance use. When I started in our field I felt confident in my grad school education and life experience. I figured that I knew most of what I needed to know about doing therapy.

In my first year as a therapist I learned quickly that I was missing a large chunk of information. I had clients who were using substances and I realized I had no idea what to do. I had found my way into my own recovery from substances, but I didn’t know how to translate that to my clients.

I spent the following few years learning everything I could from the substance use counselors I worked with. I went to training, I read articles and talked with my clinical supervisor. I was so thankful that I was able to catch up and learn what I needed to know!

When I became the clinical supervisor I committed to myself and to those who worked on our team that they would be able to feel confident and competent in this area. I saw therapists and interns be able to work more effectively with their clients.

I am passionate about the work we do and I believe we are uniquely suited to help clients with their mental health and their substance use. I’m so excited to bring this course to you so that you can bring more healing and freedom to your clients!

What Other Therapists Have Said

Check out what others have to say about working with me:

“Betsy has a way of infusing heart into everything she does, while at the same time being fiercely authentic. Her passion for substance abuse and mental health is unmatched. Having Betsy as a supervisor afforded me a glimpse into how to navigate the complex world of substance abuse and mental health. Working with substance abuse can be overwhelming because addiction isn’t rational and doesn’t always make sense. With Betsy’s guidance I developed more confidence and comfort in trusting my ability to treat both substance abuse and mental health. My time spent with Betsy was a privilege and I highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to take advantage of what she has to offer. ” Justin S. LICSW, LADC

“During my time working with Betsy, I have appreciated how easy she is to talk with.  She has a wealth of knowledge and experience, yet explains information in a way that is easy to understand and easy to apply to my clients.  I left our consultation with several ideas about how to move forward with clients and address concerns I was unsure how to handle.  Her experience, knowledge and the time she shares with you are worth so much!”

-Veronica G.L.  LICSW

When you join the Charting the Course Program, you’ll get:

  • Live 6-module course: With new lessons and downloadable resources each week. After the program ends all of it is yours for life!
  • Resource Vault: Students receive worksheets and handouts to help further expand on information and assist with integration into your current practice. Any future updates to these resources are yours to have.
  • Private Voxer Group: Students will have access to a private group using the chat app Voxer. This allows a container for asynchronus conversations amongst the cohort (myself included) about the course content during the program and the during the follow-up 6 months time period.
  • Next-day access to replays: Module replays are available the following day to allow for re-watching or catching up in case you have to miss a class.
  •  Limited space: Students in the cohort are limited to 10 people (max) in order to ensure that everyone has opportunities to be heard, ask questions and rest assured that you have my attention.

  • Monthly Group Consultation Calls: Monthly 60 minute group consultation calls for 6 months post-course to allow participants to ask about specific things and specific clients getting direct feedback from me.
Over the counter medications
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Effects of substance abuse

“Substance use has always felt like a gap in my training/education and an area that I have been hesitant to “dive” into when it comes to helping clients.This program gave me the confidence to better address substance use issues with my clients.  I feel like I have the knowledge and resources I need and an understanding of how my current skills can be transferable to helping with substance use issues. I totally got what I was looking out of the program!”

Hannah W. LICSW

Charting the Course Alumni

“Charting the Course was exactly what I needed to gain the info and skills I knew I needed for my practice but didn’t know where to go. Substance use in my clients is so common yet I didn’t feel prepared to even ask them about their use. Before Charting the Course I was nervous to even broach the topic with my clients and now I have the confidence and knowledge to do not only a thorough assessment and treatment plan but show up in the therapy room as the warm and compassionate therapist I strive to be. If you’re looking for a no BS approach that gives you crucial skills for addressing substance use with your clients, look no further. Betsy teaches what you need to know and doesn’t waste your time like so many other trainings.”

Sarah S. LMFT

Charting the Course Alumni

Effects of substance abuse

You might be wondering…

Do I have enough clients that struggle with substance use
that would warrant me taking this course?

beachcreek
This is an important question! Something I’ve found in my work is that whenever I added something to my skill set, I found more and more people who could use it or were experiencing something I hadn’t thought of.

For instance, the more we screened for trauma, the more we found people had trauma (even if they didn’t realize it). The more we ask about medical issues the more we find that people have some unmet medical needs. The same is true with substance use.

Substance use is normal and exists in every culture. Most adults have used a substance at some point in their life. There are stories and experiences there that would be helpful for us to know. This course will help you ask the right questions and encourage your clients to share more information with you.

Course Breakdown

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 1: All About Us

Evaluate your scope of practice and your own experiences with people using substances.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 2: Addiction 201

Deepen your knowledge beyond just the basics to help understand the cycle of addiction, the role of the brain and the impact on therapy.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 3: Popular Substances

Explore current substance and mental health trends to sharpen your knowledge and keep your practice relevant.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 4: The Assessment

Unlock key questions to ask your clients, discover what the answers mean, and identify potential roadblocks.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 5: The Plan

Examine levels of care, plan next steps for your client and determine how and when you will be involved.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 6: Putting it all Together

Integrate course information with your current skill set and theoretical approach so you can work with clients without having to specialize or learn a new modality!

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 1:
All About Us

Evaluate your scope of practice and your own experiences with people using substances.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 2:
Addiction 201

Deepen your knowledge beyond just the basics to help understand the cycle of addiction, the role of the brain and the impact on therapy.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 3:
Popular Substances

Explore current substance and mental health trends to sharpen your knowledge and keep your practice relevant.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 4:
The Assessment

Unlock key questions to ask your clients, discover what the answers mean, and identify potential roadblocks.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 5:
The Plan

Examine levels of care, plan next steps for your client and determine how and when you will be involved.

Holistic Health Nurse

MODULE 6:
Putting it all Together

Integrate course information with your current skill set and theoretical approach so you can work with clients without having to specialize or learn a new modality!

This is the information you need to feel confident and competent in helping your client assess their substance use and move towards the life they want.

You can have the tools to accurately assess your clients’ use of substances and confidently plan the next steps for treatment. You can work a high majority of substance use issues in-house and you will know when your client needs a higher level of care. I am here to support you as you begin to integrate this into your existing practice.

By participating in the Charting the Course program you will understand how to ask about your client’s use and interpret their answers. You will be able to determine if there is an urgent issue and what next steps you need to take. You will be able to use your existing skills to do the work your clients need without learning a new modality. As a result  your clients will be able to find more freedom in their lives. 

You already have the skills you need to address your client’s substance use. All you have been missing is information and some guidance. In this course you will get the missing pieces, feel competent and confident in this area. Join us for the next group!

Purchase Options
Diagnosis Can Be Healing

Pay In Full

One Time Payment of $997 USD

$997 USD

You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.

Diagnosis Can Be Healing

2 Installment Plan

2 Auto-Charged Payments of $498.50 USD
Payments made at the time of registration and one month afterwards.

2 payments of
$498.50 USD

You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours,

Diagnosis Can Be Healing

Pay In Full

One Time Payment of $997 USD

$ 997 USD

You will receive a confirmation
email within 24 hours.

Diagnosis Can Be Healing

2 Installment Plan

2 Auto-Charged Payments
of $498.50 USD
Payments made at the time
of registration and
one month afterwards.

2 payments of
$ 498.50 USD

You will receive a confirmation
email within 24 hours.

From the Therapists’ Desks

More thoughts from clinicians I’ve worked with:

“Betsy has a way of making complex concepts related to trauma, substance abuse, and mental health issues extremely approachable.  I have enjoyed learning from her about substance abuse issues since my background is in mental health and trauma work.  She makes the learning enjoyable while also helping me to apply these concepts to my work with clients.  I cannot recommend her highly enough.”  -Aaron P. LICSW

“Betsy is passionate about  behavioral health and substance use recovery. She has a way to look at both of these elements, which are crucial for successful recovery. She helps therapists reach their potential by challenging, educating and helping them build confidence  through practical application of theory and problem solving skills. I am truly grateful for having had the opportunity to work and grow with this wonderful woman.” -Rae-Jean B. CSAC

“Betsy has an easy and non-judgmental way of explaining substance use, addiction, and correlation with mental health symptoms/diagnoses.  She was able to give me real life examples to help me clearly understand and apply concepts to my practice.  I have always been able to utilize Betsy and her knowledge as a resource in the areas of addiction and mental health.  Her warm and open demeanor makes me very comfortable in asking questions and consulting on specific cases.”  -Kathryn E. LPCC

FAQs
What if some of my clients have substance use that is too much for outpatient therapy?

This is very likely! Once it’s routine that you ask about substance use, you may find that someone’s use is much bigger than it originally seemed. There is definitely a limit to what we can do in therapy. This course will help you evaluate your client’s use and decide what next steps should be. You will learn about levels of care and how to determine what a client needs.

You will have the chance to stay connected to your client as they transition to more specialized treatment. It is likely that you would be able to collaborate with the treatment providers and focus on mental health support while treatment occurs.

In my experience, clients appreciate this so much! They are often fearful and hesitant about seeing another provider. It helps ease their fears if you can help them transition.

When are the module calls held?

Weekly calls take place on Tuesday nights at 6pm CST to 8pm CST. Calls are held via Zoom. I have found that Zoom is the most stable platform overall (especially for those with less-than-stellar internet connectivity). I find that two hours is a good amount of time to have a meaningful discussion and module coverage.

The next cohort begins on October 3, 2023 (Registration opens September 2023)

The dates are as follows:

October 3rd
October 10th
October 17th
October 24th
Break for Halloween
November 7th
November 14th

What can I expect on a course module call?

Each week we’re going to start the next module that will always build on the previous week’s information. There is always time for questions and clarifications. I want our time together to be interactive as well as informative. We will do some practical work together and talk about case examples from real clinical experiences so that we can see how the information plays out our practices.

What is Voxer?

Voxer is a free walkie-talkie app and also works in the browser/on desktop. You can leave voice messages or text messages. You can leave messages in our cohort group so that other members can see or if its something youi’d rather discuss privately you can private message me. 

The message response time is similar to how we all use texting and messaging apps. I will answer within 2 days at most. If you have further questions that need a call we can talk about what that would look like in terms of consultation time. 

Voxer turned out to be a great addition to programs I’ve participated in as it helps connect me and my group members outside of the official calls. 

What is the resource vault?

The Resource Vault is where I put worksheets and other videos that I have created. As I add resources in the future, you will find them in the Vault. For instance, I’m creating a Recovery Plan worksheet to use with clients and that will go into the resource vault for Charting the Course students even though others will need to purchase it. 

What if I have to miss a session?

Even with planning, things come up for all of us! Sometimes self-care might mean you need to miss a class. That’s why replays are available in our virtual course room the following day and you have lifetime access to the module recordings.

Are there Continuing Education Units (CEU’s)?

Charting the Course is approved for 12 hours of continuing education credits. The approval is approved by the MN Board of Social Work (MSW), the MN Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (LPC/LPCC) and the MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Most states will accept the approval from another state board. Be sure to check your state and board statutes. You will receive a certificate of completion with clock hours of training. 

What if I don’t feel like I need the group consultation calls?

The group consultation calls are available for all, but not required. The reason I included these calls is that after we attend a training it can be hard to integrate information into our practice right away. I truly want to help you add this information into your practice and believe that giving a chance for clinicians to ask questions about real people is one of the best ways to be sure the information stays fresh and useable.

Will I have to talk, do a role-play or be assigned to a small group?

No. An emphatic no. I modeled this program to be something I would want to attend and I’ve had mixed experiences with things like small groups and role-playing. That said, I want to hear your questions and comments. After all, you are the reason I created this course! Additionally, in order to facilitate a great learning environment I have limited the size of the group to make sure that you have the opportunity to ask about real-life issues from your practice and to hear from the other clinicians in our group.

What is your refund policy?

I truly want people to participate in this course because they feel the need and want the information. I am not interested in just getting seats filled, I want it to be a good fit.

If after week 1 you decide this course isn’t for you, you can email and ask to be removed from the class. I will prorate your class fee so you only pay for what you attended. Please note this needs to be done before week 2 begins. After week 2, no refunds can be given. 

I want to help you make sure this is the right investment for you! Send me an email at betsy@betsybyler.com to ask me anything about Charting the Course. I’ll give you my honest, zero-obligation opinion on whether or not this program is a good fit for you. You’ll never be pushed to buy something you don’t want or that won’t work for your practice

Feel competent and confident
to address any substance use that comes your way.
When you have finished the program you will come away with a solid plan for how you can assess your clients’ substance use with specific questions and worksheets. You’ll also be able to determine if a person needs a higher level of care by using the American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria for assessing level of treatment need. 

With clients who are appropriate for outpatient therapy you’ll know how substance use and specific substances impact mental health and brain function. This has huge implications for clients’ progress in therapy and informs the way we work with people. Finding the information you need for substance work is daunting! I do the work for you and give you what you need to know.

Your clients came to you and want to stay with you. Now you can keep working with them and in most cases won’t need to refer out. After all, the relationship they build with us is a big part of why people benefit from therapy.

Look no further, this is the comprehensive course for therapists, taught by a therapist.