Stefán worked for years with IC&RC president Jeff Wilbee at helping IC&RC to become an active international certification board. They travelled together to Stockholm for the 100 years anniversary of The International Counsel of Alcohol and Addiction (ICAA), which has a great deal of influence around the globe. Stefan was also responsible for IC&RC connecting with the United Kingdom European Symposium on Addictive Disorders (UKESAD).
We are all a part of a European community and can freely move between countries and work in different places. Therefore, it is helpful to set up a system enabling us to communicate and cooperate.
Eight European countries have already decided to become members of the European Certification Board. The larger our community becomes, the stronger it will be. We need professional people to solve dire needs within our communities and we need to ensure professionalism, skills, and competence.
We need the Diploma from the European Certification Board to be acknowledged as a fulfilment of educational requirement. We need to agree on the requirements involved in obtaining this Diploma, which should be the same in all the participating countries. We also need to be able to support working counselors all over Europe as our abilities increase with time, preferably by offering them continuous training and workshops. By combining our efforts, we will all be stronger.
Members of the European Certification Board are listed below. Three board members comprise an executive board, which handles day-to-day issues, whereas the board as a whole handles policy issues and the direction of the work. The executive board is now comprised of the following board members: Stefán Jóhannsson, director, Sigurlína Davíðsdóttir, secretary, and Árni Einarsson, treasurer.
The European Certification Board was set up for threefold purposes:
Those having been certified by the ECB are required to renew their certification every two years in order to show that they have been active in their profession and have acquired new knowledge. This is done to ensure that the knowledge and skills of counselors, prevention specialists and clinical supervisors is always recent and that new informations is readily acquired.
ECB goals:
ECB will support the public good by offering certification which is supported in as many participating countries as possible, as well as testing for professionals in prevention, treatment and clinical supervision.
Examinations from the schools below have already been approved by ECB. Other schools from European countries are welcome to apply for approval.
Education and work experience are defined under the heading of Certification.
blokkirRequirements for certification by the European Certification Board:
Requirements for certification of ECADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor):
Work experience: 6.000 hours of supervised work experience specific to alcoholic and other drug treatment. University degrees in behavioral science substitute hours: Bachelor 2.000 hours, Masters 4.000 hours
Education: 270 hours, (150 from schools approved by ECB), at least 6 of those for counselor ethics.
Supervision: 300 hours specific to 12 core domains, 10 minimum for each domain
Examination: Pass the relevant tests, approved by ECB
Code of ethics: Sign an ethics statement
Recertification: 40 hours of continuing education every two years
Requirements for certification of ECFAC (Food Addiction Counselor):
Work experience: 6.000 hours of supervised work experience specific to food addiction treatment. University degrees in behavioral science substitute hours: Bachelor 2.000 hours, Masters 4.000 hours
Education: 270 hours, (150 from schools approved by ECB), at least 6 of those for counselor ethics.
Supervision: 300 hours specific to 12 core domains, 10 minimum for each domain
Examination: Pass the relevant tests, approved by ECB
Code of ethics: Sign an ethics statement
Recertification: 40 hours of continuing education every two years
Requirements for certification of ECPS (Prevention Specialists):
Work experience: 2.000 hours of prevention work experience
Education: 100 hours of prevention specific education, of those, minimum 6 in ethics
Supervision: 120 hours specfic to the 12 core domains, 10 min for each
Examination: Pass the relevant test
Code of ethics: Sign an ethics statement
Recertification: 40 hours of continuing education every two years
Requirements for certification of ECCS (Clinical supervisors):
Prerequisite: Certification of ECADC, ECFAC or ECPS
Work experience: 10.000 hours of relevant work experience, plus 4000 hours of supervising experience, which may be included in the 10.000 hrs. University degrees substitute: Bachelor 2.000 hours, Masters 4.000 hours.
Education: 30 hours specific to the first five domains 4 minimum for each
Examination: Pass the relevant test, approved by ECB
Code of ethics: Sign an ethics statement
Recertification: 6 hours of continuing education every two years. May be part of recertification for other certifications.
Other training, education and certification to be evaluated for ECB certification
IC&RC certification will be honored for all ECB certication
Those certified by the European Certification Board are professional alcoholism and drug abuse counselors, food addiction counselors, and prevention specialists who, as responsible health-care professionals, believe in the dignity and worth of human beings. In the practice of their profession they assert that the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and justice must guide their professional and societal expectations, obligations and conduct. As professionals dedicated to the treatment of chemically dependent and food addicted clients and their families, they believe that they can effectively treat its individual and familial manifestations. Alcoholism and drug abuse counselors, prevention specialists, and food addiction counselors dedicate themselves to the promotion of the best interests of their society, their clients, their profession and their colleagues.
Principle 1: Nondiscrimination. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must not discriminate against clients or professionals based on race, religion, age, sex, handicaps, national origin, sexual orientation or economic condition.
Principle 2: Responsibility. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist and the food addiction counselor must espouse objectivity and integrity, and maintain the highest standards in the services the counselor offers.
Principle 3: Competence. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must recognize that the profession is founded on national standards of competency which promote the best interests of society, the client, the counselor and the profession as a whole. The counselor must recognize the need for ongoing education as a component of professional competency.
Principle 4: Legal Standards and Moral Standards. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must uphold the legal and accepted moral codes which pertain to professional conduct, legal and accepted moral codes of our society.
Principle 5: Public Statements. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must respect the limits of present knowledge in public statements concerning alcoholism and other forms of drug addiction and food addiction.
Principle 6: Publication Credit. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must assign credit to all who have contributed to the published material and for the work upon which the publication is based.
Principle 7: Client Welfare. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must respect the integrity and protect the welfare of the person or group with whom the counselor is working.
Principle 8: Confidentiality. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselo, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must embrace, as a primary obligation, the duty of protecting the privacy of clients and must not disclose confidential information acquired in teaching, practice or investigation.
The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must use clinical and other material in classroom teaching and writing only when the identity of the persons involved is adequately disguised.
Principle 9: Client Relationships. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must inform the prospective client of the important aspects of the potential relationship.
Principle 10: Interprofessional Relationships. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must treat colleagues with respect, courtesy and fairness, and must afford the same professional courtesy to other professionals.
Principle 11: Remuneration. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must establish financial arrangements in professional practice and in accord with the professional standards that safeguard the best interests of the client, of the counselor and of the profession.
Principle 12: Societal Obligations. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, the prevention specialist, and the food addiction counselor must advocate changes in public policy and legislation to afford opportunity and choice for all persons whose lives are impaired by the disease of alcoholism and other forms of drug addiction and food addiction. The counselors must inform the public through active civic and professional participation in community affairs of the effects of alcoholism and drug abuse addiction and food addiction and must act to guarantee that all persons, especially the needy and disadvantaged, have access to the necessary resources and services. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor and the food addiction counselor must adopt a personal and professional stance which promotes the well-being of all human beings.
I have read, understand and commit to the preceding Ethical Standards.
Signature________________________________________ Date___________________
Dr. Claudia Black held a seminar in Reykjavik, Iceland, in January 2019, in cooperation with the European Certification Board. The seminar content was centered on her book, Unspoken Legacy: Addressing the Impact of Trauma and Addiction within the Family, which has recently been translated into Icelandic and was available at the seminar. Claudia was enthusiastically received by the Icelandic audience and every seat was filled.
In September 2011 Dr. David Powell held a seminar in Reykjavik, Iceland, on clinical supervision, in connection with one of the ECB approved schools, School of Addiction Studies. Powell has written several books on the subject and is well known in the field. The seminar was well attended and received. David Powell passed away in 2013, only 68 years old.
Need pictures of Stephen Andrews, Phyllis Gardner and Craig Nakken if available
Members of the European Certification Board are listed below. Three board
members comprise an executive board, which handles day-to-day issues, whereas
the board as a whole handles policy issues and the direction of the work. The
executive board is now comprised of the following board members: Stefán
Jóhannsson, director, Sigurlína Davíðsdóttir, secretary, and Árni Einarsson,
treasurer.
Board members:
Stefán Jóhannsson, M.A.
Sigurlína Davíðsdóttir, Ph.D.
Árni Einarsson. M.A.
Tentative consultants:
Guttorn Toverud, Ph.D., Norway/Sweden
Kjetil Vesteraas, M.A., Norway
Phyllis Abel Gardner Deal, Ph.D., U.S.A, former president of IC&RC
Emilis Subata, Ph.D., Lithuania
Nijolė Goštautaitė-Midttun, Ph.D., Lithuania
Kjetil Vesteraas, M.A
Gabor Kelemen, Ph.D., Hungary
Richard M. E. Mulller, M.D., Luxembourg
Ewa Osyatinska, Ph.D., Poland
Árni Einarsson, MA
ECPS and ECCS
Árni is born in
Sigurlína Davíðsdóttir, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, ECADC, ECPS, ECCS
Sigurlína was born in
Stefán Jóhannsson, MA
CEAP, ECADC, ECPS, ECCS
Stefán was born in
Árni Einarsson,
MA ECPS and ECCS
Árni is born in 1955 and has a master degree in education and pedagogy from the University of Iceland (Faculty of Social Sciences); studied also as an exchange student at the University of Guelph in Canada. He has attended various courses in pedagogy, education and prevention and participated in numerous national, Nordic and international conferences and seminars on youth, pedagogy, prevention and alcohol and drug problems. Árni is certified as Prevention Specialist and Clinical Supervisor by the European Certification Board. Árni has an extensive experience working with NGO‘s at local, national and international level for over 40 years as a board member or project leader. At the NGO level his main subjects have been within education, sports and youth work, parent‘s cooperation and alcohol and drug prevention. Also a former elementary school teacher and principal and guest lecturer at secondary school and university level for many years. Prevention project leader in the Ministry of Health and Social Security 1989. As member of various political committees in his local municipality 1998-2018 and a (elected) member of his local town council 2002-2018 he has been involved in all traditional, political and statutory issues of municipalities during that time. Árni has been Managing Director of Fræðsla og forvarnir-FRAE (Information Center on Alcohol and Drug Prevention) since 1993.
SigurlínaDavíðsdóttir, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, ECADC, ECPS, ECCS
Sigurlína was born in 1942 and has a Master’s and a doctoral degree in social psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Her bachelor´s degree in psychology was from the University of Iceland. She went to Chicago as a Fulbright grant recipient. Sigurlína is certified as an Alcoholic and other Drug Counselor, a Prevention Specialist, and a Clinical Supervisor, by the European Certification Board.
Sigurlína is one of the founders of the Krýsuvík Association, which operates the Krýsuvík Treatment Center. Treatment at this center is intensive and takes six months at least. Their clients are mainly relapsers who have tried other treatment options without success, and decide to take their condition seriously enough to spend this time in rehabilitation. This association was founded in 1986, and Sigurlína has been chairperson for the board for most of that time, except for her stay in Chicago.
Sigurlína started working for the University of Iceland in the department of Education after graduation from Loyola, as a Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and a Professor, respectively. She is now retired and works independently. She has a long experience as an alcoholic counselor, a prevention specialist, and a clinical supervisor as well.
Her research has had three main foci: (a) program evaluation; (b) health issues; and (c) alcoholism and rehabilitation from alcoholism.
Stefán Jóhannsson, MA
CEAP, ECADC, ECPS, ECCS
Stefán was born in 1935 and has a Master’s degree in Addiction Treatment from the University of Minnesota / Hazelden Foundation, and in Family Therapy from the University of America. He has attended various courses in addictions and family treatment. Stefán has conducted training and seminars in European countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Iceland, as well as in USA. He has received the Order of Merit from the president of Poland, he is President Emeritus from Florida School of Addiction Studies and he has received special recognition for international work from IC&RC. Stefán is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional and is certified by the European Certification Board as Alcohol and other Drug Counselor, Prevention Specialist and Clinical Supervisor.
Stefán is the founder and president from 1984 to 1996 of Cornerstone Institute Orlando Florida Outpatient Treatment Clinic for Addictions and Family Treatments.
Stefán has worked extensively for the last 40 years in program planning and staff training in various countries as well as in Iceland.
Stefán is currently working in private and consulting practice in Iceland.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
