Group therapy is a popular setting for the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction. As a result, a counselor will often experience their first and major role as an addiction treatment provider facilitating group therapy. Often the skills needed to conduct a group session are not formally taught within the treatment environment. Rather, professionals will gain their knowledge through practice and experience only. In response, this course will provide basic group counseling skills that apply evidence-based research into real world practice. In particular, skills that address heterogeneous group populations (various stages of their recovery process, age, gender, cultural diversity, sexual orientations, substance use, dual diagnoses, socioeconomic status, education, and support systems) unique to substance abuse treatment will be provided.