Clinical Topics & Methods Category

Brain, Body, and Recovery from Addiction

The neuroscience underlying addictions

5 CE Hours
90 members have taken this course

This course has been retired. We regularly update our course catalog to ensure relevance.

Try these categories:

About the Course

Please note that this course focuses on the neuroscience of addiction. We all seek out pleasure and avoid discomfort. However, for some people these basic tendencies can warp into an addiction. This new webinar reveals how this happens by explaining how recent developments in neuroscience and psychology can expand addiction treatment. It begins by explaining how addiction hijacks the pleasure and motivational systems in the brain. When addictions do develop, what was once experienced as pleasure degrades into displeasure and motivation to engage in the world degrades into dysphoria and apathy. Meanwhile addictions cause and are caused by anxiety and depression. In the past, seminars on psychotherapy generally stay clear of addressing chemical dependency, while addiction seminars defer to mental health providers for insights into people with “psychiatric” disorders. Integrated psychotherapy goes well beyond the one-dimensional conceptual frames of “dual diagnosis” and “co-occurring disorders.” By understanding the neuroscience underlying addictions, therapists can more effectively help clients revitalize their bodies and brains to overcome addictions.

The webinar reveals the common denominators of approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, Relapse Prevention, and 12 Step Programs. Also, this webinar will describe the international movement that originated in Iceland and now adopted by 21 countries. This approach has expanded the bio-psycho-social interventions of the past and is increasingly looked upon as a model to adopt cross-culturally.

This course is based on the recorded webinar, Brain, Body, and Recovery from Addiction created by John Arden, PhD, ABPP in 2022.

Publication Details

Publication Date: 1st Edition Aug 2022

Course Material Author

John Arden, PhD, ABPP

John Arden, PhD, ABPP, is the author of 15 books, including his most recent, Mind-Brain-Gene: Toward Psychotherapy Integration. Brain2Brain, The Brain Bible, as well as Rewire Your Brain, and Brain-Based Therapy with Adults and Brain-Based Therapy with Children and Adolescents. He previously served as Director of Training in Mental Health for Kaiser Permanente in the Northern California region. He oversees the training programs in 24 medical centers where over 150 postdoctoral residents and interns are trained each year. He has presented seminars and workshops in over 30 countries and in all US States. He also has written books on anxiety, OCD and PTSD as well Improving Your Memory for Dummies; Consciousness, Dreams, and Self: A Transdisciplinary Approach (winner of the Choice 1997 Outstanding Academic Book Award); and Science, Theology, and Consciousness.

John Arden, PhD, ABPP authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Course Creator

John Arden, PhD, ABPP

John Arden, PhD, ABPP, is the author of 15 books, including his most recent, Mind-Brain-Gene: Toward Psychotherapy Integration. Brain2Brain, The Brain Bible, as well as Rewire Your Brain, and Brain-Based Therapy with Adults and Brain-Based Therapy with Children and Adolescents. He previously served as Director of Training in Mental Health for Kaiser Permanente in the Northern California region. He oversees the training programs in 24 medical centers where over 150 postdoctoral residents and interns are trained each year. He has presented seminars and workshops in over 30 countries and in all US States. He also has written books on anxiety, OCD and PTSD as well Improving Your Memory for Dummies; Consciousness, Dreams, and Self: A Transdisciplinary Approach (winner of the Choice 1997 Outstanding Academic Book Award); and Science, Theology, and Consciousness.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for **intermediate** levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Describe how internet addiction hijacks the same motivational and pleasure networks hijacked by other forms of addictions.
  2. 2 Discuss how most addictions downregulate dopamine receptors, making the range of potential positive experiences narrow to the addictive behavior
  3. 3 Discuss how a person had experienced multiple ACEs may epigenetically decrease the number of cortisol receptors, making it difficult to turn off the HPA axis and be more inclined to be addicted to drugs and alcohol.
  4. 4 Identify how people who maintain a reduced range of potentially positive experiences represents a set-up to develop addictive behaviors.
  5. 5 Discuss how expanding the range of positive behaviors, thereby expanding the number of medium spiny neurons in the pleasure center of the brain should be part of treatment.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

John Arden, PhD, ABPP – He receives royalties as a published author, and receives recording royalties for this presentation.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Apr 30th, 2026
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 5 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
More Info
Logo: Approved Education Provider - NBCC

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Sep 29th, 2026
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
More Info
NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
More Info

Florida Certification Board (FCB)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
More Info

Florida Board of Psychology

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2029
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
More Info

Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation - MFT (IDFPRMFT)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Feb 26th, 2027
CE-credit.com's distant learning courses are available for continuing education as required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. CE Sponsor #168.000251.
More Info

Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Social Work

5 contact hours
Eligible until Mar 30th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) 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. Provider #0060.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jul 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0072.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
More Info

New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until May 30th, 2027
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0045.
More Info

Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

5 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jul 31st, 2026
Virginia Certification Board educational provider # 106
More Info

Course Material

This material is available to purchase for $70.00.

This course material is published by John Arden. For your convenience, has partnered with John Arden to make it available for purchase right here.

Purchase Course & Materials

Video of Lesson 1

Video of Lesson 2

Video of Lesson 3

Video of Lesson 4

Video of Lesson 5

References

References

Download Material

Access Course Material

Viewing External Material

This course material is hosted by , a web site separate from Impact CE. When you're done, just close the tab/window to return to this course page.

Exam Questions

All exam questions for the course are visible on this page for members of Impact CE.

Membership is free, and you can register today! You'll only pay when you're ready to purchase a course, or if you take advantage of the Unlimited Package.

If you're already a member, please sign in to see the exam questions for this and all other courses.

Discuss this course

You can share your thoughts about this course after you pass the exam.

Sign In or Register to get started.
$115

Course Details

5 CE Hours
Recorded Webinar
Course 103226

Profession Group

  • Behavioral Health

Availability

This course is retired. It is no longer available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most likely. Look Up Your State Board for more detailed information. Logged-in site members will see the relevant approval information displayed in the Approvals tab for every course.

If you are having trouble using Impact CE, please contact us! We would be happy to accommodate your needs right away, and your input will help us make Impact CE more accessible for future users too.

Use the Enroll In This Course button and just follow the instructions! You don't pay anything until you're ready to take an exam.

To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

Most of our self-paced courses are based on online articles available for free to the public. Some courses, such as those based on books, require that you purchase the material. Use the Materials tab for more info. Live courses simply require that you attend.

Your certificate(s) will be available to download or email immediately when you pass the course exam and complete the evaluation.

Yes! Use the Help widget at the bottom-right of the screen anywhere on Impact CE to search our help docs, or to ask our support team for help. Unlike most of our competitors, Impact CE has live US-based support reps to help you by email, chat, or phone.

Start your CE Journey now - complete your first course today, on us.

Try for free - no commitment required.

Start a Free Trial Course

Continuing Education

Copyright © 2026 CE Learning Systems LLC

Please Confirm