Monroe CASAC Students Gain Professional Insights at Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Center

Our CASAC Career Club recently took learning beyond the classroom with a visit to Success Counseling Services, an outpatient mental wellness and addiction treatment center in the Bronx. The visit gave students a first-hand look at the realities of addiction recovery and counseling work. The students toured the facility and witnessed how practitioners administer Narcan, a lifesaving medication that can, in many cases, reverse an overdose. 

The visit deepened students’ understanding of the essential role agencies like Success Counseling Services play in supporting individuals and families on their journey to recovery, said Dr. Michelle Raysor, Program Director for our Human Service Degree Program and the CASAC Career Club Coordinator.  CASAC is an acronym for Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. 

“It was truly a pleasure to tour the facility and learn more about the vital work they do in the field of addiction treatment and recovery,” Raysor said. “The dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the staff was both inspiring and informative.”  

Visits like this are a key part of Monroe’s approach to counselor education --  blending rigorous academic training with immersive, real-world experiences. 

Monroe student Aimee Duprey was one of the students who toured the facility with the CASAC Career Club. The Human Services major works as a Residential Program Director for adults with developmental disabilities, substance use issues and forensic backgrounds. Aimee has long had a passion for working with at-risk populations and is experienced in working with juvenile delinquents who were court-mandated to complete residential treatment. She has also worked in Harlem providing support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, mental health challenges and substance use disorders. 

For Aimee, the mission to become a credentialed CASAC is personal.  

“I lost my mother at a young age (48) due to being a functional alcoholic. I’ve also lost numerous friends and family members to substance use,” she shared. “These experiences have fueled my commitment to making a difference in this field.”  

She described the visit as “very informative.” 

“Seeing the Success Counseling Services facility really opened my eyes to the different ways services can be delivered because no two clients are the same,” Aimee revealed. “It really highlighted the importance of flexibility and understanding in this work.”  

Her big takeaway? Monroe University and Dr. Raysor value providing real-world learning to their students so that they can take what they learned in the classroom and be prepared when they step into clinical settings.  

“I want to give Dr. Raysor her flowers -- she works incredibly hard to deliver the real information to us students, not just textbook theories,” Aimee said. “She gave us reality. In my experience working in Human Services, I’ve seen that many people want to help until reality hits. When they have to be in challenging environments and put in the physical and mental work. Dr. Raysor reminds us of what it truly takes to serve others, and that message resonated deeply with me.”  

In New York State, substance abuse counselors must receive their CASAC certification from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) . To do that, applicants must first complete an OASAS-certified education training program. Our CASAC training will qualify you to receive your CASAC Trainee (CASAC-T) certificate — the next step in your journey to helping people make the most of their lives.   

Substance abuse counselors in the mental and medical health fields are in high demand and work in various settings, including school systems, correctional services, homeless shelters, private practices and beyond. Along with behavioral disorder and mental health counselors, the need for substance abuse counselors is expected to grow 22 percent over the next several years. Monroe offers a 30-credit CASAC course that will prepare new students pursuing their certification credentials, as well as current Monroe students pursuing an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree.  

To learn more about our CASAC program and how you can start your journey toward making a difference in the lives of others, visit us online.