Prof. Reyher instructing an adult student on addictions and mental health treatment.

In recent years, our world鈥檚 focus has shifted to serious concern about mental health and addiction issues. More than 40 years ago, 媚娘直播 was a forerunner, featuring prominently in the solution to this problem by initiating the Alcoholism Counseling and Administration degree. It was the first of its kind in the state and the nation according to a 1977 letter from an 媚娘直播 vice president to the Pennsylvania Governor鈥檚 Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.


As director of the Addictions and Mental Health Treatment Program, the current name for that groundbreaking offering, David Reyher remains the only full-time faculty member.


鈥淲e have about 20-25 adjuncts teaching at various times in 媚娘直播鈥檚 program and working in their respective fields,鈥 explained Reyher, who began as an adjunct in 2006, becoming a full-time faculty member in 2013. 鈥淥ur program is the oldest continuous program of its kind. We have more than 100 媚娘直播 graduates working as mental health professionals at Caron Treatment Centers alone and at the Council on Chemical Abuse.鈥


Reyher says that students are attracted to the program because addiction has affected them directly or a family member has been affected and they experience negative consequences.


鈥淭hey have real empathy," he said. "They have walked in their shoes. Our work is actually more of a vocation than a career. We are called to this field. Sometimes we choose careers and sometimes they choose us.鈥


Reyher, and a large portion of his students, identify with the latter. 


In their senior year, 媚娘直播 students in this program complete 400 hours of practicum, 12 credits in field coursework, developing learning goals and applying them in the classroom. Field work can be at places like Caron, Reading Hospital Mental Health Center and Easy Does It Transition House.

"Our work is actually more of a vocation than a career. We are called to this field. Sometimes we choose careers and sometimes they choose us.鈥

According to Reyher, 鈥淔ranciscan values are congruent to what we do professionally in social work 鈥 knowledge joined with love. How do we give back? We convey clinical skills with an ethical responsibility to our clients. We develop real authentic therapeutic relationships as one human being to another.鈥


Reyher also provides his students with the tools to practice professional boundaries so they do not get overly involved and lose themselves in their work, burning out too quickly.


Recent graduate Bryan McCauley enrolled in the program in 2020 as a 48-year-old adult student.


鈥淚 contacted Professor Reyher via email and expressed how nervous I was returning to school," said McCauley, now the director of the First Responders Addiction Treatment program at Livengrin Foundation. "His response, like many others he gave me over the course of my studies, was kind, caring and supportive. He quickly became a role model for me. I was literally using knowledge I gained from him in real time in my work with substance abuse patients. I graduated in May 2022 with my bachelor鈥檚 degree. I was promoted to the position of director in August of 2022. I attribute a large part of that to Professor Reyher鈥檚 teaching and guidance. I am forever grateful to 媚娘直播.鈥

Addictions and Mental Health Treatment

Degree Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
Location:
  • Reading Campus
Program Type:
Undergraduate Major
Credit Hours:
123
Note:
Also available as a minor

Addictions and Mental Health Treatment (Adult Education)

Degree Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
Location:
  • Philadelphia Campus
  • Pottsville CollegeTowne
  • Reading Campus
Program Type:
Adult Education
Credit Hours:
123

Addictions and Mental Health Treatment (Online)

Degree Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
Location:
  • Online
Program Type:
Online
Credit Hours:
123
Note:
Est. Program Length 2-4 years* Course Length ...