August 01, 2007

Koch to deliver behavioral health institute keynote

by K.C. Jaehnig

CARBONDALE, Ill. — D. Shane Koch, director of the Addiction Studies Program within Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Rehabilitation Institute, will deliver a closing keynote address Friday (Aug. 3) at the Texas Behavioral Health Institute, set for Aug. 1-3, in Austin, Texas.

His talk will explore ethical issues arising as part of alcohol and other drug abuse counseling with clients who have HIV or AIDS. He will also lead sessions aimed at helping both new and experienced counselors use program evaluation strategies to provide better service to clients. In addition, he will present material aimed at helping counselors understand how different generations abuse prescription drugs, paying special attention to problems they may encounter in working with aging "baby boomers."

The Texas Department of State Health Services sponsors the annual institute, which attracts some 1,500 professionals, including not only counselors, but teachers, employee assistance program staff, probation officers and law enforcement personnel.

Koch, who joined the institute in 2005, spent five years at the University of North Texas in Denton. He earned his doctoral degree from SIUC in 1999.