Training Format:
Live: Mar 13, 2026 and on-demand after.
CEs Available and Cost:
1 HR FREE CE Training in Addictions
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Addictive processes, whether related to substances or behaviors, can be understood as deeply ingrained forms of self-soothing, often rooted in pain, disconnection, and trauma. In this one-hour training, we’ll reframe these patterns not as moral failings but as adaptive responses that once served a protective purpose. We’ll explore how they develop in the brain and nervous system, the functions they serve, and how to engage them in ways that honor both their protective role and the possibility of change. You’ll leave with trauma-informed strategies to help clients move from compulsive self-soothing toward healthier connection, regulation, and agency.
STATISTICS ON ADDICTIONS
- In the U.S. approximately 18.1% of adults (about 46.5 million people) experienced a substance use disorder in the past year.
- About 16.8–17.1% of people aged 12 or older meet criteria for a substance use disorder, representing tens of millions of individuals in need of support.
- A major treatment gap persists: as many as 80% of individuals who need treatment for a substance use disorder do not receive it.
- Even among those who need substance use treatment, only a small percentage receive evidence-based care (e.g., medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder).
- Substance use challenges often overlap with mental health issues — for example, a substantial number of individuals with serious mental illness also experience addiction.
- Many people with both mental illness and substance use disorder receive no treatment at all — underlining the need for better clinical skills and systems of care.
- Less than 43% of individuals who enter treatment for drug and alcohol use complete it, underscoring the difficulty clients face in staying engaged and achieving recovery.
OUR MISSION
The missions of IRIS Training Collective and the vision of Next Therapist are closely aligned. Next Therapist’s dedication to helping clinicians build thriving, sustainable practices complements IRIS’s focus on developing practical, clinically grounded skills through trainings led by advanced therapists, experienced trainers, and skilled teachers. Both organizations recognize the gaps in our field and are committed to closing them. By partnering, they can equip therapists with both the tools and the self-awareness needed to bring their whole selves to the work—enhancing clinical impact while supporting professional well-being. Together, they provide trainings that not only elevate therapeutic skills but also sustain the therapist behind the work.
Who is Next Therapist?
NextTherapist is a healthcare platform committed to making therapy accessible, compassionate, and personalized. They connect individuals with the right therapist by ensuring a precise, human-centered matching process while streamlining intake, waitlist management, and scheduling for therapists. Their goal is simple: personalized healing through faster connection.
They eliminate the stress and friction from finding mental health support by providing an easy, intuitive, and stigma-free experience. Through personalized therapist matching, real-time scheduling, and seamless waitlist integration, they ensure individuals get the care they need quickly and efficiently.
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Who is IRIS Training Collective?
Iris is not here to sell you a product but to invite you into a process. They're building something different: a space where you don’t have to shrink to fit in. Where your intuition, intellect, and embodiment matter just as much as your clinical skills. And where training isn’t just about CE credits, it’s about becoming the therapist you actually want to be.
At IRIS, they have built the kind of training they wish they had. Grounded in real clinical work, rich with wrap-around support, and rooted in the belief that growth does not come from perfection but from practice. They are three practicing clinicians who balance therapy, teaching, continued learning, and the complexities of their own lives, just like you.
Their teaching is not about telling you what to do. It is about helping you trust your own clinical judgment and intuition, while holding empathy, courage, and precision. If you are called to this work, they would be honored to support your growth and your journey.
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MEET YOUR TRAINER
Cassie Krajewski, LCSW
Cassie is known for her authenticity, warmth, and compassion, which shows up in her work as a business, owner, therapist, consultant, and podcaster. As the founder of Inner Atlas, Cassie is passionate about helping people heal from the impacts of trauma and disembodiment.
Cassie's personal history and healing experiences drove her to pursue a career in social work. Her training emphasized the importance of context, culture, and systems upon mental health. This lead to her dream of opening a practice centered on anti-oppressive, holistic, and trauma-responsive care. Her professional experiences inform her understanding that working with the body's inherent wisdom takes clients further, faster. She is rooted in the belief that she is not a guru but a guide.
Outside of her clinical work, Cassie is actively involved in mentoring and teaching other therapists. Her approachable nature and deep empathy ensure that her practice remains a space where clients and colleagues from all walks of life feel seen, heard, and valued.
Course Attendance and CE Credit:
For live credit: Attendees must attend live via Zoom and attendance will be taken for course credit. Partial credit is not available. Live certificates are issued upon request within 5 business days of verified attendance and completed evaluation.
For on demand credit: Attendees must view the full course video, complete the quiz and evaluation to receive credit. Upon completion of all modules your certificate will be issued and sent via email.
Cancellation & Refund Policy:
This course is offered free of charge, therefore refunds do not apply. If you are unable to attend the live session, a full replay will be available on demand after the event.
