Integration of the Universal Treatment Curriculum to Residential Treatment Practices in the Philippines - A Clinician’s Perspective

This presentation will be featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 17.09.2025.

Author: 

Therese C. Castillo, RPsy, MS, ICAP I, Psychologist Philippines

Abstract:

What’s next after a UTC Training?

The Universal Treatment Curriculum training series’ overall goal is to reduce the significant health, social, and economic problems associated with Substance Use Disorders by building international treatment capacity through training, professionalizing, and expanding the global treatment workforce.

To date, the Philippines is among the top countries who have sought UTC trainings abroad and obtained international certification. Two years ago, The Colombo Plan-Drug Advisory Programme conducted a training of trainers on the UTC basic training series for the Department of Health - Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers in the Philippines.

This presentation is a collection of experiences on the integration of evidence-based practices from the Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders Training series including motivational interviewing, contingency management and client-centered care into practice in the residential treatment centers in the Philippines.

This highlights the journey of discovering strengths, barriers and opportunities in applying the EBPs given the cultural and contextual nuances in the Philippines, utilizing data from individual and group interviews of clinicians and practitioners who have completed the UTC Training series.