Mr. Nielsen is currently working for Willingness To Change as the Clinical Director. Mr. Nielsen provides alcohol and other drug education, counseling, coaching, interventions, Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional assessments and workshops/trainings for drug and alcohol professionals. He also works for California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) as their Marketing Director as well as he is adjunct faculty at UC Berkley in Berkley California. He was employed as a Academic Dean at Intercoast Colleges, Sacramento campus in their alcohol and drug counseling studies. While at Intercoast Colleges has received the 1st Quarter instructor award for his incredible teaching ability. October 2010 he received a the Joseph A. Giannantonio II Award for his outstanding contribution to counselor education and been recognized within academia for his leadership skills.

Mr. Nielsen holds an Associates degree in human services (counseling) and a Bachelors degree in business management. He is also a California Certified Clinical Supervisor and a Certified Criminal Justice Professional. As well as being a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-II, Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (*non-governmental /non-reciprocal license) and Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

Mr. Nielsen has been on the Board of California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) since 2007. He also has served on the board of a local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) as well as serving on several non-profit boards. He founded Willingness To Change, a 501(c) 3 public nonprofit which, is committed to helping individuals and families improve their quality of life by addressing addiction and its related problems. Mr. Nielsen is a member of National Association of Drug Court Professionals and Addiction Professionals Network (www.addictionprofessionalsnetwork.com).

Mr. Nielsen was a item writer for the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) for their drug and alcohol counseling exam.

He has worked in residential and outpatient programs as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counselor for 14 years. Over many years he has worked with a diverse clientèle, including adults, criminal justice clients, clients with co-occurring disorders, and adolescents. Additionally, he designed and implemented progressive treatment policies, practices, and philosophies in many different modalities, including, but not limited to, Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Facility, Detoxification, Intensive Outpatient Counseling, and Day Treatment Center.

Mr. Nielsen also does consulting with AOD programs on such subjects as drug-free work place, CARF accreditation, AOD program design, state certification and licensing, staff development, clinical supervision, program management, leadership, insurance management, marketing, and public relations. Mr. Nielsen is an Expert Witness and has lent his expertise in a number of cases.

Mr. Nielsen has published numerous articles on subjects such as the family and addiction, intervention, counselor development, industry issues and leadership. He has been published in CAADAC Freedom, Counselor Magazine, California Together, The Therapist, and Addiction Professional Magazine. Mr. Nielsen was featured on a national internet radio show called the Afflicted and the Affected.

Click below to listen. “http://www.afflictedandaffected.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=244%3Apete-nielsen%3D40%3Ashows2008&Itemid=28>
He is a well known trainer. He has been doing trainings for CAADAC and has presented at several conferences. He does many specialized trainings for specialized credentials and endorsements such as the Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS), and Womens’ Treatment Specialist Endorsement. He has a successful IC&RC test preparation, and CAADAC orals program. He has been hailed as a dynamic and creative presenter.

Mr. Nielsen has volunteered his time to train inmates in Solano, Valley State Womens Prison, and San Quintin State Prisons to become addiction counselors in prison.

Mr. Nielsen believes the client comes first. He is dedicated to teaching and developing counselors to respectfully and appropriately treat clients with the disease of addiction. He believes that he is not better than any client, just in a different position. He believes in the power of purpose, meaning, and hope to facilitate change in individuals, communities and families Mr. Nielsen is a proponent of addiction treatment mostly because he feels it is pertinent to be a part of the solution, and not a part of the problem. Mr. Nielsen loves his career and enjoys being a part of something that has a positive impact on individuals, the community, and society.

*LAADC (non-governmental license) #LNR230211 CADC II # A4006307