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Substance Abuse Counselor (Entry-Level / Registered) — Full-Time
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Based on California data
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What they do
A Substance Abuse Counselor counsels people struggling with addictions to alcohol, drugs or other substances. Assists clients in dealing with personal and professional problems related to substance abuse. Collaborates with other health care and mental health care professionals to coordinate services for clients, and works with families of substance abusers. May work in a clinic, health care facility or community based program, or work with clients referred through the criminal justice system.
$28,351 / year median in California
+24% projected growth
Job Description
RADT, SUDRC
registrants, and other newly registered SUD counselors — to join our residential team. If you're building your hours toward certification and want a place that will invest in you while you do it, we'd love to meet you. This is real, hands-on experience from day one: you'll carry a caseload, run groups, and watch residents go from their lowest point to a new beginning — often with visible progress every single day. It's fast-paced and challenging, and it's one of the most rewarding ways to launch a career in this field. Why This Is a Great First Counseling Role Build your hours toward certification. Get the supervised, real-world experience you need to certify — and grow with us as you do. Learn from an experienced team. You'll work alongside seasoned counselors and clinicians who treat the whole person: substance use, mental health, biomedical, spiritual, and holistic care. Meaningful work with visible impact — you'll see the difference you make, often day by day. A beautiful waterfront setting on Lake Tulloch in Northern California.Competitive pay:
$24/hour starting up to $28- 32/hour with certification + benefits. Schedule & Location We're primarily hiring for our PM shift. As a 24-hour residential facility, we value team members who can be flexible — and the PM shift is our main need for this role.
- PM (primary): 12:00 PM
- 8:30 PM — this is the shift we're actively filling.
- AM (limited availability): 8:00 AM
- 4:30 PM — possible in some cases, but not our primary need right now.
Location:
This is an on-site position in Copperopolis, CA (Lake Tulloch, Northern California). Please make sure the commute works for you before applying. About The Lakes Treatment Center The Lakes Treatment Center is a residential behavioral health facility on the waterfront of Lake Tulloch in Northern California, primarily treating substance use disorders and co-occurring biomedical and mental health conditions. Learn more at www.thelakestreatmentcenter.com. What You'll Do You'll receive training and support as you grow into these responsibilities: Use the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria to assess and explain why residents do or do not meet placement criteria (training provided). Complete required documentation, including admission assessments, biopsychosocial evaluations, outcome measurements, and treatment plans. Prepare, facilitate, and document group sessions on a variety of topics, with group sizes ranging from roughly 6 to 30 residents. Manage a caseload of about 6 residents on average (subject to change based on experience and workload). Develop and implement individualized treatment plans with goals and objectives based on each resident's strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences. Conduct sessions with families, friends, and loved ones as needed. Complete discharge and exit planning, including referrals to outside providers, sober living, and aftercare. Collaborate with the treatment team and other professionals to provide comprehensive, integrated care that treats the whole person. Apply evidence-based counseling modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). What You'll Bring Current registration as a SUD counselor with a DHCS-approved organization — such as RADT (CCAPP), a SUDRC registrant (CADTP), or CAADE — and actively working toward certification. Having completed your classroom hours and practicum is a plus, but it's not required — we welcome applicants at every stage of the process. A genuine passion for helping people in recovery and a willingness to learn. Comfort working with diverse populations and a range of mental health concerns. Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build rapport with residents, staff, and the treatment team. Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines. Preferred (But Not Required) Any exposure to the ASAM Criteria, caseload management, or group facilitation — even from coursework or internship. Proficiency with Google Workspace tools, including Gmail and Google Drive. Ready to launch a career that changes lives? Apply today and start building your hours with a team that shows up for its residents — and for each other.Job Type:
Full-time Pay:
$24.00- $27.