Substance Abuse Counselor

The counselor will be tasked with providing therapeutic intervention and care throughout the patient’s attendance. The counselor will be expected to retain a case load of clients and maintain documentation.

The Substance Use Treatment Counselor is responsible for coordinating and providing individual and group counseling, family sessions, case management, and biopsychosocial assessment services to primary substance-co-occurring clients within the facility.

They demonstrate expertise in areas of primary substance use and secondary mental health disorders. Facilitation includes but is not limited to case management, development of an individualized treatment plan, client resources, vocational counseling, discharge/continuing care planning, and aftercare placement of clients. They work with the treatment team to plan and coordinate the client's movement through the continuum of care.

Responsibilities:

• Conducting chemical dependency evaluations, as well as chemical abuse/dependency aspects of treatment plans and treatment plan updates
• Assisting clients in developing measurable chemical dependency-related discharge goals and objectives
• Providing liaison services between client and family
• Updating treatment plans regularly
• Evaluate clients’ behavioral health, and addiction and assess their readiness for treatment.
• Help clients develop treatment goals and plans.
• Review and recommend treatment options to clients and their families.
• Help clients develop the necessary skills and behaviors necessary to recover from their addiction
• Work with clients to identify behaviors or situations that may interfere with their recovery.
• Educate families about addiction and behavior disorders and help them develop strategies to cope and not enable.
• Refer clients to other resources and services, such as job placement services and support groups.
• Facilitates sessions to help people identify the signs of addiction and other destructive behavior, as well as implement steps in order to avoid such behaviors.
• Provides psycho-social assessments, treatment plans, and clinical discharge summaries.
• Provide individual and group therapy as assigned.
• Consistently meet or exceed documentation standards of the agency, the State of New Jersey, Funding Sources, and Accrediting bodies (The Joint Commission)

QUALIFICATIONS

Must have LSW, LCSW, LAC, or LPC with an LCADC strongly preferred

Minimum 3 years of Substance Use Treatment Experience.

Bi-Lingual (Spanish) strongly preferred

Exceptional documentation skills

EXPERIENCE:

Knowledge of the 12-Step Program, AA, NA, alanon, etc

Must be able to work independently and complete assignments with minimal supervision

Positive interpersonal skills required

Must maintain a professional demeanor and perform duties effectively in stressful situations