Substance Use Therapist

The Substance Use Therapist, CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) will provide therapeutic outpatient services within key frameworks to the target populations of adults, children, youth, and families. In addition, this position provides clinical direction through the development and review of appropriate assessments, quality of services, and other service providers within the project.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides direct service to members through psychotherapy/counseling, group therapy/counseling, case consultation and crisis intervention. Uses stage-wise treatment including strategies for pre-contemplation (harm reduction), contemplation (motivational interventions), preparation and active treatment (planning for sobriety and skills for sobriety) and relapse prevention planning and implementation, including identifying risk factors related to the relapse and development of relapse prevention plans and strategies. Encourage consumers to attend mutual aid groups, including AA, NA, SMART Recovery, CA DRA, Double Trouble, and DDA. Assures Substance Use admission and discharge assessments, treatment plans, continued stay reviews, and progress notes are completed timely, in accordance with Thresholds policy and SUPR standards.
• Completes the NOMS (National Outcome Measures) and submits them timely.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team discussions to develop an integrated treatment plan, based on the assessment data and the goals the consumer has identified as most important to him or her.
• Assures service integration and continuity for consumers, including those with co-occurring disorders.
• Provides brief therapeutic modalities, including but not limited Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-informed CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral and exposure-based therapy for trauma, harm reduction with a focus on Substance Use management / safer substance practices, WRAP, Adolescent-based DBT, Internal Family Systems.
• Where members have co-occurring mental disorders, helps make sure that integrated services remain accessible to all members, regardless of their stage of treatment, or “readiness” to engage in services.
• Encourages members in the preparation, action and relapse prevention stages of treatment to attend mutual aid groups, including AA, NA, SMART Recovery, CA DRA, Double Trouble, and DDA. Uses Mutual Aid Facilitation practice and promotes shopping for a mutual aid support group that meets the preferences of the consumer and helps process their experience afterward. 
• Works collaboratively with the Quality Department to assure that documentation of assessments, goals, treatment plan, and interventions is in accordance with Thresholds practices.
• Intervenes with collateral sources, agencies, bureaucracies, facilities, and families on the members’ behalf. Advocates and assists with problem solving/resolution that will help the client access and utilize support from the community or support system, including family.
• Develops resources within the agency and/or community.
• Performs and participates in crisis intervention when necessary.
• Meets required billing targets and completes all documentation within assigned time frames.
• Other duties as assigned.

MARGINAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• May be required to work flexible schedules and be available to work on weekends or evenings as required.

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or closely related field required.

EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience working with persons diagnosed with Substance Use disorders.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other members, their families, collaborating agencies, other co-workers, and management.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in solving members’ problems, responding to emergencies and generally managing the service environment.
• Ability to function in a computer oriented office, including working knowledge of pertinent software.

SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS

• Willingness to travel in the community (approximately 5-10% of the time) to meet with clients either in their homes or another community location, and the ability to reliably self-transport to these locations. 
• Per Administrative Code 2060.309, all professional staff providing clinical services shall have at least one of the following
  • Hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) from Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA); or
  • Be a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC); or
  • Be a licensed social worker (LSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW); or
  • Be a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches; or
  • Be a licensed psychologist
  • Within 2 years of beginning to provide direct substance abuse treatment services, all staff will not work in any supervisory capacity until requirements are met and obtain the requirement listed above.
• LCSW or LCPC preferred.

WHAT SETS THRESHOLDS APART

• Competitive pay - Base Salary: $54,000 - $60,000 annually
  • Subject to increase with applicable work experience.
  • Master's level candidate - $54,000 base salary
  • $1000 pay increase for LPC, LSW, and/or CADC
  • LCSW or LCPC candidate - $60,000 base salary
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation) 
• Dental insurance, vision insurance, 4 medical insurance plans 
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match  
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP) 
• Mileage reimbursement  
• Public service loan forgiveness  
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month) 
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC, CADC) 
• Reimbursement for professional licensure and license renewal
• Free CEUs 

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency’s mission.

One of the oldest and largest community mental health organizations in Illinois, we pride ourselves in being a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, several years in a row.