AOD Counselor
Listed compensation
$24-$31/hr
Listing transparency1 of 6 stated
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.
- Employment & setting
- Full-Time
- Call expectations
- Not specified
- Weekends
- Not specified
Job Description
Description
Position Summary
AODC Counselors are responsible for coordinating and providing Individual counseling and clinical services, group sessions, individual sessions and intake assessment services to residents both at inpatient and outpatient levels of care if applicable. The AODC Counselor provides development of resident resources, vocational counseling, discharge/continuing care planning, and placement of residents if applicable. Counselors will work in collaboration with the treatment team to plan and coordinate the resident’s progress through the continuum of care.
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions
Uphold and enforce First Steps Recovery standards, policies and procedures, resident rights, and professional code of ethics and conduct.
Ability to utilize agency comprehensive assessment tools in KIPU (Initial Treatment Plan, Discharge Planning, Initial Intake Assessment).
- Identify and prioritize individual needs and problems of the patient.
- Prepare comprehensive interpretive clinical summaries (as seen in KIPU).
Develop person-centered care plans, including prioritized problem lists, SNAP, resident-reported goals, measurable and achievable objectives, and interventions.
- Provide individual and group counseling sessions utilizing Evidence Based Practices.
- Document resident progress toward treatment plan goals and objectives in Golden Thread.
- Prepare effective care level step-down Transition notes.
- Develop strong discharge plans and summaries for assigned caseload.
Prepare clinical documentation accurately and within agency time frames, including completion and documentation of groups.
Intervene during crisis intervention situations.
Cooperate with health insurance clinical utilization reviews. Provide daily Progress Notes and detailed Clinical Notes to assist with UR’s.
- Participate in weekly Clinical Treatment team meetings with other team members as needed.
- Participate in the agency’s Orientation training, staff meetings, and in-service training.
- Provide information to and Spouses/Family Members on the resident’s behalf.
- Provide appropriate treatment interventions relative to the specific needs of each resident.
- Provide for discharge planning, contacting referring agency as needed.
Adhere to code of ethics, legal aspects of clinical practice, professional standards, duty to warn, abuse and neglect reporting policies and procedures, and exercise professionalism at all times.
Exercise awareness in cultural competency, resident satisfaction, quality of services, resident needs, and overall health and safety staff and residents.
Competencies
Ability to perform duties as a counselor (12 Core Functions). Competencies: with respect to screening, assessment, individualized treatment planning, crisis intervention, group and individual counseling, referral, discharge summaries, clinical documentation, and professional ethics.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with supervisors, utilization review, managed health care clinicians, medical and mental health professionals.
Ability to positively interact and develop rapport with residents and their families.
Education
- Preferred AA or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in the Human Services or Behavioral Health
- Registered as an AOD intern or a RADT-1 Intern
- Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certification Desired. (CCAPP, CAADE, CADTP or Affiliate)
Experience
1-2 years experience in the field of addiction and mental health or equivalent human services work experience preferred.
Experience in co-occurring disorders treatment a plus
Computer Skills
- Computer Literacy in doc, spreadsheet, and email.
- Proficiency in KIPU Systems Resident Management Software
Certificates & Licenses
- CPR/First AID
- Drug and Alcohol Counseling Credential or Internship Required
Other Requirements
- Negative TB test results within past year
- Medical Clearance to work within past year
- Ability to pass pre-employment and random drug screenings
Physical Demands
- Frequently: Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs/day)
- Standing
- Walking
- Sitting
- Transverse Stairs
- Handling / Using Fingers
- Occasionally: Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)
- Reach Outward
- Reach Above Shoulder
- Squat or Kneel
- Bend or Twist
Other Physical Demands
Ability to lift/carry 20-50 lbs, Ability to push/pull 20-50 lbs
Moderate frequency of computer keyboarding,
- Moderate frequency of viewing a computer monitor
- Daily cleaning including but not limited to: wiping, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing, washing dishes
Assisting in meal preparation, installing water containers for consumption, and shopping as necessary including pushing of carts and carrying grocery boxes/bags.
- Conducting garbage disposal, recycling, and collection.
- Occasional walks, hikes, and sports outings with residents for physical activities.
- Frequent support of residents in gym environment
Work Environment
Work is performed during day and night shifts primarily in residential detox facility. This includes work in facility office as well as the grounds of the entire facility including upstairs resident rooms, clinical office, and laundry room that are accessed via staircase, and outdoor grounds. Technicians periodically drive residents in company vehicles for intakes/discharges at other treatment facilities and transportation hubs, to doctor appointments, to outings and recovery meetings. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.
Blood/Fluid Exposure RISK
Some job tasks involve exposure to blood, body fluids and/or tissue. Staff must wear gloves and follow infectious control procedures when interacting with residents in conditions in which exposure is possible such as handling onsite urinary analysis, conducting first aid, and conducting search of resident’s belonging and person. Staff may be exposed to infectious disease, needles, and illicit substances during searches.
Work Schedule
As a non-exempt hourly employee, the employee shall work a designated schedule as assigned by management. Employee shall not work over 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week without prior authorization from management but if so, will earn overtime for any work performed in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Employee must also follow company’s policies regarding required meals and breaks.
Key Responsibilities
The AOD Counselor coordinates and provides individual and group counseling, intake assessments, and clinical services to residents. They also collaborate with the treatment team to develop person-centered care plans and manage discharge planning.
Requirements
Candidates should have 1-2 years of experience in addiction and mental health and hold an associate or bachelor's degree in human services or behavioral health. A drug and alcohol counseling certification or internship registration is required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
In California, the Addiction Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$62k (136 salary observations; 311 listings), vs ~$61k nationally (846 salary observations; 3,808 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
Of the 50 active Addiction Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 26% have no call, 66% require no weekends.
Addiction Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$57k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $52k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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