Gateway Foundation logo
Gateway Foundation
Chicago, Illinois

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC, LPC, or LPC)

Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$25.64-$32/hr

Listing transparency5 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about call expectations.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on-site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
No weekends
Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who Is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why Join Us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results.

By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth.

When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Location: 3828 W. Taylor Chicago, IL 60624

View the facility details here!

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm

Residential (LPC or LSW) Substance Abuse Counselors are responsible for:

Completing comprehensive assessments of clients’ substance abuse history and treatment requirements and preparing individualized, developmentally appropriate treatment plans

  • Providing individual and group counseling and educational programs in accordance with treatment plans
  • Documenting treatment and discharge plans and clients’ progress and responses to treatment, as well as maintaining related records and charts
  • Performing case management and contributing to client care monitoring
  • Caseload typically includes some complex cases requiring more intensive services
  • Other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and life experience, with a minimum of 100 hours of documented clinical training in counseling theory and practice required

Current LPC or LSW licensure in state of hire required

Minimum 2 years of previous experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling required

Related work experience with program specific population (adolescent/adult) and residential treatment setting required

Physical Requirements:

Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

  • Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
  • Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy
  • Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises
  • Must be at least 21 years of age to operate a Gateway vehicle

Compensation (based on experience and credentials):

Range begins at $25.64 - $32.00 per hour

Gateway Foundation conducts annual reviews including merit increases.

Benefits at Gateway Foundation

Health and Wellness:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
  • Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
  • Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

  • 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
  • 9 paid company holidays
  • Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

Training & Development Programs

Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training

Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor is responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and providing both individual and group counseling sessions. They must also document client progress, maintain accurate clinical records, and perform ongoing case management duties.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field and possess a current LPC or LSW license in the state of hire. A minimum of two years of experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling is required, along with 100 hours of documented clinical training.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance abuse counselingTreatment planningIndividual counselingClinical documentationAssessmentCrisis interventionAdolescent counselingAdult counselingRecord keeping

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC, LPC, or LPC) at Gateway Foundation a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Addiction Medicine (Counseling) — ranked against 1,299 active Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 30% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$60k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $60k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution33 jobs · 23 employers

9
<$70k
9
$70k-85k
9
$85k-100k
6
$100k-115k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs · 23 employers

401k / retirement match
86% this job
Sign-on bonus
54%
CME allowance
54% this job
Loan repayment
11% this job
PSLF eligible
4% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LPCC, LPP, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Nicholasville, Kentucky

$100k-$110k
#2

Virtual Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCPC, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Orland Hills, Illinois

$100k-$110k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

$72k-$110k
#4

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT)

$84k-$107k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 8.0
Among the top 10% of 1,299 Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10. Shaded area = share of comparable listings scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
  • On-site

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Gateway Foundation logo

About Gateway Foundation

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, Illinois
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
Short-term and Long-term Disability
Life and AD&D Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
18 paid time off days per year
9 paid company holidays
Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year