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Geogroup
Jackson, Tennessee

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Benefits Information

  • Now Hiring with a $4,000.00 Sign on Bonus, paid in Quarterly Installments*

Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:

  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Matching
  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Health Savings Account
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Discount
  • Reduced Tuition Rates
  • Disability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 401(k)
  • Pet Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Training
  • Flexible Spending Account

The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Overview

Are you looking for a career you can feel good about? We hire only those that strive to do their best. By joining our family, you'll receive the honor and recognition that comes with working for the industry's global leader in evidenced based rehabilitation.

Who We Are

GEO provides complementary, turnkey solutions for numerous government partners worldwide across a spectrum of diversified correctional and community reentry services. From the development of state-of-the-art facilities and the provision of management services and evidence-based rehabilitation to the post-release reintegration and supervision of individuals in the community, GEO offers fully diversified, cost-effective services that deliver enhanced quality and improved outcomes.

Why Work for GEO

We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.

Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.

Responsibilities

Summary

The Substance Abuse Counselor assists in developing, organizing, and conducting groups to provide education and treatment for conditions and problems relating to drug and alcohol abuse. Learns, uses and models principles of the “What Works” system through evidence-based practices in all interactions with clients and other staff members.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Substance Abuse Counselor provides relevant Substance Abuse information for class curriculum in our Relapse Prevention Program.

Facilitates didactic educational presentations including Living in Balance collection, and group counseling.

The Substance Abuse Counselor facilitates psycho-educational and behavior modification groups using principles of the “What Works” system. Documents participants’ attendance, participation, and progress in Company database.

Maintains accurate clinical documentation including intake summaries, group notes, discharge summaries, treatment plans, and updates. Updates therapeutic logs in a timely manner. Enters pertinent information into Company database.

The Substance Abuse Counselor identifies problem areas that may impact participants’ ability to successfully complete treatment. Guides participants to develop strategies to overcome obstacles to success completion of treatment.

  • May advise Customer of participants’ progress regularly or at completion of treatment.
  • Ensures that participants’ records are accurately completed in a timely manner.
  • Maintains a specific substance abuse treatment case file for every program participant.
  • Selects and recommends new instructional materials and programs for use in the substance abuse program.
  • Maintains knowledge of new developments in the field of substance abuse.
  • Maintains a collegial relationship with other substance abuse professionals, programs, and associations.
  • Participates in related training for substance abuse.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required.

Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (“LADAC”), licensed by the Tennessee Department of Health Tennessee Code Annotated 68-24-606 is required.

A waiver for LADAC may be granted only if all three (3) of the following criteria are met and is further subject to approval by the Tennessee Dept. of Corrections:

The individual is currently engaged in formal supervision with appropriate supervision outlined by health-related boards and;

  • The individual is actively pursuing licensure, and enrolled in core classes if still needed, and;
  • A letter from the supervisor indicating current ongoing supervision with current placement and confirmation of the supervisor’s current license would be required.
  • Ability to interact in a professional manner in both individual and group counseling settings
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work with a team of professionals and have the ability to implement team strategy approaches to work assignments.
  • Ability to work with computers and the necessary software typically used by the department.
  • Effective communication skills with internal and external contacts at all levels.
  • Problem solving ability.
  • Good interpersonal skills.
  • Bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish) may be required as well as experience dealing with specific cultural group.
  • Problem solving ability.
  • Good presentation, public speaking, and facilitation skills.
  • Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Knowledge of client record management.
  • Basic computer skills.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Substance Abuse CounselingCase ManagementTreatment PlanningComputer Literacy

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 36% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution28 jobs · 24 employers

8
<$75k
8
$75k-95k
8
$95k-115k
4
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks25 jobs · 24 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
28%
Sign-on bonus
24% this job
Loan repayment
4%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$74k-$126k
#2

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 1.5
Below most Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Jackson

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$232k
Typical market rent
$1,421/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
85.5
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Jackson, TN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Geogroup logo

About Geogroup

Security and Investigations
Boca Raton, Florida
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
Tuition Reimbursement