Cornell Scott-Hill health logo
Cornell Scott-Hill health
New Haven, Connecticut

Milieu Counselor

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$22-$25/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

We are seeking Full-Time and Per Diem Milieu Counselors to join the team at the new Recovery & Wellness Center (RWC), a 31,000-square-foot state-of-the-art addiction treatment campus.

This role is ideal for someone who is compassionate, dependable, and able to work effectively in a structured, fast-paced therapeutic environment supporting individuals in recovery, including coverage for nights and weekends.

The Milieu Counselor provides day-to-day support within a residential treatment setting, working as part of an interdisciplinary team to maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment in both the women’s recovery house and men’s therapeutic shelter.

Responsibilities include supervising residents’ daily activities, supporting individualized care plans, and assisting with client interventions as needed.

This role also includes facilitating and participating in therapeutic milieu activities and groups such as social, recreational, 12-step, and other recovery-focused programming.

The Milieu Counselor collaborates closely with Program Managers, Case Managers, Clinicians, and Recovery Coaches to support resident progress, monitor engagement, and identify barriers to treatment.

Additional responsibilities include serving as a positive role model, documenting and reporting resident progress, and helping maintain a safe environment through basic de-escalation and crisis management techniques.

The ideal candidate is able to work effectively with individuals experiencing substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and housing instability while consistently upholding resident safety, dignity, and rights.

Key Responsibilities

Supervision and Support

  • Provides 24/7 supervision and support to residents, ensuring their safety and well-being.
  • Assists residents with daily activities, including meals, personal hygiene, and housekeeping tasks.
  • Monitors resident behavior during day, evening, and night shift and enforce program rules and policies fairly and consistently.
  • Observes and documents clients who may self-administer medication
  • Seeks and follows supervision and direction from clinical team appropriately

Program Facilitation

  • Facilitate and participates in psycho-educational groups, self-help meetings, and recreational activities.
  • Supports residents in attending treatment and appointments.
  • Encourages and supports residents' participation in spiritual/religious activities.
  • Performs urine tests and breathalyzer screenings in accordance with site specific policies, randomly or as warranted.
  • Provides comprehensive overdose prevention and education which includes risk reduction strategies as well as providing client access to Narcan
  • Develop recovery plans addressing assessed needs in areas such as employment, education, self-management skills, relapse prevention, housing, and social skills training.

Crisis Intervention

  • Respond to emergencies and provide crisis intervention as needed using de-escalation techniques.
  • Administer first aid, including the use of Narcan for overdose situations, and coordinate with medical professionals in case of health emergencies.

Documentation and Reporting

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of resident activities, incidents, and progress.
  • Report any concerns or incidents to the Program Manager promptly.
  • Keeps accurate client logs, shift change reports, incident reports and other information pertinent to program operation.
  • Maintain a written daily schedule of services and activities, including on-site and off-site recreational activities that promote and support recovery.
  • Provide case management services, including assessment, planning, and linking individuals to mental health, financial, housing, and other needed community supports.
  • Make follow-up calls to all discharged individuals within fourteen (14) days of discharge.

Collaboration

  • Work collaboratively with the Program Manager, Case Manager, and Recovery Specialist/Recovery Coach to develop and implement individualized care plans.
  • Participate in staff meetings and training sessions.
  • Involve family members, significant others, and authorized advocates in the development of the recovery plan and the delivery of services, as desired by the individual.
  • Provide education, support, and consultation to family members of enrolled individuals.

Shift Coverage

  • Must remain on shift until adequate staffing arrives if a colleague calls out, ensuring continuous coverage and resident safety (holdover).

Required Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent required
  • Previous experience in a residential or recovery setting is highly desirable.
  • Peer Recovery Specialist certification/Recovery Coach or Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) or Counselor In Training (CIT) certification preferred.
  • Training in trauma-informed care is highly desirable.
  • Proven ability to identify client crisis (addiction and mental health) and seek emergency assistance as needed
  • CPR and First Aid certification required

Why Join Us

Cornell Scott–Hill Health Center offers a competitive and mission‑driven environment with outstanding benefits, including:

  • Above‑market, competitive salaries
  • Sign-on bonus available for eligible positions and qualified candidates.
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short/Long‑Term Disability
  • License reimbursement
  • Eligibility for HRSA Loan Repayment Program may be available for qualified candidates.
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility is available through qualifying employment.
  • Generous paid time off
  • 401(k) with up to 5% match

CS-HHC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Requirements

A high school diploma and CPR/First Aid certification are required. Experience in recovery settings and certifications such as Peer Recovery Specialist or Certified Addiction Counselor are highly preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient SupervisionGroup FacilitationRecovery PlanningInterdisciplinary Collaboration

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Addiction Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 38% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Connecticut is 103.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$49k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $47k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Connecticut clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Addiction Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Milieu Counselor at Cornell Scott-Hill health a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Addiction Medicine (Counseling) — ranked against 1,281 active Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Counselor Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution41 jobs · 31 employers

11
<$75k
14
$75k-90k
7
$90k-105k
4
$105k-120k
5
$120k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks37 jobs · 31 employers

401k / retirement match
95% this job
Sign-on bonus
35% this job
CME allowance
35%
Loan repayment
19% this job
PSLF eligible
11% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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$74k-$126k
#2

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

LifeStance Health · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Clinical Curation Scientist- Genetic Counselor

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#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

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+ 39 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.1
Better work-life than 50% of Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,281 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes weekends

Living in New Haven

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$2,015/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
State income tax
Up to 7%
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.

Cornell Scott-Hill health logo

About Cornell Scott-Hill health

Hospitals and Health Care
New Haven
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-on bonus
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Short/Long-Term Disability
License reimbursement
HRSA Loan Repayment Program