Substance Use Counselor

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$29-$38/hr

Listing transparency3 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and nights and shift pattern.

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

Job Description

Overview

  • Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program
  • Seeking: Substance Use Counselor

Requirements

  • AOD Registration is required.
  • AOD Certification is preferred.

Registration/Certification must be obtained from a California-approved Counselor Certification Organization (CAADE, CADTP or CCAPP).

Full Time Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Our Benefits

  • Semi-Annual Bonus Program
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Competitive 401(k) plan
  • Paid vacation and sick time
  • Employer-paid clinical supervision (free to employees)
  • Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering continued support to employee lifestyle and well-being
  • Early morning hours offering a great work/life balance
  • Opportunity for growth that is second to none in the industry

Our Team

Chula Vista Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Chula Vista, CA, is part of Acadia Healthcare's Comprehensive Treatment Centers, the leading provider of medication-assisted treatment in the nation. Our counseling team provides compassionate, high-quality counseling and therapy to patients that are seeking recovery from Opioid Use Disorder.

Your Job as a Substance Use Counselor

The Substance Use Counselor is instrumental in our patient’s treatment and recovery from opioid use disorder. Substance Use Counselors provide high quality, compassionate care through various mediums which include both individual and group counseling sessions.

Job Responsibilities

  • Provide high quality, compassionate guidance in both individual and group counseling sessions.
  • Plan, oversee, facilitate and document patient's recovery.
  • Co-facilitate assigned group or family sessions as needed.

Ensure all documentation regarding patient care, treatment, and incidents is completed timely and in a clear, concise manner.

  • Prepare individual treatment plans for each assigned patient.
  • Initial assessments as well as follow up assessments.
  • Evaluate patient needs and determine if referrals to other programs or facilities are needed.
  • May plan for aftercare for assigned patients.
  • Provide crisis intervention to patients, as needed.
  • Provide case management duties for patients, ensuring individualized quality care as needed.
  • Act as a liaison between referral sources and patients, as needed.

Compensation for roles at Chula Vista CTC varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Chula Vista CTC provides a reasonable hourly range of compensation for roles that may be hired in California as set forth below. Role Location: California

Calculated Salary Range for role: $29.00 - $38.00 per hour.

Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibilty here: HRSA Eligibility

Qualifications

  • Required Education, Skills, and Qualifications:
  • HS graduate or equivalent required;
  • Prefer Bachelor's or Master’s degree in social or health services field;
  • Degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Previous experience in addiction recovery or behavioral health settings, such as outpatient, residential, or correctional facilities.

  • Familiarity with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
  • Experience conducting individual and group counseling sessions focused on substance use recovery.

Knowledge of evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and relapse prevention techniques.

Documentation experience, including maintaining clinical notes, treatment plans, and progress updates in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

Familiarity with state regulatory standards (e. g., 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, Joint Commission standards).

Experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary team with medical staff, case managers, and peer support specialists.

Required Licenses/Certifications

  • AOD Registration is required.
  • AOD Certification is preferred.

Registration/Certification must be obtained from a California-approved Counselor Certification Organization (CAADE, CADTP or CCAPP).

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.

#LI-CTC

#LI-JS2

Key Responsibilities

The Substance Use Counselor provides compassionate individual and group therapy to patients recovering from Opioid Use Disorder. Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, conducting assessments, and maintaining accurate clinical documentation.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance use counselingIndividual counselingTreatment planningHIPAA compliancePatient assessment

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor at Chula Vista Comprehensive Treatment Center a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Addiction Medicine counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 24% have no call, 76% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$70k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k 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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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
90% this job
CME allowance
55% this job
Sign-on bonus
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Loan repayment
10% this job
Relocation assistance
10%

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Work-life snapshot

6.0/ 10
Listing-based score

A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.

  • No weekends

Living in Chula Vista

  • Typical 3-bed home value $780k
  • Typical rent $2,945/mo
  • Residents' average commute 29 min
  • Metro price index 111.9 · U.S. average 100
  • State income tax up to 13.3%
Sources & calculation

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Chula Vista Comprehensive Treatment Center logo

About Chula Vista Comprehensive Treatment Center

Hospitals and Health Care
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Semi-Annual Bonus Program
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
Competitive 401(k) plan
Paid vacation and sick time
Employer-paid clinical supervision
Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Student loan forgiveness through HRSA