Substance Use Counselor
Listed compensation
$26-$27/hr
The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
- Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program
- Seeking: Substance Use Counselor
- Washington SUDP or SUDPT is required
Full Time Hours
- Tuesday - Friday, 5:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Saturday 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Our Benefits
- 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
Bellingham Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Bellingham, WA, 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 Bellingham 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, Bellingham CTC provides a reasonable hourly range of compensation for roles that may be hired in Washington as set forth below. Role Location: Washington
Calculated Salary Range for role: $26.00 - $27.00 per hour.
Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibility here: HRSA Eligibility
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.
Licenses/Certifications
Washington SUDPT or SUDP Is Required
- 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.
- AHCTC
Key Responsibilities
The Substance Use Counselor provides compassionate individual and group therapy to patients recovering from opioid use disorder. Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, documenting patient progress, and providing crisis intervention as needed.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 66% are remote, 30% have no call, 68% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$55k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $52k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.4 / 10 · above average in substance use / addiction counselor | ranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $54k–$56k | Substance Use / Addiction Counselor median $65k (middle half $56k–$86k)22 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$52k in purchasing power | Washington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in Washington | 296 active | 13,602 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 66% remote · 30% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | Washington Counselor listings: 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 14% offer loan repayment296 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Addiction Medicine listings | 470 in the last 30 days | 287 the 30 days before (+64%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor at Bellingham Comprehensive Treatment Center a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
Location & Logistics
Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$55k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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