Clinical Assessments Counselor

Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$76K - $82K

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about call expectations and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Description

SUMMARY: Looking for a counseling position with a dynamic, dedicated team? National Capital Treatment & Recovery, a nonprofit substance use treatment facility in Arlington, VA is looking for a Clinical Assessments Counselor with a passion for recovery!

The Clinical Assessments Counselor is a vital part of the Assessments and Admissions team and must be able to perform in a fast-paced, mission-based work environment.

The right candidate will have strong collaboration and communication skills, clinical expertise, background using ASAM placement criteria, and a desire to work with individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse.

This position is responsible for conducting assessments and intake interviews for prospective patients and making clinically appropriate recommendations for care. Experience with diagnosing co-occurring mental health disorders and using motivational interviewing are a must!

The Clinical Assessments Counselor is also responsible for consistent maintenance of chart documentation in accordance with agency, Virginia licensure and CARF standards. The Clinical Assessments Counselor obtains funding information (insurance, state funding, private pay information. etc.) and verifies it as needed.

This position also operates as a liaison with NCTR programs referral sources. Onsite supervision for some license-eligible candidates may be available as well.

This is a full-time, M-F 9am-5:30pm, salaried position with full benefits. *Must have 60 credit Masters and eligible to become a Resident in Counseling or Supervisee in Social Work or have a CSAC in Virginia*

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Responsible for conducting assessments and intake interviews
  • Work with referral sources to ensure that admissions occur in a timely manner
  • Assess prospective patients for appropriateness for treatment, including consequences of chemical use and makes appropriate treatment recommendations
  • Team with Clinical Director and Development staff to keep program census at a high level
  • Provide and inform NCTR residential programs of all patient-related information to ensure smooth transition from local treatment to residential treatment
  • Assist and support transition from referral and intake to program staff at admission

Provide ongoing collaboration, staffing and treatment planning with program staff regarding patients’ progress as needed

Assist prospective patients, their families, and/or referral sources in identifying, verifying, and arranging funding; obtain benefit or funding information from insurance companies, state funding sources, or other sources

Establish thorough understanding of the various funding alternatives available to prospective patients and how these are accessed; obtain necessary information from patients, their families, and/or referral sources to determine funding availability

Document all funding information obtained and provide all billing information needed to NCTR Finance Department

Act as advocate for patients, i. e., attend court hearings, provide documentation and recommendations, etc. as needed

Submit written clinical requests to Medicaid for authorization as needed

Responsible for maintaining ethical standards and continued professional growth, including: a. Abide by Program and NCTR policy and procedures. b. Ensure all CARF standards are instituted and maintained c. Promote, in public and private contacts, the quality standards and ethical practices of NCTR staff. d.

Continue professional growth by attending workshops, trainings and staff in-service trainings to increase skill and knowledge and to set appropriate example for staff e. Maintain current licensure/certification including CPR and First Aid. f. Maintain professional boundaries with staff and clients. g. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

  • Masters Degree in Counseling/Human Services/Social Work/Nursing or related field
  • Resident in Counseling or Supervisee in Social Work in Virginia required OR RN license in Virginia
  • Minimum three (3) years substance abuse treatment experience
  • Experience in appropriately applying ASAM and diagnosis criteria
  • License (LPC, LSATP, LCSW, RN) preferred

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledgeable of the medical aspects of addiction, including co-occurring diagnosis, and must have excellent assessment skills

  • Possess a thorough knowledge of various treatment methods and experience working with diverse populations.
  • Possess the knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply DSM 5 criteria
  • Possess a high level of organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
  • Strong computer knowledge, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, record keeping and general office methods
  • Must have problem solving skills and a high degree of self-motivation
  • Must be organized and able to prioritize duties and tasks
  • Must have the understanding and ability to appropriately apply ASAM criteria
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment in a team setting

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

In the course of performing this job, one typically spends time sitting, walking, standing, carrying, lifting up to 10 pounds, listening, speaking, typing, reading, and writing.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary.

NCTR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.__

Key Responsibilities

Conduct clinical assessments and intake interviews for prospective patients to make appropriate treatment recommendations. Manage funding verification and maintain detailed chart documentation in compliance with CARF and state standards.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

DSM 5 DiagnosisCo-occurring Disorders DiagnosisCase DocumentationInsurance VerificationPatient AdvocacyOrganization

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Clinical Assessments Counselor at National Capital Treatment and Recovery a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Substance Use Disorder Counseling — ranked against 53 active Substance Use Disorder Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Substance Use Disorder Counseling — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 62% have no call, 90% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$79k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $78k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

18 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution18 jobs · 16 employers

6
<$75k
6
$75k-85k
3
$85k-95k
3
$95k-105k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks14 jobs

401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
43%
PSLF eligible
29% this job
Sign-on bonus
21%
Loan repayment
21% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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$100k-$103k
#2

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#3

Sup, Substance Abuse Counselor

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#4

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Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of Substance Use Disorder Counseling listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 53 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
  • On-site

Living in Arlington

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.00M≈ 13.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,702/mo≈ 43% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

National Capital Treatment and Recovery logo

About National Capital Treatment and Recovery

Hospitals and Health Care
Arlington, Virginia
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Full benefits package
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Paid Time Off
Onsite supervision for license-eligible candidates