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Spectrum Health Systems
Chesapeake, Virginia

Counselor - Youthful Offender

Counselor / TherapistNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$25-$27.88/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

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

Posted 18m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Job Location: Corrections VA DOC Indian Creek 086 - Chesapeake, VA
  • Position Type: Full Time
  • Education Level: 4 Year Degree
  • Salary Range: $25.00 - $27.88Hourly
  • Job Shift: 1st Shift/Days
  • Job Category: Entry Level
  • Location: Chesapeake, VA. Indian Creek Correctional Center houses 1,000+ inmates and operates a Cognitive Therapeutic Community in which inmates receive substance use disorder treatment services. The population is considered "youthful offenders" when in early adulthood. Clients are ages 18-25
  • Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm with a 1-hour unpaid meal break Pay Rate: $25.00/hour

($52,000 annually). Candidates with a CSAC, CADC, or equivalent certification/license are eligible for $27.88/hour ($58,000 annually).

Benefits

Health, dental, vision insurance/additional voluntary insurances Company-paid life insurance/employee assistance programs Generous paid time off accrual Tuition reimbursement/loan repayment options 401k with company match up to 7%!

Discounts on wide array of services/entertainment nationwide The Youthful Offender Counselor is responsible for: Facilitating psycho-educational and process group sessions as defined by specified curriculum for Youthful Offenders.

Providing individual counseling according to timeframes established per program and documenting each session according to policies and procedures. Maintaining clinical records in accordance with contractual and Spectrum standards.

Correcting all documentation deficiencies in established timeframes as directed by the Director of Clinical Services. Soliciting external guest speakers to provide presentations, seminars, and other activities that are pro social and pro recovery.

Serving as a role model/mentor for inmates while maintaining professional boundaries and addressing program participant issues, concerns, and inappropriate behaviors promptly and in accordance with Spectrum’s clinical design.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Human Services field is required. State certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) in the state of Virginia or similar certification/license recognized by the Virginia Board of Professional Counselors is required within two (2) years of signing job description.

Experience working in the substance abuse treatment field is preferred. Experience working within a correctional or secure environment is a plus. Experience working in Therapeutic Community model programs is a plus.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor facilitates psycho-educational and process group sessions while providing individual counseling to youthful offenders. They are also responsible for maintaining clinical records and serving as a role model to support recovery within the correctional facility.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field is required for this position. Candidates must also obtain or hold a state certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) or equivalent within two years.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Substance abuse counselingPsycho-educational group facilitationClinical documentationCase managementMentoringCrisis interventionRecord keepingCurriculum implementation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Counselor - Youthful Offender at Spectrum Health Systems a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 38% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Counselor by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$52k–$58kCounselor median $63k (middle half $60k–$63k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$54k in purchasing powerVirginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Counselor listings in Virginia432 active13,380 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 56% remote · 38% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentVirginia Counselor listings: 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 13% offer loan repayment432 active listings, Nov 2026
Counselor pay trend−1.8% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

37 jobs · 23 employers
10
<$90k
8
$90k-110k
11
$110k-130k
8
$130k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

32 jobs · 23 employers
401k / retirement match
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
31%
CME allowance
19%
Loan repayment
13% this job
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

6.4/ 10
Listing-based score
  • No weekends
  • No nights
Spectrum Health Systems logo

About Spectrum Health Systems

Health, Wellness & Fitness
Indianapolis, IN
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health, dental, vision insurance and additional voluntary insurances
Company-paid life insurance
Employee assistance programs
Generous paid time off accrual
Tuition reimbursement
Loan repayment options
401k with company match up to 7%
Discounts on services/entertainment nationwide

Living in Chesapeake

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$349k
Typical market rent
$2,063/mo
Residents’ average commute
26 min
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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