Counselor - Youthful Offender
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.
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
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).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $52k–$58k | Counselor median $63k (middle half $60k–$63k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$54k in purchasing power | Virginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Counselor listings in Virginia | 432 active | 13,380 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 56% remote · 38% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | Virginia 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 |
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