GEO Group logo
GEO Group
Adelanto, California

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$34.27/Hr

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Benefits Information

Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:

  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Matching
  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Health Savings Account
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Discount
  • Reduced Tuition Rates
  • Disability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 401(k)
  • Pet Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Training
  • Flexible Spending Account

The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Overview

Are you looking for a career you can feel good about? We hire only those that strive to do their best. By joining our family, you'll receive the honor and recognition that comes with working for the industry's global leader in evidenced based rehabilitation.

Who We Are

GEO provides complementary, turnkey solutions for numerous government partners worldwide across a spectrum of diversified correctional and community reentry services. From the development of state-of-the-art facilities and the provision of management services and evidence-based rehabilitation to the post-release reintegration and supervision of individuals in the community, GEO offers fully diversified, cost-effective services that deliver enhanced quality and improved outcomes.

Why Work for GEO

We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.

Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.

Responsibilities

Summary: The Substance Abuse Counselor assists in developing, organizing, and conducting programs to provide education for conditions and problems relating to drug and alcohol use disorders. Conducts or assists in conducting individual and/or group counseling sessions and programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Substance Abuse Counselor provides relevant information regarding substance use disorders for groups as part of the Comprehensive Mental Health Group Program.

Facilitates and co-facilitates didactic educational presentations, group counseling, and individual counseling sessions.

The Substance Abuse Counselor selects and recommends new instructional materials and programs with a focus on substance use disorders.

  • Maintains knowledge of new developments in the substance use disorder field.
  • Completes required assessment and psychosocial history on incoming detainees as required.
  • Participates in related training for substance use disorders and other relevant staff training.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Associate of Arts or Associate of Sciences degree from a granting institution accredited by the WASC or equivalent and/or high school diploma or equivalent.

Minimum of one (1) year of full-time experience of providing individual and group counseling for individuals with substance use disorders.

Certified AOD Counselor Certification by an agency approved and recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

  • Any other applicable qualifications required by the state where the position functions.
  • Preference given to experience within a secure facility.
  • Ability to interact in a professional manner in both individual and group counseling settings.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work with a team of professionals and have the ability to implement team strategy approaches to work assignments.
  • Ability to work with computers and the necessary software typically used by the department.
  • Must be at least 21 years of age
  • Must be a United States citizen.
  • GEO Secured Services

Pay

Pay USD $34.27/Hr.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree

Key Skills

Substance abuse counselingPsychosocial assessmentInstructional material developmentCase managementTeam collaborationComputer literacy

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR at GEO Group a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Addiction Medicine (Counseling) — ranked against 1,285 active Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 24% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$71k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $64k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

32 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution32 jobs · 26 employers

7
<$90k
11
$90k-105k
6
$105k-120k
6
$120k-135k
2
$135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks30 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
93% this job
CME allowance
50%
Sign-on bonus
27%
Loan repayment
17%
Relocation assistance
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Poway, California

$118k-$135k
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

Integrated Pain Management Medical Group · Walnut Creek, California

$115k-$135k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Therapist

$100k-$126k
+ 30 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.6
Better work-life than 80% of Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,285 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Adelanto

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$375k
Typical market rent
$2,102/mo
Residents’ average commute
47 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
106.4
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

GEO Group logo

About GEO Group

Security and Investigations
Boca Raton, Florida
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
Tuition Reimbursement