Gateway Foundation logo
Gateway Foundation
Malone, Florida

COGNITIVE COUNSELOR- MALONE, FL

Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeFull-Time

Listed compensation

$27.34 per hour

Listing transparency3 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on-site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice.  You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth. When you join us, you'll discover personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

We are honored to offer behavioral healthcare services in Corrections

Perks of working in correctional healthcare

  • Opportunity to make a positive impact on a marginalized population
  • Exposure to diverse patient demographics
  • Focus on driving change, tracking progress, and improving care
  • Development of skills in a unique healthcare setting

Cognitive Counselors are responsible for

Preparing appropriate cognitive intervention plans, in accordance with established standards and deadlines.  Preparing and conducting group educational sessions with clients in accordance with intervention programming plan; facilitating discussion and interaction; and enabling group members to understand and accept responsibility for the process of change, and acquiring necessary coping and behavior management skills.

Documenting cognitive intervention program plans, evaluations, weekly progress notes and discharge summaries.  Updating and maintaining client records which include recording direct service hours, activity or group participation ensuring they are complete and accurate in accordance with organizational, regulatory, accreditation and contractual standards.

Preparing and conducting educational programs and lectures on scheduled topics related to thinking for change, cognitive intervention, life skills, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management to assist clients with basic education on these topics. Developing client discharge plans.

Contributing to client care monitoring by regularly reporting to supervisor client observations, incidents, unusual occurrences and caseload activities and results.  Participating in staff meetings to review client progress, intervention programming and recommend continuation or modification of programing.  Assisting team in maintaining consistent setting for program, planning and coordinating client interaction events.

Maintaining regular communications with onsite parole officers to relay reports on clients’ progress in cognitive programming.  Preparing written reports and correspondence.

Providing effective support, intervention, direction, and conflict resolution; interacting effectively with family members; and maintaining effective contacts with outside agencies and referral sources or services.

Performing other duties as assigned.

Work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6 AM - 2:30 PM

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work or psychology. Master’s degree preferred.

2 years related experience; 5+ years preferred. Experience in a forensic counseling setting preferred.

Basic Strong knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level

Strong knowledge of word processing software in order to complete required forms, reports and correspondence

Strong communication skills to provide support, intervention, direction, and conflict resolution; interact effectively with family members; and maintain effective contacts with outside agencies and referral sources or services

Basic analytical skills to prepare cognitive intervention plans, complete progress evaluations and related reports

  • Active listening skills and social perceptiveness
  • Ability to read and interpret policies and instructions
  • Ability to understand side effects and impact of medications on client
  • Adaptability / flexibility: ability to shift priorities

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to read, write, and understand and follow written instructions
  • Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
  • Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy
  • Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises

Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients

Compensation (based on experience and credentials)

Range begins at $27.34 per hour

Gateway Foundation conducts annual reviews including merit increases.

Benefits at Gateway Foundation:

Health and Wellness:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
  • Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
  • Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off

  • 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
  • 9 paid company holidays
  • Work-life-balance

Personal Development

Training & Development Programs

Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year

eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training

Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Key Responsibilities

The Cognitive Counselor is responsible for preparing and conducting group educational sessions and cognitive intervention plans to assist clients with behavior management and life skills. They also maintain accurate client records, monitor progress, and coordinate with parole officers and other agencies to support client recovery.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Group facilitationCase managementCrisis interventionDocumentationTreatment planningLife skills training

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates COGNITIVE COUNSELOR- MALONE, FL at Gateway Foundation a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 25% in Counseling — ranked against 586 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% are remote, 34% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Florida is 103.4 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$57k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $55k in an average-cost state. 58.1% of Florida clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Florida has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$57k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution34 jobs · 27 employers

16
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6
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8
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks24 jobs

401k / retirement match
92% this job
CME allowance
38% this job
Sign-on bonus
25%
Loan repayment
17% this job
PSLF eligible
8% this job

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Work-life snapshot

8.0/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 25% in Counseling

  • On-site

Living in Malone

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$165k
Median resident rent
$684/mo
Residents’ average commute
31 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

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

Gateway Foundation logo

About Gateway Foundation

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, Illinois
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Wellness program
Employee assistance program
403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
Short-term and long-term disability
Life and AD&D insurance
Flexible spending accounts
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)