RHA Health Services logo
RHA Health Services
Asheville, North Carolina

Substance Use Counselor

Addiction CounselorIncludes callIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 4mo ago

Job Description

We are hiring for: Substance Use Counselor Type: Regular If you are a positive and personable individual looking for a satisfying and fun opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with intellectual, developmental disabilities, and people facing mental health, and substance use challenges, join our team at RHA Health Services!

Provides support to individuals with Mental Health (MH) or Substance Abuse Issues. In residential, school, workplace and community settings.

These interventions are strength-based and focused on promoting recovery, symptom reduction, increased coping skills, and achievement of the highest level of functioning in the community. Staff ratio takes into consideration evening and weekend hours, needs of special populations and geographical areas to be served.

Persons who meet the requirements specified for Qualified Professional (QP) status have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by the population and age to be served may deliver supports within the requirements of the staff definition specified in the service definitions.

Relies on supervision and direction to provide quality services. $2,000.00 sign on bonus! Seeking North Carolina LCAS, LCAS-A, or CDAC.

Calling all compassionate and caring behavioral health specialists who are looking to partner with a community based service provider offering mental health and substance abuse services where individuals live and work.

RHA Behavioral Health Services is looking for dedicated Behavioral Health Specialists (Qualified Professionals) to join our interdisciplinary healthcare team providing support to individuals in residential, school, workplace and community settings.

In this dynamic and rewarding role, there is an emphasis on creating interventions that are strength-based and focused on promoting recovery, symptom reduction, increased coping skills, and achievement of the highest level of functioning for the client in the community.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of the people that you serve then consider RHA Behavioral Health Services where we put people first! Job

Responsibilities

As a Behavioral Health Specialist you will be responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring and revision to the Person Centered Plan in conjunction with the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

Additional responsibilities of the Behavioral Health Specialist include: Facilitating relationships and serving as a link between the company, parents, guardians, local agencies and the community Minimizing the negative effects of psychiatric symptoms or substance dependence that interfere with the recipient’s daily living and personal development, providing supportive counseling Supporting the client in the development of various skill building activities, including: daily and community living skills, socialization skills, adaptation skills, and behavior and anger management Participating in a first responder on-call system available to consumers and/or his/her natural support network on a 24/7/365 basis; coordinates “first response" resources according to consumer need and the PCP Performing Case Management functions of linking and arranging for services and referrals Working closely with other clinical/professional staff to maintain communication and providing feedback, standardizing procedures and expediting PCP implementation Ensuring that all initial and reauthorizations for services occur in a timely fashion Monitoring utilization of service to ensure that it is effective, appropriate, and within the limits set forth in both rule, PCP, and the service authorization Candidates for the Behavioral Health Specialist role are considered “Qualified Professionals" based on the following criteria: Education: Bachelor Degree (Not Human Services field) & 4+ years full-time experience with population served OR Bachelor Degree (in Human Services field) & 2+ years full-time experience with population served OR Master’s Degree or Higher & 1+ years full-time experience with population served.

License, Provisional License, Certificate, Registration, Permit issued by governing board regulating human service profession. Definitions: Human Service Degrees Include: Social Service, Sociology, Psychology, or other Human Service Degrees.

Populations Served Include: Mentally Ill-Child, Mentally Ill- Adult, Substance Abuse-Adult, Substance Abuse-Child #RHABH Pre-employment screening: Complete criminal background Name checked in the registries.

(OIG exclusions database, Child Abuse Registry, and Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities) Drug testing Education verification and other credentialing based on position requirements.

Proof of employment history or references (if required) Positions that require driving Proof of driver's license, driver's insurance, and vehicle, IF required for providing transportation for individuals.

We offer the following benefits to employees: Payactiv: early access to the money you’ve earned from hours you’ve already worked, before payday! Employee perks and discount program: to help you save money!

Paid Time Off (full-time employees only) Health/Insurance (full-time employees only) 401(k) retirement savings program Wellbeing Programs: Physical, Emotional and Financial Chronic Disease management programs for hypertension and diabetes (for qualifying employees) Training: Free CPR, first aid, and job-specific training opportunities *contract/contingent workers and interns do not qualify for any of the above benefits EEO Statement RHA is an equal opportunity employer.

In addition, we provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact our solutions center.

About RHA

At RHA Health Services, we help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health and/or substance use needs live their best lives. Our mission is to provide a safe and healthy environment while creating opportunities for personal outcomes.

For over 30 years, the people we serve and support have remained at the very center of everything we do. RHA currently provides services in North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and New Jersey. If you are ready to make a difference in the lives of people we serve and support apply to join the team today.

Candidate Account Help - Forget Login? Learn more about working at RHA Health Services At RHA Health Services, the people we serve and support are at the very center of everything we do.

Throughout Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, we provide high-quality care to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

In North Carolina and Pennsylvania, we also provide behavioral health services to support people with mental health and substance use needs and provide services for those who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Since 1989, we have partnered with and celebrated people achieving their personal goals, building meaningful connections, experiencing positive outcomes in health and wellness, and more. If you share our passion, there is a place for you at RHA Health Services.

From inpatient care to community-based services, from in-home support to facilities of all sizes, RHA offers a range of settings where you can apply your unique skillset. Many of our employees also experience opportunities for career growth and continued education.

RHA is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Council on Quality and Leadership, and we are committed to providing the highest quality of care. At RHA, we believe we all deserve the chance to live our best possible lives.

We want you to join our team of compassionate professionals. To learn more, visit rhahealth.org or email us at careers@rhanet.org. RHA Health Services – Where Compassion Meets Career.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and implement Person Centered Plans while providing strength-based interventions to individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams and community agencies to facilitate recovery and improve daily living skills.

Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Services or related fields with 1 to 4+ years of experience depending on the degree level. Must hold a valid license or certification such as LCAS, LCAS-A, or CDAC.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Person Centered PlanningCrisis InterventionBehavior ManagementInterdisciplinary CollaborationRecovery Promotion

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 42% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $59k (middle half $55k–$71k)18 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingNorth Carolina index 94.3US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Addiction Medicine listings in North Carolina52 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All substance use / addiction counselor listings in North Carolina467 active12,846 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 42% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$2k sign-onNorth Carolina counselor listings (all specialties): 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 15% offer loan repayment467 active listings, Nov 2026
New Addiction Medicine listings433 in the last 30 days231 the 30 days before (+87%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 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. North Carolina figures use all substance use / addiction counselors: too few North Carolina Addiction Medicine postings state pay.

Top Counselor Jobs

46 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

46 jobs · 35 employers
25
<$80k
10
$80k-105k
3
$105k-130k
8
$130k-155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

33 jobs
401k / retirement match
88% this job
CME allowance
24%
Sign-on bonus
21% this job
Loan repayment
9%
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist

LifeStance Health · Lake Oswego, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Mental Health Clinician (LCSW or LMFT), Suicide Risk and Assessment (ASSIST Program)

$59.42-$66.62/hr
#4

Remote Licensed Mental Health Therapist

$66/hr
+ 44 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 1.5
Below most Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends
RHA Health Services logo

About RHA Health Services

Individual and Family Services
Asheville
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Payactiv early access to earned wages
Employee perks and discount program
Paid Time Off (full-time)
Health/Insurance (full-time)
401(k) retirement savings program
Wellbeing Programs
Chronic Disease management programs
Free CPR, first aid, and job-specific training

Living in Asheville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$451k
Typical market rent
$1,726/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.5
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Asheville, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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