Substance Abuse Counselor

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 34m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Position Title
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • UKH Olathe Pavilion Main Campus

Position Summary / Career Interest

The Counselor provides counseling to patients and refers patients for other needed services to University of Kansas Hospital or other community based services. Provides interventions as indicated and maintains patient care records and program standards. Works closely with physicians, team members and community-based agencies to meet the patient's needs.

Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

Assesses patients entering methadone treatment and provides ongoing assessments at appropriate intervals.

Provides appropriate care and treatment planning that considers the age appropriateness and developmental level of each patient served.

Takes actions to correct, reduce, and /or prevent risks to methadone patient in response to data indicating healthcare risks.

Ensures appropriate documentation and communication on all issues of observed deviations from methadone treatment standards and situations involving unacceptable/exceptional performance and behavior.

Works with treatment team to establish measurable treatment goals, objectives and specific time-limited interventions for patients.

Provides and coordinates care for patients between providers and community resources, including, but not limited to other local/national clinics about transfer patients and cross-check of patients.

Teaches and counsels patients in accordance with designated plans.

Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.

These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

High School Graduate

Bachelors Degree in psychology, counseling, nursing or a related human services field from a fully accredited college or university.

Preferred Education and Experience

Masters Social Work in psychology, social work, counseling or related human services field from a fully accredited college or university.

Required Licensure and Certification

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) - State Addictions Professional Certification Board License/Certification from Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB). upon Hire

Preferred Licensure and Certification

Licensed Masters Social Worker(LMSW) - State Board of Behavioral Sciences Licensed Counselor, or other third party reimbursable license to practice in the State of Kansas. upon Hire

Time Type

Full time

Job Requisition ID

  • R-45339
  • Important information for you to know as you apply:

The health system is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally-protected status. See also Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

The health system provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need to request reasonable accommodations for your disability as you navigate the recruitment process, please let our recruiters know by requesting an Accommodation Request form using this link asktalentacquisition@kumc.edu.

Employment with the health system is contingent upon, among other things, agreeing to the health-system-dispute-resolution-program. pdf and signing the agreement to the DRP.

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Key Responsibilities

The counselor provides substance abuse counseling, conducts patient assessments, and develops individualized treatment plans. They also coordinate care with physicians and community agencies while maintaining accurate clinical records.

Requirements

Candidates must hold at least a Bachelor's degree in a human services field and possess a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) certification. Experience in clinical settings and familiarity with addiction treatment standards are required.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Patient assessmentClinical documentationIntervention strategiesCase managementPatient educationCrisis interventionInterdisciplinary collaborationRegulatory compliance

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 34% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Kansas is 90.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 61.0% of Kansas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution27 jobs · 23 employers

11
<$70k
8
$70k-90k
3
$90k-110k
5
$110k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks24 jobs · 23 employers

401k / retirement match
92%
Sign-on bonus
50%
CME allowance
38%
Loan repayment
17%
PSLF eligible
17%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

LifeStance Health · Smithfield, Rhode Island

$72k-$115k
#2

Licensed Professional Counselor (Therapist)

LifeStance Health · Kansas

$72k-$115k
#3

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$82k-$113k
#4

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

$84k-$113k
+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 30% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

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

Living in Olathe

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$359k
Typical market rent
$1,810/mo
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.5
State income tax
Up to 5.7%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Kansas City, MO-KS metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

University of Kansas Health System logo

About University of Kansas Health System

Hospitals and Health Care
Kansas City, KS
5,001-10,000 employees