Substance Use Counselor- Temporary FT
Listed compensation
$27-$31/hr
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program
*Temporary Position with the Opportunity to become Perminant FT*
Seeking: Substance Use Counselor
Requirements
- AOD Registration is required.
- AOD Certification is preferred.
- Registration/Certification must be obtained from a California-approved Counselor Certification Organization (CAADE, CADTP or CCAPP).
- Temporary Full Time Hours: Monday - Friday 5:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Our Benefits
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Competitive 401(k) plan
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Employer-paid clinical supervision (free to employees)
- Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering continued support to employee lifestyle and well-being
- Early morning hours offering a great work/life balance
- Opportunity for growth that is second to none in the industry
Our Team
Colton Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Colton, CA, is part of Acadia Healthcare's Comprehensive Treatment Centers, the leading provider of medication-assisted treatment in the nation. Our counseling team provides compassionate, high-quality counseling and therapy to patients that are seeking recovery from Opioid Use Disorder.
Your Job as a Substance Use Counselor
The Substance Use Counselor is instrumental in our patient’s treatment and recovery from opioid use disorder. Substance Use Counselors provide high quality, compassionate care through various mediums which include both individual and group counseling sessions.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide high quality, compassionate guidance in both individual and group counseling sessions.
- Plan, oversee, facilitate and document patient's recovery.
- Co-facilitate assigned group or family sessions as needed.
- Ensure all documentation regarding patient care, treatment, and incidents is completed timely and in a clear, concise manner.
- Prepare individual treatment plans for each assigned patient.
- Initial assessments as well as follow up assessments.
- Evaluate patient needs and determine if referrals to other programs or facilities are needed.
- May plan for aftercare for assigned patients.
- Provide crisis intervention to patients, as needed.
- Provide case management duties for patients, ensuring individualized quality care as needed.
- Act as a liaison between referral sources and patients, as needed.
Compensation for roles at Colton CTC varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Colton CTC provides a reasonable hourly range of compensation for roles that may be hired in California as set forth below. Role Location: California
Calculated Salary Range for role: $27.00 - $31.00 per hour.
Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibilty here: HRSA Eligibility
Required Education, Skills, and Qualifications
- HS graduate or equivalent required;
- Prefer Bachelor's or Master’s degree in social or health services field;
- Degree must be from an accredited college or university.
- Previous experience in addiction recovery or behavioral health settings, such as outpatient, residential, or correctional facilities.
- Familiarity with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
- Experience conducting individual and group counseling sessions focused on substance use recovery.
Knowledge of evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and relapse prevention techniques.
Documentation experience, including maintaining clinical notes, treatment plans, and progress updates in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
Familiarity with state regulatory standards (e. g., 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, Joint Commission standards).
Experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary team with medical staff, case managers, and peer support specialists.
Required Licenses/Certifications
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.
Key Responsibilities
The Substance Use Counselor provides compassionate individual and group therapy to patients recovering from opioid use disorder. Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, documenting patient progress, and providing crisis intervention as needed.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 52% are remote, 36% have no call, 70% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$60k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $54k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 10% in substance use / addiction counselor | ranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $56k–$64k | Substance Use / Addiction Counselor median $60k (middle half $55k–$64k)102 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$54k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in California | 1,071 active | 13,727 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 52% remote · 36% no call · 70% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | California Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,071 active listings, Oct 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor- Temporary FT at Colton Comprehensive Treatment Center a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.
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