Acadia logo
Acadia
Wilmington, North Carolina

Counselor 1

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 1mo ago

Job Description

Purpose Statement

Provide treatment and support to assist patients in their recovery from substance use, eating disorders or other behavioral problems.

Essential Functions

  • Conduct group and/or family sessions, under supervision, as scheduled and documents as required.
  • Co-facilitate assigned group or family sessions and assist with modifying problem behaviors.
  • May be responsible for initial assessments, as well as follow up assessments for patients.
  • May prepare individual treatment plan for each assigned patient.
  • Ensure all documentation regarding patient care, treatment and incidents is completed timely and in a clear, concise manner.
  • May act as a liaison between referral sources and patients.
  • Provide crisis intervention to patients, as needed.
  • May plan for aftercare for assigned patients.
  • May act as a liaison with insurance carriers, as requested.
  • May provide case management duties for patients, ensuring individualized quality care.
  • Evaluate the need of the patient and determine if referrals to other programs or facilities is needed.
  • Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

Other Functions

  • Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements

  • High School diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree in social or health services field preferred.
  • Experience in counseling field instruction/internship or similar practicum through education or certification process required.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications

  • Licensure or certification for counseling, as required by the state in which the facility operates; OR state license or certification eligible within the timeframe designated by the facility.
  • CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
  • First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Additional Regulatory Requirements

  • Completion of ongoing education and training, as required by the state in which the facility operates and applicable accrediting body.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e. g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

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 counselor provides treatment and support to patients recovering from substance use or behavioral problems by conducting group sessions and preparing treatment plans. They also perform case management, crisis intervention, and maintain accurate documentation of patient care.

Requirements

Candidates must have at least a high school diploma, with a bachelor's degree in a social or health services field preferred. Applicants are required to hold or be eligible for state-specific counseling licensure and must obtain CPR and de-escalation certifications.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Group facilitationTreatment planningPatient assessmentBehavioral healthSubstance use recoveryPatient advocacyInterpersonal communication

Behavioral Health Counseling — Counselor Career Context

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).

Acadia ranks #13 of 28 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 28% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

Top Counselor Jobs

47 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution47 jobs · 39 employers

17
<$70k
10
$70k-90k
8
$90k-110k
10
$110k-130k
2
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks36 jobs

401k / retirement match
92% this job
CME allowance
36%
Loan repayment
31%
Sign-on bonus
19%
PSLF eligible
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Bilingual)Contract

Adelphi Staffing · White Plains, New York

$65/hr
#2

Mental Health Therapist

Brightways Counseling Group · Portland, Oregon

$131k
#3

West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (Remote)

$60-$62/hr
#4

Clinical Supervisor & Therapist

+ 45 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Below most Behavioral Health Counseling listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 35 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Wilmington

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$392k
Typical market rent
$1,706/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.4
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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

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

Acadia logo

About Acadia

Mental Health Care
Franklin, Tennessee
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off