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Avenues Recovery
Richmond, Virginia

Substance Abuse Counselor

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$65k–$78k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

Avenues Recovery Center is a nationwide network of drug and alcohol rehab centers with 18 locations across 7 states. With an unrivaled, evidence - based clinical curriculum and highly individualized care, Avenues continues to set new standards in the world of addiction treatment.

Our programs - spanning detox, residential, PHP, IOP and outpatient services - have transformed the lives of thousands to date. But our secret superpower is our people. If you are a talented, passionate clinician looking to make a real difference in the recovery community, the Avenues family warmly welcomes you!

Now Hiring Therapists for our newest inpatient Detox and Residential treatment facility, in North Chesterfield, VA.

What You'll Do

  • Create individualized, evidence-based treatment plans for each client
  • Conduct individual, group, family and couple therapy sessions
  • Take responsibility for all clinical needs, services, and aftercare for your client caseload
  • Prevent, intervene and de-escalate in event of a crisis
  • Maintain impeccable documentation of client challenges, progress, relapse risk, and intervention
  • Collaborate with Clinical Director, treatment team and family for seamless coordination of care

Model ethics, morality and recovery principles in every professional interaction - honesty, accountability, dignity and respect

What We're Looking For

  • Master's degree in psychology, counseling or related field required.
  • Valid state Virginia licensure/certification necessary to practice in this role- CSAC, Social Work Supervisee, Resident in Counseling, LCSW, LPC, LSATP
  • Excellent observational, collaborative and interpersonal skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Compassionate, dignified character which models recovery principles
  • Ability to set strong boundaries and maintain absolute confidentiality

Why Join Us

Avenues features a rich, fulfilling workplace culture where each person is valued and greatness is pursued. We support our employees unconditionally, and work to provide them with every resource they need to excel! Aside from generous PTO and compensation, when you join the Avenues family,

You'll Be Eligible for the Following Benefits Package

  • 401K with employer match
  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Accident
  • Critical Illness
  • Hospital Indemnity
  • Voluntary Short-Term Disability
  • Voluntary Long -Term Disability
  • Employer-Paid Life and AD&D
  • LifeTime Benefit Term Insurance with Long Term Care
  • Legal Coverage
  • Pet Insurance
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Employer-Paid Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - Medical
  • Dependent Care FSA (DCF)
  • Eligible for HRSA STAR federal student loan repayment

Join our growing team and discover the magic here at Avenues!

#lp1

Key Responsibilities

Create and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans while conducting various therapy sessions for clients. Manage clinical needs, maintain detailed documentation, and collaborate with the treatment team to ensure seamless care coordination.

Requirements

Requires a Master's degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field. Must hold a valid Virginia licensure or certification such as CSAC, LCSW, LPC, or LSATP.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Treatment planningIndividual therapyGroup therapyFamily therapyCrisis interventionDe-escalationClinical documentationCase managementBoundary settingEvidence-based practice

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 46% have no call, 56% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$72k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $71k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution34 jobs · 27 employers

13
<$80k
9
$80k-100k
6
$100k-120k
6
$120k-140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks31 jobs · 27 employers

401k / retirement match
94% this job
CME allowance
45%
Loan repayment
26% this job
PSLF eligible
26%
Sign-on bonus
16%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Behavioral Health Therapist 2 Community Behavioral Health

Inova · Leesburg, Virginia

$80k-$130k
#2

Behavioral Health Therapist 2 Mental Health Programs

Inova · Fairfax, Virginia

$80k-$130k
#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$126k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
+ 32 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.

Living in Richmond

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$342k≈ 5.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,648/mo≈ 30% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Richmond, VA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Avenues Recovery logo

About Avenues Recovery

Mental Health Care
Lakewood, New Jersey
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Generous PTO
401K with employer match
Medical Insurance
Dental
Vision
Accident
Critical Illness
Hospital Indemnity