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Passages
Malibu, California

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

Salary Range: $30.00 /hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 4mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Passages Malibu - Malibu, CA 90265Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: CertificateSalary Range: $30.00 - $30.00 HourlyTravel Percentage: Local travel among company locationsJob Category: Health CareJoin the Team at Passages – Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Position Available!

Join the team at Passages, rated the #1 Rehab in the World by Healthcare Global! Passages offers the most exclusive holistic, Non-12 Step drug and alcohol addiction program available today.

Our caring and passionate team at Passages has successfully helped thousands of people struggling with drug and alcohol dependency.

Position: Substance Abuse Counselor Location: In-Person, Malibu, California We’re looking for someone to join our team as Substance Abuse Counselor who evaluates clients’ chemical dependency, develops individual interventions, treatments, and recovery plans, and facilitates group and individual therapy sessions within the treatment philosophies and policies of the program.

This is a safety-sensitive position.

Duties may include but are not limited to: Provides individual and group chemical dependency counseling Assesses clients for substance abuse, dependence, and other addictive behaviors Performs biopsychosocial and functional assessments for assigned clients Actively participates in the multi-disciplinary team process by providing and sharing information with the Clinical Director and other team members that contributes to/positively impacts the overall plan of treatment for the client Reassesses clients throughout their stay to determine the clients’ response to care and when there are significant changes in the clients’ condition Adhere to the documentation guidelines set forth by Passages Other duties as assigned Requirements: CADC, SUDCC, CATC certification or equivalent required High School Diploma or GED equivalent required Valid California Driver License with a good driving record (in the Company's sole discretion) required Additional Qualifications: CPR and first aid certification Two years of experience as a chemical dependency counselor preferred Experience dealing with clients and documentation in a hospital, substance abuse treatment facility, and/or mental health facility preferred Regular local travel among company locations.

Must fulfill pre-employment conditions: tuberculosis screening (annually thereafter), background check (including criminal and driving record check), drug screening, and reference checks. Ongoing monitoring and screenings during employment in accordance with the law and company policy.

Must be able to work flexible hours, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays to meet 24/7/365 facility needs Physical Demands: Normal demands associated with an office environment Ability to sit for long periods of time Ability to communicate with others by telephone, email, and face to face Work on computers for periods of time Recognize faces Distinguish colors as necessary Hear sufficiently and speak clearly on the phone, in person, and in the environment, identify and distinguish sounds associated with the workplace See adequately to read computer screens and written documents necessary to the position Ability to perform CPR and First Aid Why Join Us: Be a part of a dedicated team committed to helping individuals on their path to recovery.

Very Competitive rates and a robust benefits package, including student loan repayment assistance.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor evaluates clients' chemical dependency and develops individualized treatment and recovery plans. They facilitate both group and individual therapy sessions while collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a CADC, SUDCC, CATC, or equivalent certification and a high school diploma or GED. A valid California Driver License and the ability to work flexible hours are required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Biopsychosocial AssessmentFunctional AssessmentGroup TherapyTreatment PlanningCrisis InterventionClinical Documentation

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% are remote, 34% have no call, 54% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$62k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $56k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution41 jobs · 24 employers

8
<$90k
14
$90k-105k
8
$105k-120k
11
$120k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs · 24 employers

401k / retirement match
97%
Sign-on bonus
39%
CME allowance
30%
Loan repayment
15% this job
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Seneca Family of Agencies · Salinas, California

$112k-$126k
#2

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

LifeStance Health · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Therapist-IBH - Comprehensive Care Center

$104k-$123k
#4

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 39 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

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

  • Includes weekends

Living in Malibu

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$2.75M
Typical market rent
$10,251/mo
Residents’ average commute
32 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

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About Passages

Hospitals and Health Care
Ventura, California
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Student Loan Repayment Assistance
Robust Benefits Package