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Emory Healthcare
Atlanta, Georgia

Addiction Counselor

Addiction CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$32.34-$38.44/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience providing therapy services to adolescents and/or families.
  • Independent clinical licensure (LPC, LCSW, and LMSW) with certification to provide care in Georgia required.

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  • Comprehensive health benefits that start day 1
  • Student Loan Repayment Assistance & Reimbursement Programs
  • Family-focused benefits

Wellness Incentives

Ongoing mentorship, development, and leadership programs... and more!

Description

Job Description

The Addiction Counselor provides advanced clinical services as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. The primary purpose is to provide intensive outpatient group therapy and individual therapy services to persons with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health problems.

This role integrates mental health treatment with addiction recovery within an abstinence-oriented treatment model. The Addiction Counselor performs diagnostic assessments, individual and group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and develops initial individualized treatment plans and updates ongoing care plans.

Additional expectations include - providing substance use disorder and mental health treatment services to patients according to the Addiction Alliance of Georgia standards of care, policies, and procedures. Skilled in recognizing symptoms of addictions and mental health, according to DSM-5 criteria.

Knowledgeable and integrates principles of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, twelve step facilitation, dialectical behavioral therapy and recovery management in delivery of therapy.

Able to facilitate family session and assist patients, families, and referents in understanding the importance of sober support systems, community support groups, and continuing care recommendations to support recovery. Participate in program development and conduct education/informational lectures and trainings.

Represent the Addiction Alliance of Georgia services to various audiences to ensure consistent knowledge about services, processes, and participation. Provide clinical supervision to students and interns to facilitate development of clinical competency and ethical practice.

Communicate patient information to internal and external resources according to Addiction Alliance of Georgia policy and procedures and consistent with Federal Confidentiality (CFR 42) and Health Information Portability and Privacy Act (CFR 45) and mandated reporting requirements.

Provide clear, accurate, and complete information and documentation both verbally and in the medical record to the multi-disciplinary team. Demonstrate competency in utilizing the electronic medical record to provide efficient care and communicate with patients or their families.

Builds professional relationships with referents that facilitate both patient care and organizational goals through consistent and timely communication related to referrals, intake, assessment, and care planning.

Initiates/attends multidisciplinary team meetings, case reviews, conflict resolutions, family conferences, consultations, etc. as needed to facilitate achievement of programmatic and individual goals consistent with recovery. Assure a safe and secure environment for patients, staff, guests, and visitors.

Maintains privacy, security, and confidentiality for all patients, past and present, based on federal and state regulations and the Addiction Alliance of Georgia policies. Applies and adheres to standards and regulations for fire, weather, emergency, and environmental hazards.

Works safely, using procedures and techniques that apply to work area and equipment, including ergonomics. Completes an incident report for any injury, theft, vandalism, security concern or potential hazard in immediate work area as well as anywhere on Emory/Addiction Alliance of Georgia property.

Minimum Qualifications

Completed masters level degree program in counseling, social work, or the equivalent. Two year's experience providing counseling in a mental health/addiction treatment environment. Independent clinical licensure (LPC, LCSW, and LMSW) with certification to provide care in Georgia.

CACII, CADCII, CAADC, CPCS, CMAC, or equivalent preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs, 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 11-25 lbs, 34-66% of the workday (frequently); 01-10 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 25 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks.

Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure Bio-hazardous waste Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors Communicable diseases Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required.

Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Additional Details

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

The Addiction Counselor provides intensive outpatient group and individual therapy for patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. This role involves performing diagnostic assessments, developing treatment plans, and participating in multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure high-quality patient care.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a master's degree in counseling or social work and possess independent clinical licensure in Georgia (LPC, LCSW, or LMSW). At least two years of experience in a mental health or addiction treatment environment is required.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Addiction counselingTreatment planningCase managementSubstance use disorder treatmentMental health assessment

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 12% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Georgia is 96.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$74k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $76k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Georgia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$67k–$80kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $50k (middle half $46k–$50k)10 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$76k in purchasing powerGeorgia index 96.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in Georgia324 active13,621 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 42% remote · 12% no call · 70% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentGeorgia Counselor listings: 5% state a sign-on bonus · 18% offer loan repayment324 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

33 jobs · 17 employers
12
<$75k
10
$75k-90k
4
$90k-105k
7
$105k-120k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

26 jobs · 17 employers
401k / retirement match
92%
Sign-on bonus
62%
CME allowance
12%
Loan repayment
4% this job
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Eden Prairie, Minnesota

$74k-$117k
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LSCSW, LCPC, LCMFT) Sign-on Bonus $5,000

LifeStance Health · Lawrence, Kansas

$81k-$117k
#3

Licensed Counselor (LPC, LCSW, LMFT)

up to $115,000
#4

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

$84k-$113k
+ 31 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.

  • On-site
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About Emory Healthcare

Hospitals and Health Care
Atlanta, GA
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive Health Benefits (Day 1)
Student Loan Repayment Assistance
Family-Focused Benefits
Wellness Incentives
Ongoing Mentorship
Development Programs
Leadership Programs

Living in Atlanta

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$375k
Typical market rent
$1,942/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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