Substance Use Counselor- Master's Level
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
- Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program
- Seeking: Substance Use Counselor- Master's Degree Required
- Full Time Hours: Monday - Friday 5:00 AM - 1:30 PM and Rotating Saturday 5:30 AM - 11:30 AM
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
Volunteer Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Chattanooga, TN, 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.
Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibility here: HRSA Eligibility
Qualifications
Required Education, Skills and Qualifications
- High School Diploma or GED 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.
Licenses/Certifications
- Not required, position applicable to the following: LMFT, LPC, LMSW, LADC
- 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.
- AHCTC
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 coordinating care within a multidisciplinary team.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor- Master's Level at Volunteer 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.
Location & Logistics
Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.
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