ARC Community Services logo
ARC Community Services
Madison, Wisconsin

SUDS COUNSELOR- RESIDENTIAL

CounselorNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$50k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Madison, WI 53703Salary Range: $50,000.00 Salary/yearSUD Counselor Shape Futures. Empower Women. Build Stronger Communities. Are you ready to lead with purpose and transform lives? Imagine guiding women toward hope, healing, and a brighter tomorrow.

This is your chance to create a safe, structured, and compassionate space where justice-involved women can reclaim their stories and begin anew. We are seeking a visionary SUD Counselor to champion our specialized gender responsive treatment facility.

In this vital role, you’ll do more than substance use treatment-you’ll inspire change. You’ll be a part of a passionate team that fosters resilience and delivers trauma-informed care that empowers women to rebuild their lives and thrive in the community.

If you are mission-driven, deeply committed to recovery and social justice, and eager to make a lasting impact, this is your opportunity to be a part of a program that truly changes futures.

What You Will Do These responsibilities focus on the direct provision of clinical services, coordination of care, and program compliance. Clinical Service Delivery Meet all DHS 75 requirements.

Conduct comprehensive Substance Use Disorder (SUD) assessments and develop immediate treatment/continuing care plans upon a resident's arrival. Facilitate SUD treatment groups using designated evidence-based curricula. Provide weekly one-hour individual SUD counseling sessions.

Develop Relapse Prevention and Continuing Care Plans with clients, updating them weekly. Treatment Coordination & Compliance Coordinate individual SUD treatment plans collaboratively with the resident, Program Manager, and Case Managers.

Update treatment/continuing care plans and the ASAM level of care weekly, submitting them to the Clinical Supervisor for signature. Act as a consultant for substance use related crises. Work collaboratively with external SUD treatment agencies and manage community referrals.

Schedule urinalysis and breathalyzer testing. Reporting and Team Collaboration Prepare weekly client updates on substance use for staffing notes and prepare the substance use section of discharge reports. Provide weekly updates and reports directly to the Clinical Supervisor.

Participate in scheduled client staffings and team meetings weekly. Meet with the Medical Director monthly. Gather assigned evaluation data. Supervision and Program Support Supervise the provision of any SUD treatment component delivered by other staff.

Supervise any assigned substance abuse intern or volunteer under the direction of the Program Manager. Monitor and supervise residents and the facility environment. Serve as on-call staff and work assigned shifts to meet agency needs.

Participate in all required clinical supervision and training to maintain professional certification.

Qualifications

What You Will Bring (Qualifications) These qualifications highlight the necessary clinical expertise, experience, and certifications for the role.

Expertise & Knowledge Clinical Proficiency: Deep knowledge of Substance Use Disorder treatment, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), ASAM, and DSM-5-TR. Specialized Approach: Knowledge of gender responsive programming and the ability to implement principles of trauma-informed care.

Environment Management: Ability to maintain a safe and stable residential treatment environment and effectively engage clients. Required Experience & Certification Professional Experience: A minimum of one year of experience providing services specifically to offender populations.

Certification: Current certification as a substance abuse counselor or substance abuse counselor-in-training. Supervisory Experience: Experience necessary to supervise the provision of SUD treatment components and assigned interns/volunteers (as noted in the responsibilities).

Education Advanced Degree: MSW or related advanced degree preferred. Alternative Consideration: A BA in Social Work, or a related degree, will be considered with demonstrated work experience and knowledge.

What We Offer Purpose That Matters Lead a program that transforms lives. Every decision you make, every moment you lead, will ripple out to create hope and healing for mothers and their infants. Room to Grow Your growth matters as much as theirs.

We invest in you through ongoing training, professional development, and collaboration with a passionate, mission-driven team. A Culture of Care Join a community that values your expertise and empowers you to make a difference every single day. Here, your voice matters, and your leadership inspires change.

Benefits That Support You Enjoy competitive pay, generous time off, retirement plans, and the peace of mind that comes with working in a supportive environment. Ready to lead with purpose?

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will conduct comprehensive SUD assessments, facilitate evidence-based treatment groups, and provide individual counseling sessions. They are also responsible for coordinating care, maintaining program compliance, and supervising facility operations.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a current substance abuse counselor certification and have at least one year of experience working with offender populations. An advanced degree in social work or a related field is preferred, though a bachelor's degree with relevant experience will be considered.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Substance use disorder counselingASAM criteriaCrisis interventionTreatment planningCase managementClinical documentationGroup facilitation

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Addiction Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 64% are remote, 38% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$50k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $53k in an average-cost state. 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Addiction Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.4% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates SUDS COUNSELOR- RESIDENTIAL at ARC COMMUNITY SERVICES a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Addiction Medicine (Counseling) — ranked against 1,292 active Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Top Counselor Jobs

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution27 jobs · 11 employers

6
<$90k
6
$90k-105k
8
$105k-120k
7
$120k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks26 jobs · 11 employers

401k / retirement match
96% this job
Sign-on bonus
50%
CME allowance
19%
Loan repayment
4%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

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

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

$115k-$120k
+ 25 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.1
Better work-life than 50% of Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,292 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call

Living in Madison

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$433k≈ 8.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,616/mo≈ 39% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.3
State income tax
Up to 7.7%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Madison, WI metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

ARC Community Services logo

About ARC Community Services

Hospitals and Health Care
Madison, Wisconsin
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive pay
Generous time off
Retirement plans
Supportive environment