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Acadia
Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Substance Use Counselor

Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeNo callNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$27.88-$29.81/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program
  • Now Hiring: Substance Use Counselor
  • Full Time Hours: Early morning schedule that encourages a great work-life balance:
  • Monday - Friday, 5:30 AM to 1:30 PM or 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM
  • Schedule may vary based on program and patient needs
  • Why Work With Us? Benefits Include:
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Competitive 401(k) with employer match
  • Paid vacation and sick leave
  • Employer-paid clinical supervision (free to employees)
  • Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) supporting your mental health & well-being
  • Industry-leading growth and development opportunities

Our Team

Fitchburg Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Fitchburg, MA, is part of Acadia Healthcare's Comprehensive Treatment Centers—the nation's leader in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals seeking recovery from Opioid Use Disorder.

We provide a continuum of care that includes Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and mobile treatment units.

Our approach to holistic addiction care extends beyond clinical treatment, incorporating recovery coaching, community outreach and partnerships to ensure patients receive comprehensive, patient-centered support.

Transforming Lives with Community & Compassion

With 14 outpatient opioid treatment programs (OTPs) across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we’re breaking down barriers to care and supporting long-term recovery. Our CTC clinics partner with nursing homes, justice systems, and community groups to provide holistic, patient-centered care. From wellness initiatives and holiday celebrations to yoga and animal therapy, we foster a supportive environment for healing and whole-person well-being.

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.

Compensation for roles at Fitchburg CTC varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, role, skill set, and level of experience. Fitchburg CTC provides a reasonable hourly range of compensation for roles that may be hired in Massachusetts as set forth below.

Role Location: Massachusetts

Calculated Salary Range for the role: $27.88 - $29.81 per hour

Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibilty here: HRSA Eligibility

Where Passion Meets Purpose. Join Our Team!

Our compassionate team is dedicated to empowering individuals on their recovery journey, providing high-quality care, offering unwavering support, and fostering a patient-centered approach to healing.

Through evidence-based treatment and a commitment to whole-person wellness, our team members play a vital role in helping individuals reclaim their lives.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a supportive, mission-driven team committed to transforming lives and strengthening local communities, we encourage you to apply today. Join us in delivering dedicated care and meaningful recovery support.

Required Education

Master’s Degree in a relevant field is required, or one of the following credentials: CAC, CAS, CADC, CRC, LADC I, LADC II, LICSW, LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT.

Bachelor’s Degree holders without credentials are encouraged to apply if they are committed to obtaining required credentials within 30-60 days of employment.

For Bachelor’s-level candidates, we provide reimbursement for licensing or certification exam fees to support credential attainment.

Degree obtained must be in psychology, social work, or related health services field from an accredited college or university.

Your Skills & Experience

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

Candidates who do not hold a Master’s degree must possess one of the following certifications or commit to obtaining it within 60 days of hire:

  • CAC, CAS, CADC, CRC, LADC I, LADC II, LICSW, LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT.
  • We provide reimbursement for licensing or certification exam fees to support credential attainment.

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.

Key Responsibilities

The Substance Use Counselor provides high-quality, compassionate individual and group counseling sessions to patients recovering from opioid use disorder. Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, documenting patient progress, providing crisis intervention, and performing case management duties.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field or possess specific professional certifications such as LADC, LICSW, or CADC. Bachelor’s degree holders are encouraged to apply if they commit to obtaining the required credentials within 30-60 days of employment.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance use counselingIndividual counselingTreatment planningClinical documentationHIPAA compliancePatient assessment

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 26% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$60k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $57k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor at Acadia a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% 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, no night shifts.

Top Counselor Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution40 jobs · 31 employers

17
<$80k
10
$80k-100k
5
$100k-120k
7
$120k-140k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks36 jobs · 31 employers

401k / retirement match
92% this job
CME allowance
36% this job
Sign-on bonus
28%
Loan repayment
19% this job
PSLF eligible
14% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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$74k-$126k
#3

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

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#4

Lead Marriage and Family Therapist LMFT Supervisor

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+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of 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.

  • No call
  • No weekends
  • No nights

Living in Fitchburg

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$417k
Typical market rent
$1,799/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Acadia logo

About Acadia

Mental Health Care
Franklin, Tennessee
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
Competitive 401(k) with employer match
Paid vacation and sick leave
Employer-paid clinical supervision
Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Student loan forgiveness through HRSA (eligible positions)