Primary Therapist
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.
Job Description
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Outpatient Therapist plans, directs and coordinates-clinically approved programs for patients in the Outpatient Substance Use Disorder facility. Inspires and motivates RCA clients and help them develop tools to work toward recovery using evidence-based and person-centered practices
Key Responsibilities
Evaluate clients' mental and physical health, addiction, or problem behavior and assess their readiness for treatment. Help clients develop treatment goals and plans. Review and recommend treatment options with clients and their families.
Help clients develop skills and behaviors necessary to recover from their addiction or modify their behavior. Work with clients to identify behaviors or situations that interfere with their recovery. Teach families about addiction or behavior disorders and help them develop strategies to cope with those problems.
Refer clients to other resources and services, such as job placement services and support groups. Conduct outreach programs to help people identify the signs of addiction and other destructive behavior, as well as steps to take to avoid such behavior. Keep accurate and timely records of client sessions, assessments, and progress notes, adhering to professional standards. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for comprehensive treatment planning and client care.
Participate in team meetings and case conferences, sharing expertise to enhance team effectiveness. Uphold strict confidentiality and privacy in client interactions and records in compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
Respond effectively to client crises, applying appropriate intervention techniques to ensure safety and stability.
Skills and Education
Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred. Possession of full certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in the state of Delaware;
OR
Full certification in addictions counseling or co-occurring counseling from a nationally recognized certifying body;
OR
A minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience in the field of substance abuse treatment.
Alternatively, One of the Following May Apply
The individual has less than five years of experience in substance abuse treatment;
OR
The individual is currently enrolled in a relevant academic program and is completing a practicum or internship;
OR
The individual is actively working toward full certification in addictions or co-occurring counseling through the Delaware Certification Board or a nationally recognized certifying organization.
One to three years of experience in a behavioral healthcare or substance abuse settings serving culturally diverse populations. Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands. Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to handle multiple projects under pressure.
Must have strong knowledge of a variety of computer software applications in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Understanding of diverse cultures and gender specific issues and the ability to incorporate needs of gender and culturally diverse groups into the organization.
Always understands and maintains appropriate confidentiality when interacting with patients, residents, families, visitors, referral sources and all other contacts.
Exhibits excellent customer relation skills as evidenced by supportive and constructive communication with all contacts including coworkers, patients, residents, visitors, families and referral sources. Knowledge of group, individual and family counseling.
***
A former patient may not be hired at the same location where they were treated until a minimum of one year has elapsed since the completion of their treatment at that location. Former patients may be considered for employment at other RCA locations within a year after treatment. This consideration will be subject to the standard hiring process and must not compromise ethical standards, patient care, or the reputation of RCA.
Non-Discrimination Statement: It is the policy of Recovery Centers of America (RCA) to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
HIPAA & HITRUST Statement: Ensures compliance with all applicable data privacy and security regulations, including HIPAA, HITECH, and HITRUST requirements, in the handling and processing of Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
#THERA
Requirements
Candidates need an Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred, along with full certification as a CADC in Delaware or equivalent national certification, or five years of clinical experience in substance abuse treatment. One to three years of experience in behavioral healthcare or substance abuse settings serving diverse populations is also required, alongside excellent communication and organizational skills.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Primary Therapist at Recovery Centers of America a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Addiction Medicine (Counseling) — ranked against 1,285 active Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 24% have no call, 70% require no weekends.
Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Delaware is 99.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.5% of Delaware clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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