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Geogroup
San Diego, California

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Benefits Information

Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:

  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Matching
  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Health Savings Account
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Discount
  • Reduced Tuition Rates
  • Disability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 401(k)
  • Pet Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Training
  • Flexible Spending Account

The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Overview

Are you looking for a career you can feel good about? We hire only those that strive to do their best. By joining our family, you'll receive the honor and recognition that comes with working for the industry's global leader in evidenced based rehabilitation.

Who We Are

GEO provides complementary, turnkey solutions for numerous government partners worldwide across a spectrum of diversified correctional and community reentry services. From the development of state-of-the-art facilities and the provision of management services and evidence-based rehabilitation to the post-release reintegration and supervision of individuals in the community, GEO offers fully diversified, cost-effective services that deliver enhanced quality and improved outcomes.

Why Work for GEO

We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.

Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.

Responsibilities

Summary

The Substance Abuse Counselor assists in developing, organizing, and conducting programs to provide education for conditions and problems relating to drug and alcohol abuse. Conducts or assists in conducting individual or group counseling sessions and programs. Learns, uses and models principles of the “What Works” system through evidence-based practices in all interactions with clients and other staff members.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Substance Abuse Counselor coordinates substance abuse program at an office or group of offices using principles of the “What Works” system. Schedules intakes, and group and individual sessions. Discusses specific cases with case managers to determine if they are appropriate for substance abuse treatment. May assist with the assignment of cases.

Facilitates psycho-educational/behavior modification groups using principles of the “What Works” system. Documents participants’ attendance, participation and progress in Company database.

The Substance Abuse Counselor conducts risk/need assessments and creates individual treatment plans for each assigned participant. Meets regularly with participants’ and documents participants’ progress or regress in Company database.

Establishes and maintains relationships with outside referral sources, such as in-patient substance abuse facilities or detox facilities. Actively pursues and develops referrals from probation and evaluating agencies.

The Substance Abuse Counselor identifies problem areas that may impact participants ability to successfully complete treatment. Guides participants to develop strategies to overcome obstacles to success completion of treatment.

May advise Customer of participants progress regularly or at completion of treatment.

Collects participants fees for program participation. Tracks fee collection for office or group of offices.

  • Ensures that participants records are accurately completed in a timely manner.
  • May maintain a specific substance abuse treatment case file for every program participant.
  • Selects and recommends new instructional materials and programs for use in the substance abuse program.
  • Maintains knowledge of new developments in the field of substance abuse.

Maintains a collegian relationship with other substance abuse professionals, programs, and associations. Participates in related training for substance abuse.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

  • High School Diploma or its equivalent.
  • Certified as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a certification recognized by ADP; and
  • Have a minimum of one (1) year experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy services to an offender population.
  • Must be twenty-one (21) years of age.
  • Ability to interact in a professional manner in both individual and group counseling settings.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work with a team of professionals and have the ability to implement team strategy approaches to work assignments.
  • Effective communication skills with internal and external contacts at all levels.
  • Problem solving ability.
  • Good interpersonal skills.
  • Bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish) may be required as well as experience dealing with specific cultural groups.
  • Problem solving ability.
  • Good presentation, public speaking and facilitation skills.
  • Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Knowledge of client record management.
  • Ability to work with computers and the necessary software typically used by the department.
  • GEO Reentry Services LLC.

Key Skills

Substance Abuse CounselingCase ManagementRisk AssessmentTreatment PlanningGroup FacilitationPsycho-educational ProgrammingDocumentationBilingual

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 34% have no call, 56% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution50 jobs · 40 employers

14
<$75k
13
$75k-95k
11
$95k-115k
12
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks39 jobs

401k / retirement match
90% this job
CME allowance
38%
Sign-on bonus
36%
Loan repayment
23%
PSLF eligible
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinical Supervisor & Therapist

Mindfully Behavioral Health · Longmont, Colorado

#2

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT/LCSW/MHP) - Juvenile Facility

CHP Health · Auburn, California

$54.95-$61.81/hr
#3

Clinical Director - LMFT, LCSW, LPCC

$112k-$126k
#4

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

$92k-$125k
+ 48 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

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.01M
Typical market rent
$3,036/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Geogroup logo

About Geogroup

Security and Investigations
Boca Raton, Florida
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Health Savings Account