Cayuga Medical Center logo
Cayuga Medical Center
Ithaca, Michigan, United States

Primary Addiction Counselor- Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services Ithaca Outpatient Clinic- Full Time- Days

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$24-$30/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 54m ago · Verified live

Job Description

About Cayuga Health

Cayuga Health offers patient-centered, comprehensive health services at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca; Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls; and more than 40 medical offices in the Finger Lakes and Central New York. Cayuga Health employs more than 450 providers from 40+ specialties. Additional services include a neo-natal intensive care unit, a home health care agency, an addiction recovery organization, and a skilled nursing facility.

Cayuga Health is a member of Centralus Health, a community-based integrated delivery system. Our mission is to deliver high-quality care, empower our teams to succeed, and improve the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Our commitment to quality personalized care begins with our exceptional team—over 6500 employees strong. At Cayuga Health, you will work in a collaborative environment that values excellence, integrity, compassion and stewardship. Together, we create an environment where empathy, honesty and a dedication to quality thrive, empowering us to make a positive impact on the lives we touch.

We offer competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and professional development opportunities to help our employees grow and thrive. Whether you are just starting your career or taking the next step in healthcare, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of care in our communities.

Learn more at cayugahealth.org.

Job Summary

The Primary Addiction Counselor is responsible for treating and promoting recovery from the effects of substance use, mental health disorders, and other behavioral healthcare issues. This role collaborates with a multidisciplinary treatment team to ensure comprehensive, high quality, and client-centered care.

Roles and Responsibilities

Perform essential counseling responsibilities including screenings, intake and orientation, evaluation and intervention, treatment planning, referrals, crisis intervention, counseling, patient education, case management, reporting and record keeping

  • Co-Facilitate psychoeducational groups ranging from small group coaching to didactic sessions
  • Exhibit exemplary knowledge of the biopsychosocial process of substance use disorders/recovery, behavioral health, self-help group processes, and principles of counseling.
  • Implement existing curricula to engage clients in goal setting and individualized treatment planning
  • Participate as a collaborative member of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team and attend team meetings
  • Maintain regular communication with team members, external providers, and staff to ensure coordinated service delivery
  • Knowledge of addiction/recovery, behavioral health, self-help group process and principles of counseling.

Document group notes, individual session notes, and clinical visit summaries in EPIC EMR in accordance with regulatory requirements

Qualifications

Any one of the following licenses or credentials: Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Licensed mental health practitioner (including permit eligible) Licensed social worker (including permit eligible)

Required Skills and Experience

Bachelor's degree in human services or related field; or equivalent combination of education and SUD experience total 4 years. QHP status required (see above Qualifications section).

  • Two years employment experience in the Human Services field.
  • A basic understanding of addiction and recovery issues.
  • Knowledge of basic counseling techniques, including treatment planning is essential.

Working knowledge of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, strength-based principle of treatment and an individualized approach to treatment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Master's degree with 4+ years SUD experience. Provisional CASAC, CASAC or other QHP.

Physical Requirements

Frequent hand and finger use (e. g., to operate a computer keyboard).

Lifting and carrying items up to 40 lbs. (e. g., boxes, equipment), with or without reasonable accommodation.

Ability to stoop, kneel, or crouch for tasks such as retrieving items from lower shelves or filing in low drawers.

  • Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods, as the position may require.
  • Capacity to operate job-related equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Location and Travel Requirements

  • Location: Onsite CARS Ithaca Outpatient Clinic: 334 West State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
  • Shift: Five(5) 8-hour shifts 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday; Federal Holidays off
  • Travel: 0% Travel can be expected in this role

Pay Range Disclosure

Standard rate of $24.00 - $30.00 per hour plus benefits

Centralus Health and its affiliates are committed to treating all patients, providers, staff and volunteers equitably and with dignity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and respect, and striving to recognize and overcome biases and policies that contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care and positive health outcomes for all.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, supporting the growth and health of our employees and community by embracing the rich diversity, needs and circumstances of all peoples and prioritizing opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Centralus Health Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@cayugahealth.org.

Key Responsibilities

The Primary Addiction Counselor performs screenings, intake, treatment planning, and crisis intervention for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. They also facilitate psychoeducational groups and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to ensure coordinated, client-centered care.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance use counselingBiopsychosocial assessmentClinical documentationPsychoeducational group facilitationInterdisciplinary collaboration

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 28% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$56k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $52k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in substance use / addiction counselorranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$50k–$62kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $59k (middle half $54k–$66k)55 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$52k in purchasing powerNew York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in New York827 active13,597 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 42% remote · 28% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Primary Addiction Counselor- Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services Ithaca Outpatient Clinic- Full Time- Days at Cayuga Medical Center a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Counselor Jobs

45 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

45 jobs · 36 employers
13
<$75k
15
$75k-90k
8
$90k-105k
5
$105k-120k
4
$120k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs
401k / retirement match
93%
CME allowance
23%
Sign-on bonus
20%
PSLF eligible
17%
Loan repayment
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#2

NY Licensed DBT Therapist - DBT Master’s or Doctoral - Telehealth - Full-Time

Lyra Health · Town of New Baltimore, New York

$93k-$120k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LCSW, LMHC)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCSW, LMFT, LMHC)

$115k-$120k
+ 43 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
Cayuga Medical Center logo

About Cayuga Medical Center

Hospitals and Health Care
Ithaca, New York
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive Wages
Comprehensive Benefits
Professional Development Opportunities
Federal Holidays Off

Living in Ithaca

Typical market rent
$1,975/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.3
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Ithaca, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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