AC
Appalachian Community Services
Waynesville, North Carolina

Adult Recovery Unit (ARU) Therapist (3617)

CounselorIncludes callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$54k-$73k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

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

Posted 4mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Waynesville, NC 28786Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: Master's DegreeSalary Range: $54,373.00 - $73,494.00 Salary/yearTravel Percentage: Local TravelAbout Us Appalachian Community Services provides Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disability services to individuals, families, and communities within the seven western counties of North Carolina. We provide a wide range of walk-in, psychiatric, substance abuse, and crisis services to adults and children.

About the Role We are actively seeking a compassionate and skilled ARU Therapist to join our team Full-time. This role is essential to our mission, providing therapy, crisis support, and service coordination for mental health clients in a variety of settings.

As a ARU Therapist with ACS, you will provide assessment and treatment services and oversee the implementation of the psychiatric and recovery curriculums. This includes providing individual, group, and family therapy and creating treatment goals that fit the current needs of clients.

Complete Comprehensive Clinical Assessments, service notes, and other required documentation as necessary for authorization of treatment.

Create treatment goals and assist in periodic review and modification of goals to fit the current needs of clients; Provide individual, group, and family therapy to clients as outlined in the NC DHHS service definitions and program schedules; Participate in planning and delivery of services for caseload regarding admission, treatment, and discharge.

Schedule

This is a M-F 8:30a-5p position with on call responsibilities. This description outlines the general scope and level of work for this role. It is not intended to include every duty or responsibility that may be required of employees in this position.

Compensation This role is compensated on a salaried basis, providing consistent earnings aligned with the responsibilities and expectations of the position.

Compensation

$54,372 - $73,494 This position is eligible for a $5,000 Sign on bonus! Placement within the range is based on licensure level, education, and experience. What You Can Expect Consistent referral volume and established patient base Administrative and scheduling support Flexible scheduling options Supportive clinical and operational leadership Opportunities to build your preferred clinical focus areas Streamlined onboarding and credentialing support

Responsibilities

Provide individual, family, and/or group therapy sessions Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation Collaborate with care teams as needed Maintain compliance with all clinical and regulatory standards Participate in supervision (if applicable based on licensure level) Qualifications

Qualifications Education: Graduation from an accredited university with a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or psychology is required. Licensure: North Carolina Licensure as LCSW, LPC, LCMHC, or LMFT is required; Associate Licensed individuals will be considered.

Why Join Us We are focused on creating a model where clinicians are supported, not overloaded. You’ll have the flexibility to shape your schedule, the support to maintain a steady caseload, and the opportunity to grow within a stable, mission-driven organization.

Beyond the engaging work, you'll also benefit from our competitive benefits package to support you and your loved ones, provide work/life balance, and invest in your future. The list below is for informational purposes only.

Consumer-driven health plan coverage provided by Anthem Wellness: When you enroll in a medical plan, you get complete care support on your time through Sydney app (Anthem), with exclusive access to 24/7 access to licensed doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists.

Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending Account (FSA) Two dental plan options available through Delta Dental, so you can choose the level of coverage that fits your needs and budget. Affordable vision plan available through EyeMed to keep your eyes healthy and your vision sharp.

An optional Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account to reimburse yourself on a pre-tax basis for childcare.

Generous paid time off 401k or Roth IRA Retirement Programs administered by Empower Financial planning and education services at no cost to you Voluntary supplemental benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability) Educational Assistance (your position, date of hire and years of service determine your eligibility) Licensure Residency Program for Full-time Clinical Staff Advancement and Career Development Opportunities Legal Notice: We are an equal opportunity employer.

Employment is at-will and contingent upon successful completion of background checks and credential verification. We participate in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in the United States. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Compensation varies based on licensure, experience, and caseload. ncgCARE and all partner affiliates maintain a drug-free workplace. #AC1

Key Responsibilities

Provide individual, group, and family therapy while overseeing the implementation of psychiatric and recovery curriculums. Perform comprehensive clinical assessments and maintain accurate documentation for treatment authorization.

Requirements

Requires a Master's degree in social work, counseling, or psychology. Must hold North Carolina licensure as an LCSW, LPC, LCMHC, or LMFT, though associate licensed individuals will be considered.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual TherapyClinical AssessmentTreatment PlanningCase ManagementPsychiatric Recovery Curriculum

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Adult Recovery Unit (ARU) Therapist (3617) at Appalachian Community Services a 6.8 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 8,026 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Counselor Career Context

Appalachian Community Services holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 71/100, 8 active listings.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 38% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$64k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $68k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 18 employers

9
<$75k
6
$75k-95k
3
$95k-115k
5
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks21 jobs · 18 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
33% this job
CME allowance
19%
Loan repayment
14%
PSLF eligible
10%

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

Clinical Director - LMFT, LCSW, LPCC

Seneca Family of Agencies · Salinas, California

$112k-$126k
#3

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

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.8
Better work-life than 70% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,026 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • Includes call

Living in Waynesville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$401k≈ 7.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,758/mo≈ 39% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.5
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Asheville, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

AC

About Appalachian Community Services

Hospitals and Health Care
Waynesville, NC
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-On Bonus ($5,000)
Consumer-Driven Health Plan
Health Savings Account
Flex Spending Account
Dental
Vision
Dependent Care FSA
Generous Paid Time Off