Counselor-OSAR - Hunt County

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$55k-$60k

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 15m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Details: Level: Experienced, Job Location: 8111 LBJ FWY - DALLAS, TX, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $55000.00 - $60000.00Salary, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%, A complete application is required for consideration. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Each position requires a separate completed application. Job Title: OSAR Counselor - Hunt County Do you have a passion for helping others and want a career where you can make a difference? Then join our NTBHA team. We have proved to be a strong, self-sufficient and enduring foundation within our community.

We are committed to connecting and serving our clients where they live.

Position’s Role Summary: North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), based in Dallas is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for children, adolescents and adults with severe mental illness and other serious emotional disturbances, as well as those experiencing a substance use disorder.

NTBHA is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our hiring practices and in our experiences as employees.

We strive to create a mindful and respectful environment and culture that is free of perceived harassment, racism, and discrimination, creating an environment of understanding and compassion for all lived experiences. Travel is required as part of this role’s duties. Travel can vary from 20% to 100% per day.

This would include all counties within NTBHA Catchment area (Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro & Rockwall Counties). This role may be required to use a fleet vehicle and/or a personal vehicle for business needs.

This may include, but is not limited to field & home visits, offsite meetings, co-located sites and/or pick up items for business needs, etc. If your program requires transport of individuals, this would only be allowed with a company vehicle and approval from management.

This position is classified as exempt and requires flexibility in scheduling to meet organizational needs, including adjusting work hours as necessary to ensure job responsibilities are completed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: This position’s actions and work must align with NTBHA values and goals, regulations, and policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements.

This position is responsible for providing brief substance abuse screenings to adults and youth who present with possible substance use issues.

The OSAR Counselor will conduct a brief screening to determine a preliminary diagnosis utilizing the DSM 5 criteria and provide referrals to appropriate recovery support services.

The OSAR Counselor will also provide assistance throughout the individual’s continuum of care and/or treatment episode, to include offering brief interventions and motivational counseling in addition to case management services.

Coordination with community partners and linkage to community-based services, eliminating barriers, and identifying available resources and recovery supports in the community. Target identified individual needs and personal goals relative to recovery will be central.

Performs moderately complex local authority/coordination work with assisting clients in accessing/linkage to behavioral health, medical, housing, transportation, financial, social, and other appropriate services/supports that are consistent with the individuals’ recovery goals.

Traveling to agencies throughout the six county NTBHA region to conduct OSAR screenings and/or provider outreach and education. Assists with Outreach at events. Work is achieved under general supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Excellent communication and documentation skills as well as the ability to use multiple computer software applications. A complete application is required for consideration. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Each position requires a separate completed application.

Job Title: OSAR Counselor Do you have a passion for helping others and want a career where you can make a difference? Then join our NTBHA team. We have proved to be a strong, self-sufficient and enduring foundation within our community. We are committed to connecting and serving our clients where they live.

Position’s Role Summary: North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), based in Dallas is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for children, adolescents and adults with severe mental illness and other serious emotional disturbances, as well as those experiencing a substance use disorder.

NTBHA is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our hiring practices and in our experiences as employees.

We strive to create a mindful and respectful environment and culture that is free of perceived harassment, racism, and discrimination, creating an environment of understanding and compassion for all lived experiences. Travel is required as part of this role’s duties. Travel can vary from 20% to 100% per day.

This would include all counties within NTBHA Catchment area (Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro & Rockwall Counties). This role may be required to use a fleet vehicle and/or a personal vehicle for business needs.

This may include, but is not limited to field & home visits, offsite meetings, co-located sites and/or pick up items for business needs, etc. If your program requires transport of individuals, this would only be allowed with a company vehicle and approval from management.

This position is classified as exempt and requires flexibility in scheduling to meet organizational needs, including adjusting work hours as necessary to ensure job responsibilities are completed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: This position’s actions and work must align with NTBHA values and goals, regulations, and policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements.

This position is responsible for providing brief substance abuse screenings to adults and youth who present with possible substance use issues.

The OSAR Counselor will conduct a brief screening to determine a preliminary diagnosis utilizing the DSM 5 criteria and provide referrals to appropriate recovery support services.

The OSAR Counselor will also provide assistance throughout the individual’s continuum of care and/or treatment episode, to include offering brief interventions and motivational counseling in addition to case management services.

Coordination with community partners and linkage to community-based services, eliminating barriers, and identifying available resources and recovery supports in the community. Target identified individual needs and personal goals relative to recovery will be central.

Performs moderately complex local authority/coordination work with assisting clients in accessing/linkage to behavioral health, medical, housing, transportation, financial, social, and other appropriate services/supports that are consistent with the individuals’ recovery goals.

Traveling to agencies throughout the six county NTBHA region to conduct OSAR screenings and/or provider outreach and education. Assists with Outreach at events. Work is achieved under general supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Excellent communication and documentation skills as well as the ability to use multiple computer software applications.

Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience (including licensure and certification) Bachelor’s or Masters of Arts or Masters of Science (MA or MS) preferred but can be an associate degree with full LCDC licensure.

Must meet the criteria for a Qualified Credentialed Counselor (QCC), LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LPC-I, LCDC or LMFT who is licensed and in good standing with the state of Texas.

Must have familiarity with HHSC rules and guidelines with respect to eligibility screening and availability or HHSC-funded substance use disorder treatment services.

LCDCs who conduct mental health screenings independently must have 45 hours of continuing education in the treatment of clients with psychiatric disorders and 2000 hours of post-licensure supervision.

Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and automobile liability insurance, with a good driving record.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of rules, regulations and other guidelines of DSHS Texas Resilience and Recovery program; Knowledge of managed care operations; knowledge of DSM IV and 5 criteria. Work autonomously and to make decisions consistent with applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Create, analyze, prepare, and maintain records, files, documents, reports, and correspondence. Recognize problems and identify and facilitate solutions.

Knowledge of community resources, local indigent behavioral health systems and local authority/service coordination principles, objectives, standards and methods, and of program policies and procedures Communicate effectively and use effective interpersonal skills to communicate ideas and complex concepts with individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds through oral and written communication.

Constructively and efficiently work with other professionals and staff, community representatives, persons with disabilities, and family members.

Foster strong, positive, and effective working relationships with inter-agency and intra-agency team members, encouraging and supporting interaction among various team members across organizational lines. Work autonomously and to make decisions consistent with applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Communicate effectively and use effective interpersonal skills to communicate ideas and complex concepts with individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds through oral and written communication.

Constructively and efficiently work with other professionals and staff, community representatives, persons with d

Key Responsibilities

The OSAR Counselor conducts substance abuse screenings and provides brief interventions and motivational counseling to youth and adults. They also coordinate with community partners to link clients to behavioral health, medical, and social support services.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's or master's degree, or an associate degree with full LCDC licensure, and be a Qualified Credentialed Counselor (QCC) in Texas. A valid Texas driver's license and a good driving record are required for extensive regional travel.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Substance abuse screeningCrisis interventionClinical assessmentReferral coordinationCommunity outreachData entryProblem solvingTime management

Substance Use Disorder Counseling — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 6% are remote, 64% have no call, 88% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 6.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$58k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $59k in an average-cost state. 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$58k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

18 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution18 jobs · 15 employers

8
<$75k
6
$75k-85k
3
$85k-95k
1
$96k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks14 jobs

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
43% this job
Sign-on bonus
29%
Loan repayment
29%
PSLF eligible
21%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Sup, Substance Abuse Counselor

University of Rochester · Henrietta, New York

$69k-$96k
#2

Therapist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Behavioral Health

Lifepoint Health · Holyoke, Massachusetts

$69k-$93k
#3

Substance Use Disorder Counselor

$68k–$90k
#4

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor

$75k-$85k
+ 16 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Below most Substance Use Disorder Counseling listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 54 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Dallas

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$286k≈ 5.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,591/mo≈ 35% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority logo

About North Texas Behavioral Health Authority

Mental Health Care
Dallas, Texas
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

457(b) Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Health Savings Account
Flexible Spending Account
Tuition Reimbursement