Primary Counselor
Listed compensation
$55k-$70k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
- Position: Primary Counselor
The Primary Counselor is responsible for the delivery and implementation of long term supervision, support and clinical services to a population of chemically dependent adolescents with co-occurring and mental health problems. The Primary Counselor serves as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
Job Scope
- Provides weekly caseload group sessions to assist residents in developing and obtaining goals, including those noted in the treatment plan.
- Provides bi-weekly individual counseling session to assist resident in developing and obtaining goals, including those noted in the treatment plan.
- Initial and ongoing screening of resident and resident property in accordance with unit procedure.
- Document and chart all aspects of resident progress through the use of plans, progress notes and other agency forms and tools.
- Document, facilitate and supervise daily group formats.
- Supervise clients in self-medication (under supervision).
- Participate in both individual and group supervision.
- Communicate all pertinent information, incidents and emergencies using the appropriate system including the SAC communication log, incident reports and 24 hour on-call supervisor.
- Provide crisis interventions and follow up including documentation of the incident, accident and/or elopement reports.
- Overall supervision and management of client population in the facilitation of the daily house schedule.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervised by: Program Director
Qualifications
- Advanced degree required; LMSW, LCSW, LMHC or higher preferred.
- 2-3 years of experience with substance abuse disorders
- 1-2 years of experience working with adolescents with co-occurring and mental health problems
- 1-2 years of experience working in in an OASAS funded facility a plus
- Commitment to providing quality services and outcome driven performance measures.
- Excellent organizational management skills with the ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance clinicians, set and achieve program objectives.
- Strong networking and public relations skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, populations, and cultures.
- Action-oriented, adaptable, and innovative approach to program planning.
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
Key Responsibilities
The Primary Counselor delivers clinical services, including individual and group counseling, to adolescents with substance abuse and mental health issues. They are responsible for maintaining treatment plans, documenting resident progress, and managing daily house operations.
Licensure & Certifications
Candidates must hold an advanced degree, with LMSW, LCSW, or LMHC credentials preferred. The role requires 2-3 years of experience in substance abuse and 1-2 years of experience working with adolescents in a clinical setting.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Addiction Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% are remote, 40% have no call, 54% 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 ~$63k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $58k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Addiction Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Primary Counselor at Outreach Development a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Addiction Medicine (Counseling) — ranked against 1,306 active Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.
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