Suffolk County Government logo
Suffolk County Government
Riverhead & Hauppauge, New York

Addictions Counselor Trainee

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$45,362

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

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

Posted 7mo ago

Job Description

Suffolk County Department of Health Services is seeking an Addictions Counselor Trainee.

Location: Riverhead & Hauppauge KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Learns to Interview and screen individuals seeking admission to substance use disorder treatment programs; Assists in planning, implementing and evaluating an individualized treatment plan for each patient; Assists in providing individual and group counseling services; Helps monitor patient progress and makes recommendations for further treatment if necessary; Assists in conducting education and information sessions; Counsels patients regarding job training and placement, advise them of available social services, and refer them to other agencies if necessary.

Maintains patient records and reports consistent with professional and regulatory standards for clinical care and billing for services; Monitors the collection of patient urine samples and keeps pertinent records; Collaborates with supervisors and clinic staff regarding patient progress and patient services; Benefits For You Now And Your Future Health Insurance: Suffolk offers a comprehensive health insurance plan, including medical, dental, and vision coverage Pension Paid Time Off: Vacation (2 weeks to start) is accrued based on length of service; sick leave allows employees to take time off for illness without sacrificing pay; personal days can be used for a variety of reasons; and thirteen (13) paid holidays.

Work-Life Balance: County jobs offer regular working hours, reducing the need for overtime or irregular shifts. This helps employees maintain a good work-life balance. Overall, county government jobs offer a combination of competitive benefits and job security, making them an attractive option for many job seekers.

Starting Salary: $45,362 Location: Riverhead & Hauppauge AVAILABLE SHIFTS: Monday-Friday, 6:00 am – 2:00pm OR Tuesday-Saturday, 6:00 am – 2:00pm OR Sunday-Thursday, 6:00 am – 2:00pm *This position does not offer relocation assistance at this time **Sponsorship is not available for this role MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Current certification from NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) - Trainee.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: At the time of appointment, and during employment in this title, employees will be required to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Candidates may be subject to a background investigation Suffolk County’s Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity: Our focus is to promote, support, and implement the County-wide diversity and inclusion strategic plan.

We achieve results in all our responsibilities through the use of diversity and inclusion best practices. We maintain a familiarity with Diversity & Inclusion trends and best practices. Suffolk County is an

Equal Employment Opportunity

Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability that can be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, citizenship, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

The Division of Human Resources within the Department of Human Resources, Personnel, and Civil Service understands that our chief organizational resource is people.

We are committed to anticipating and meeting the changing needs of our workforce by keeping our employees at the forefront of every decision we make in Human Resources.

We strive to elevate efficiency and engagement at the county and department level through standardized processes and state-of-the-art HR technology solutions that will provide the highest quality of customer service to our employees, retirees, and prospective members of the County workforce.

We are dedicated to achieving, encouraging, and supporting a diverse workforce and growing a community of employees that are engaged and excited about all the possibilities that working for the County Government can offer.

Key Responsibilities

The trainee learns to interview and screen individuals for substance use disorder treatment, assisting in planning and implementing individualized treatment plans for patients. Responsibilities also include providing counseling, monitoring progress, conducting educational sessions, and counseling patients regarding job training and social services referrals.

Requirements

Candidates must possess current certification from the NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) - Trainee. Additionally, a valid New York State driver's license is required at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

InterviewingScreeningTreatment PlanningPatient MonitoringEducation SessionsSocial Services ReferralRecord KeepingUrine Sample MonitoringCollaboration

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 42% have no call, 66% 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 ~$45k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $42k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Addictions Counselor Trainee at Suffolk County Government a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Addiction Medicine counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, flexible scheduling.

Top Counselor Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution38 jobs · 27 employers

10
<$75k
13
$75k-90k
5
$90k-105k
4
$105k-120k
6
$120k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs

401k / retirement match
93% this job
Sign-on bonus
22%
CME allowance
22%
PSLF eligible
22%
Loan repayment
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Warren, Michigan

$115k-$120k
#2

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Bethesda, Maryland

$115k-$120k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

$115k-$120k
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.0
Better work-life than 50% 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
  • On-site
Suffolk County Government logo

About Suffolk County Government

Government Administration
Hauppauge, New York
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Pension
Paid Time Off
Vacation (2 weeks to start)
Sick leave
Personal days
13 paid holidays
Work-Life Balance