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Alpharus Health
Aurora, Illinois

Substance Use Counselor II (CADC, LPC, or LSW)

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$25.64-$30/hr

The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Saturday

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who Is Alpharus Health?

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to helping people build healthier lives. For nearly 60 years, we have provided substance use and mental health treatment that helps individuals, families, and communities find healing, hope, and lasting wellbeing.

Our mission is simple: We help people build healthier lives. By combining clinical expertise with a person-centered approach, we help people build the skills, resilience, and support systems needed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Why Join Us?

Discover a rewarding career where you can find both personal and professional fulfillment while aligning your values with your work. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by aiding individuals in overcoming addiction.

We pride ourselves on being an organization that values you and strives to be an employer of choice, fostering a vibrant culture that promotes teamwork and professional growth. Your voice matters here; we actively listen to and value our employees' thoughts, allowing you to be part of organizational decisions.

Join Alpharus Health today and become part of a team dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Location: Alpharus Health Residential/Outpatient Drug Rehab Center

400 Mercy Ln, Aurora, IL 60506

View the facility details here!

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00am-5:00pm with one later evening shift on Friday.

Residential (CADC, LPC or LSW) Substance Abuse Counselors are responsible for:

Completing comprehensive assessments of clients’ substance abuse history and treatment requirements and preparing individualized, developmentally appropriate treatment plans

  • Providing individual and group counseling and educational programs in accordance with treatment plans
  • Documenting treatment and discharge plans and clients’ progress and responses to treatment, as well as maintaining related records and charts
  • Performing case management and contributing to client care monitoring
  • Caseload typically includes some complex cases requiring more intensive services
  • Other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and life experience, with a minimum of 100 hours of documented clinical training in counseling theory and practice required

Current certification as a substance abuse counselor (CADC) or higher licensure (LPC, LSW) in state of hire required

Minimum 2 years of previous experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling required

Related work experience with program specific population (adolescent/adult) and residential treatment setting required

Physical Requirements:

Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

  • Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
  • Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy
  • Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises
  • Must be at least 21 years of age to operate a Alpharus vehicle

Compensation (based on experience and credentials):

Range begins at $25.64 - $30.00 per hour

Alpharus Health conducts annual reviews including merit increases.

Benefits at Alpharus Health

Health and Wellness:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
  • Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
  • Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial wellbeing:

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Alpharus
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and time off:

  • 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
  • 9 paid company holidays
  • Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

Training & Development Programs

Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training

Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Alpharus Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Key Responsibilities

Assess clients’ substance use histories and treatment needs, develop individualized treatment plans, and provide individual and group counseling and educational programs. Document treatment plans, discharges, and client progress; maintain records; and provide case management and care monitoring, including for complex cases.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and life experience, with at least 100 documented hours of clinical training in counseling theory and practice. Candidates must hold a current CADC certification or higher state licensure (LPC or LSW), have at least two years of relevant counseling experience, and have experience with the applicable population and residential treatment setting.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance Abuse CounselingClient AssessmentTreatment PlanningIndividual CounselingClient EducationClinical DocumentationProgress MonitoringDischarge PlanningAdolescent and Adult Care

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) listings this role was benchmarked against, 32% are remote, 36% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$58k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $58k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution35 jobs · 26 employers

11
<$65k
8
$65k-75k
6
$75k-85k
7
$85k-95k
3
$95k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks34 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
85% this job
Sign-on bonus
41%
CME allowance
35% this job
Loan repayment
24% this job
PSLF eligible
21% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$90k-$115k
#2

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$72k-$115k
#3

PA Licensed Clinician - LCSW or LPC - Behavioral Health

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#4

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.7this job 3.0
Below most Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 503 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes weekends

Living in Aurora

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$321k
Typical market rent
$2,253/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Alpharus Health logo

About Alpharus Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, Illinois
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employee wellness program
Employee assistance program
403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
18 paid time off days per year