Alpharus Health logo
Alpharus Health
Chicago, Illinois

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

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$25.64-$32.28/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

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

Posted 1mo ago

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?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results.

By joining our team, you'll be working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth.

When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Location: 315 North Racine Avenue Chicago, IL 60607

Work Schedule

  • Monday through Friday, 40-hour work week including covering groups Monday through Thursday from 6:00pm-9:00pm
  • Outpatient Substance Use Counselors (CADC, LPC or LSW) 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 (Licensed Professional Counselor/LPC, Licensed Social Worker/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 outpatient 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:

Range is between $25.64 - $32.28 per hour

Starting rates are determined based on years of experience, qualifications, and relevant skills.

Alpharus Health conducts annual performance reviews, with merit increase eligbility determined by employee performance and organizational financial performance.

Benefits at Alpharus

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

The counselor is responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and providing both individual and group counseling sessions. They must also maintain accurate clinical records, perform case management, and monitor client progress throughout the treatment process.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field and possess a current CADC, LPC, or LSW certification. A minimum of two years of experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling is required, along with at least 100 hours of documented clinical training.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance abuse counselingTreatment planningIndividual counselingClinical assessmentDocumentationCrisis interventionClient monitoringAdolescent counselingAdult counseling

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 26% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$60k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $60k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Certified Substance Use Counselor (CADC, LPC, or LSW) at Alpharus Health a 6.2 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.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 27 employers

14
<$75k
11
$75k-95k
5
$95k-115k
7
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks35 jobs · 27 employers

401k / retirement match
86% this job
Sign-on bonus
37%
CME allowance
29% this job
Loan repayment
23% this job
PSLF eligible
17% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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Counseling Works · Naperville, Illinois

$104k-$127k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

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

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

$115k-$120k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.7this job 6.2
Better work-life than 40% of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) listings

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

  • No weekends

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 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

Benefits & Perks

Medical, Dental, Vision
403(b) with 3% match
Disability and Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
PSLF Eligible
18 PTO days
9 Paid Holidays
Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250