Alpharus Health logo
Alpharus Health
Ocala, Florida

Substance Use Counselor

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$49k-$68k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 37m 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?

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'll discover personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

We are honored to offer behavioral healthcare services in Corrections

Perks of Working in Correctional Healthcare

  • Opportunity to make a positive impact on a marginalized population
  • Exposure to diverse patient demographics
  • Focus on driving change, tracking progress, and improving care
  • Development of skills in a unique healthcare setting

Location: Marion Correctional Institution

3269 NW 105th St, Ocala, FL 34475

Substance Abuse Counselors Are Responsible For

Conducts client interviews to review substance use disorder and treatment history.

Evaluates client response to treatment to recommend modifications to the treatment plan and assist with caseloads and development of individualized treatment plan and preparing individually appropriate goals, interventions, and necessary support.

Assists with and provides basic didactic group counseling, including psychoeducation, drug education, and family education to ensure peer support occurs.

Provides individual client counseling, educational programs and lectures to address relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, etc., and to assist in overcoming substance use disorder, adjusting to pro-social life, and making cognitive and behavioral changes.

Under direct supervision and with supervisor’s approval, carries case load, per State and contract requirements.

Collaborates with clients to develop discharge summary and plans for supervisor’s approval to integrate aftercare treatment with referral resource services.

Coordinates required services to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations in support of continued recovery.

Collects and maintains treatment records and reports to ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

  • Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a helping profession from an accredited college or university
  • Some previous experience substance use treatment/counseling and/or mental health counseling is preferred
  • Current Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) or Masters Certified Addictions Counselor (MCAP) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred
  • Must be able to obtain Florida Department of Corrections clearance to work in the correctional institution.
  • Basic knowledge of the principles of human growth and psychosocial development
  • Basic knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level
  • Basic understanding of mental health disorders requiring referrals
  • Basic communication skills to exchange information and interact with various internal and external audiences regarding client care
  • Active listening skills and social perceptiveness
  • Ability to read and interpret policies and instructions
  • Ability to understand side effects and impact of medications on client
  • Adaptability / flexibility: ability to shift priorities

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 record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy, to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, read

Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data

Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises

Compensation

Range is between $49,296 - $67,917

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

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

Benefits at Apharus 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

Conduct client interviews and support individualized treatment planning, counseling, psychoeducation, relapse prevention, and crisis response for people receiving substance use treatment in a correctional setting. Maintain treatment records, coordinate referrals and discharge plans, and collaborate with clients and supervisors to support recovery and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a helping profession from an accredited college or university is required, and prior substance use or mental health counseling experience is preferred. A relevant Florida addiction or mental health credential is preferred, along with the ability to obtain Florida Department of Corrections clearance and knowledge of counseling, psychosocial development, communication, and crisis intervention.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Substance Use Disorder CounselingIndividual CounselingCase ManagementDischarge PlanningClient AssessmentRecordkeeping and Compliance

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 40% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Florida is 103.4 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$59k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $57k in an average-cost state. 58.1% of Florida clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Florida has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$59k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution36 jobs · 30 employers

14
<$75k
13
$75k-95k
5
$95k-115k
4
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks25 jobs

401k / retirement match
88% this job
CME allowance
36% this job
Sign-on bonus
28%
Loan repayment
16% this job
PSLF eligible
8% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

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

LifeStance Health · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 30% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Ocala

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$258k≈ 5.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,575/mo≈ 38% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
95.2
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 · Ocala, FL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. 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
403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
Short-term and long-term disability
Life and AD&D insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
18 paid time off days per year
9 paid company holidays