Counselor I

Company Summary

If you are searching for a fulfilling place to develop your career and an opportunity to make a difference in helping others, then keep reading on. Here at AAC, we have a progressive culture; we listen to your ideas, value a work/life balance, invest in education, and we foster trust and respect for all individuals. Our exceptional comp and strong benefits include company matching 401K, medical, dental, vision and life insurance. We are looking for our future leaders, who are not only going to fill the qualifications for this job description, but who are going to exceed expectations. Be a part of a team whose mission is to provide quality, compassionate, and innovative care to adults struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our purpose and passion are to empower patients, their families, and our communities by helping individuals achieve recovery and optimal wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.

Job Summary

​​Responsible for providing individual, group and family counseling.  Conduct clinical assessments for new patients and on-going required assessments. Counselor I will demonstrate expertise in therapeutic interventions, treatment modalities and utilize evidence based practices. Counselor I will participate in Treatment team and provide service coordination as needed for patients. Counselor I will advocate and communicate with the UR department on all aspects of patient care.   American Addiction Centers strives to ensure that all of our patients receive the most comprehensive care to address the issues that may impede their recovery.

Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide substance abuse counseling services in accordance with the state laws, licensing boards, and professional ethical guidelines.
• Maintain a full patient caseload.
• Provide intervention, assessments, treatment planning, and individual/group counseling.
• Initiate and provide family counseling services.
• Provide intervention, assessments, and group counseling.
• Facilitate therapeutic groups as assigned.
• Provide clinical services and assist when needed with patients as assigned by clinical director.
• Participate in daily treatment team meetings and program staff meetings.
• Ensure that all documentation meets contract, licensure, accreditation and standards for services in a timely manner following the AAC’s documentation policy guidelines.
• Communicate efficiently with other departments to ensure the best care for patient.
• Provide clinical services to outpatient and inpatient adult population.
• Understand and abide by State Department standards, facility accreditation, AAC’s policy and procedures.
• Identify, evaluate, and address situations which may be potentially harmful to patients and report any patient or safety concerns to Clinical Manager and/or CEO.
• Adhere to company code of ethic and maintain professional boundaries with patients at all times.
• Respectful of patient rights as well as understanding of patients unique recoevry needs.
• Communicate with all staff, patients, and families using excellent professional written and verbal skills.
• Participate in required clinical supervision, training, and staff meetings.
• Work as a larger interdisciplinary team along with other departments to ensure quality of care.
• Demonstate dependability and adaptability with patients and staff.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient and company information.
• Abide by the standards of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 guidelines.
• Maintain upkeep of personal professional licensing, certification, and CEU’s as required by state boards without lapse, holds, suspensions, or investigation.
• Assists in monitoring and managing patient community as a therapeutic milieu.
• Intervenes in crisis situations to deescalates and resolves crises.

Facility-Specific Duties & Responsibilities 

• Communicate efficiently with internal and external stakeholders and collateral contacts as required (i.e. BD, Family, UR, Employers, EAP, etc.).
• Perform all ascribed documentation as required by facility policies and procedures. 
• Perform ASAM Level of Care assessments at the specified interval following AAC’s documentation policy and procedure guidelines.
• Execute referent protocols following case assignment.

Education/ Experience:

• Bachlors Degree in Behavioral Sciences Required (social work, counseling or psychology).
• State recognized (IC&RC) certified alcohol and drug counseling (CADC) required.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in a behavioral healthcare field.
• Experience working with substance abuse, addictions, mental health, cognitive behavior treatment and motivational interviewing.
• Knowledge of utilizing electronic health record software and documentation.
• Knowledge of ASAM criteria.
• Ability to read, write and interpret written information, type documentation, present information to groups and participate in meetings. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Must be able to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and flexible hours.
• Valid driver license and insurable driving record (If driving a company vehicle or if driving personal vehicle for company business; refer to Guidelines for Driving Company Vehicles).

Physical Requirements

AAC is committed to principles of equal opportunities for all employees.  The Company will provide reasonable accommodations that are necessary to comply with State and Federal disability discrimination laws

Prolonged sitting at a desk

Must be able to lift 15 pounds at a time

Certifications and Licenses:

IC&RC certification related to substance use counseling

American Addiction Centers is an equal opportunity employer.  American Addiction Centers prohibits employment practices that discriminate against individuals or groups of employees on the basis of age, color disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information or any other category deemed protected by state and/or federal law.