Counselor

10:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Monday – Friday)

About Us

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a leading provider of comprehensive addiction treatment services, committed to transforming lives through compassionate care. Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices, focusing on the holistic well-being of our patients, and treating our teammates with the same level of individualized compassion and empathy. We believe in providing a supportive and inclusive environment for both our patients and our dedicated team of professionals. Pinnacle transforms the lives of more than 35,000 individuals daily resulting in a network of care spanning across the country.

About the Role

As a Counselor, you will play a crucial role in the recovery journey of our patients. Pinnacle’s unique approach combines compassionate care with innovative treatment methods to address the diverse needs of individuals seeking help for substance use disorders. Join us in making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.

Responsibilities

• Provides orientation to new patients regarding the programs’ rules, policies, procedures, and patients' rights.
• Conducts Intakes, Discharge Planning, Initial Assessments, and Initial Treatment Plans professionally and within time guidelines as required by applicable federal and state regulation, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle Policies.
• Involves patients in the assessment, treatment planning, and intervention aspects of treatment, providing the patient with a sense of entitlement to their own recovery.
• Administers the biopsychosocial assessment, evaluating all areas of patients' lives, including their addictions, medical and mental health history, socioeconomics, legal, etc., at intake and on an ongoing basis.
• Recognizes and utilizes patients’ Strengths, Needs, Ability, and Preferences (SNAP) to develop and implement individualized Treatment Plans that effectively help patients meet their short- and long-term goals.
• Determines the clinical necessity of counseling services based on the clinical assessment and evaluation of the patients.
• Monitors closely and documents any change of circumstances with the patients, especially as it relates to matters that may affect their recovery, identifying and addressing relapse indicators to promote relapse prevention interventions at an early stage.
• Complies with and implements the Medical Q.A (Quality Assurance) and Clinical Risk Management Policies, including:
  • Evaluating patients for any high-risk conditions (e.g., liver failure, pregnancy, overdose, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.), which may endanger the patient (suicidal) or other parties (homicidal).
  • Administering the BAM-R, C-SSRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 screening tools to determine the severity of the patient's mental/emotional status.
  • Evaluating risk factors concerning each case, considering the appropriateness of and professionalism in treating such individuals in an OTP compared to treatment in a residential facility or other treatment modalities.
  • Reviewing and asking about other practitioners' involvement in the treatment of these high-risk conditions. Recommending immediate referral to such a specialist in case of need. Requesting the patient sign a waiver for release of information to allow communication with the other practitioner in case of need (e.g., deterioration of the patient’s condition).
  • Flagging high-risk patients to the Medical Directors, Physician Extenders, and Regional Clinical Leadership (RCL) and highlighting the conditions concerned.
  • Referring such patients to the Medical Directors, Physician Extenders, or RCLs based on urgency, utilizing the informal Referral Policy or the scheduled Treatment Team/Case Conference session.
  • Reviewing physician notes following the Medical Directors or Physician Extenders’ session with the patient, verifying that they noted and addressed the high-risk factor, or otherwise bringing it immediately to the attention of the supervising counselor and clinic manager until the matter’s proper and professional handling by the physician or physician extender.
  • Advising, in writing, other staff members (including the clinic manager, supervising counselor, dispensing nurse, and front office) of high-risk patients and their condition. Maintaining and circulating minutes from treatment team/case conference sessions to other staff members.
• Provides professional counseling and referral services by:
  • Addressing patients’ clinical and special needs by maintaining referrals to specialized (“second tier”) services rendered by physicians, physician extenders, and counselors within Pinnacle, as well as referrals to Keys to Recovery (or other twelve-step) support groups and other community resources (e.g., agencies and practitioners outside of Pinnacle), acting as a liaison to these agencies as necessary.
  • Providing individual and group counseling as clinically necessary to address the problem issues identified in the Initial Assessment and Treatment Plans. The counseling service will include protocols for the treatment of Relapse Prevention, Peer Pressure, Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Parenting, Family Preservation, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.
  • Utilizing advanced counseling techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, etc.
  • Scheduling regular counseling sessions with patients; issuing patient appointment cards and recording scheduled or rescheduled sessions in EHR scheduler.
  • Documenting counseling entries, including signature and date, as required by applicable federal and state regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies.
• Engages in Community Relations and Outreach efforts.
• Attends all recommended training, including Physician Training of Counselors, RCL training, and case conferences with the program physicians and physician assistants.
• Collects research data when requested.
• Observes the collection of patients’ urine samples when required.
• Attends team meetings and completes all training courses timely as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Counselor I: $20/hour to $21/hour
  • Possess an associate degree in a relevant field and has the registration/credentials necessary to provide counseling services to our patient population.
  • Kern County requires a bachelor’s degree or High school diploma/GED with 75% certification education.
• Preferred:
  • Possess a bachelor's degree or higher.
• Counselor II: $21/hour to $24/hour
  • Possess an associate degree in a relevant field or a majority of approved counselor certification courses, license, or certification necessary to provide counseling services to our patient population.
  • Kern County requires a bachelor's degree or 75% of required counselor certification courses.
  • Possess counselor registration/certification by a “Certifying Organization” recognized by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Proof of registration is required immediately once employed with a California Alcohol and Drug Program certifying body. Employees must be registered prior to providing any counseling services per the DHCS (Department of Health Care Services).
  • 2-5 years of experience OR Master level.
• Counselor III: $24/hour to $27/hour (certified), $27/hour to $30/hour (licensed)
  • Degrees must include being licensed, licensed eligible, or certified. Clinical skills must be effective in complex cases.
  • Possess certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor with a CA-approved certification agency or current credentials as licensed or license-eligible with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology. If license-eligible, must maintain the Board’s requirements to be able to practice, including receiving the necessary amount of clinical supervision by a Board-approved supervisor.
  • Proof of licensure or certification by a State-approved regulatory agency is required immediately once employed. Employees must be credentialed prior to providing any counseling services per the DHCS (Department of Health Care Services).

Benefits

• Variable Pay Structure: Competitive compensation based on experience, education, and licensure.
• Defined Career Pathing: Clear advancement opportunities through our Counselor Tier Program, designed to reward achievement in education, licensure, and credentials.
• Bonus Incentives: Recognizing and rewarding quality patient care with monthly performance-based bonuses.
• STAR LRP Eligibility: 90% of our facilities are eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program. This federal program selects applicants to forgive 100% of their student loans.
• Continuing Education: Free access to over 600 CEU courses to enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Paid Time Off: 18 days of PTO, sick leave, and 8 paid holidays to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives: Be part of a workforce that reflects the diversity of our patient population.
• Free Clinical Supervision: Available based on licensure and availability to support your professional growth.