Counselor

About the Role

The Counselor provides support to enhance the quality of patient care by working directly with patients in a treatment setting and collaboratively as a member of the program's multi-disciplinary team in accordance with the RCA Care Model. They are responsible for collaborating with the CSS Clinical Team to deliver direct clinical patient care, offering support and guidance to promote engagement and continuity of care. Working alongside the multi-disciplinary team, the Counselor helps provide a safe and therapeutic treatment experience for patients.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct support to patients through 1-to-1 sessions and/or group facilitation as scheduled or assigned.
• Engages patients by conducting recovery-oriented activities as scheduled.
• Supports the community to intervene with treatment engagement and de-escalate barriers.
• Carries out the RCA Care Model with fidelity.
• Facilitates patient engagement and re-engagement sessions as needed.
• Supports clinical and case management teams by encouraging, engaging, and assisting patients in completing continuity of care plans while collaborating with the treatment team.
• Documents all patient interactions appropriately in continuity of care records.
• Assists in family engagement, including supporting or facilitating family orientation, seminars, supervising family visits, and contacting families (with consent) to support patient engagement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Specialty Assignments

• Provides direct support to 1st responder and frontline programs as assigned.
• Delivers recovery education, including 12-step philosophy and step work, both 1-to-1 and in group settings.
• Facilitates, coordinates, and engages patients in wellness and/or fitness activities, both 1-to-1 and in groups.
• Facilitates, coordinates, and engages patients in art and/or music therapy, both 1-to-1 and in groups.
• Provides direct support for spiritual guidance, both 1-to-1 and in group settings.

Requirements

• Associate degree in a related field preferred; High School diploma or GED required.
• One year of experience in substance use treatment or a closely related field.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Qualifications for Specialty Assignments

• Master’s degree in a related field and/or LMHC, LCSW, LADC I, or related credential preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or LADC II or related credential preferred.
• Recognized certification, licensure, or field experience in spiritual advisement, 1st responder roles, Big Book-based 12-step guidance, or nutrition/wellness preferred.

Skills

• Customer Service: Demonstrates concern for meeting internal and external customer needs in a manner that provides satisfaction within available resources.
• Impact and Influence: Works effectively with and through others, including those over whom there is no formal authority.
• Project Management: Coordinates diverse project components by balancing scope, time, cost, and quality.
• Communication: Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and timely reports, delivers presentations, shares information, and demonstrates strong listening skills.

Work Environment

May work in professional offices, clinics, hospitals, or outpatient facilities. The role involves active engagement with patients, requiring significant time on one’s feet.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds.
• Requires close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during business hours, though some out-of-area or overnight travel may be expected.