Residential Behavioral Health Counselor (Weekend)

About the role

Rimrock Trails is seeking a motivated and experienced behavioral health professional to provide clinical leadership and therapeutic support within our adolescent residential treatment program on weekends. This position plays a critical role in maintaining a safe, structured, and treatment-focused environment while providing therapeutic groups, crisis intervention, family support, and guidance to residential staff. Unlike traditional outpatient counseling positions, this role functions as a key clinical presence within the residential milieu, helping youth practice recovery skills, emotional regulation, healthy communication, and behavioral management in real-time. The ideal candidate will bring experience working with adolescents in residential, milieu-based, inpatient, or other intensive behavioral health settings and possess the confidence to lead during complex situations while maintaining a calm, supportive, and trauma-informed approach.

Responsibilities

• Therapeutic Programming: Facilitate social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, communication, and skills based, psychoeducational groups; Lead SMART Recovery and recovery-oriented programming; Support implementation of the residential treatment curriculum; Reinforce treatment goals throughout daily programming; Assist youth in applying therapeutic skills in real-world situations.
• Milieu Leadership: Serve as the primary clinical resource during weekend shifts; Maintain a structured, therapeutic, and engaging treatment environment; Provide coaching and guidance to youth during behavioral challenges and interpersonal conflicts; Help youth develop accountability, problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and healthy communication; Promote a positive peer culture and therapeutic community.
• Crisis Intervention: Respond to behavioral, emotional, and interpersonal crises; Assess situations and provide appropriate therapeutic intervention; Offer clinical guidance and support to residential staff during critical incidents; Assist with de-escalation while maintaining treatment expectations and safety standards; Support for continuity-of-care planning and community transitions for unplanned discharges on the weekends.
• Family Engagement: Support family involvement in the treatment process; Facilitate family/parent education and skill-building activities as assigned; May facilitate a weekly parent support or educational group; Assist in supporting communication between youth, families, and treatment providers.
• Residential Activities: Support therapeutic recreational activities and community outings; Assist with implementation of Collaborative Problem Solving and Positive Reinforcement Behavior Management systems; Encourage youth participation in treatment, activities, and community responsibilities; Promote healthy relationship-building and prosocial behavior.
• Team Collaboration: Communicate significant clinical concerns to treatment team members; Participate in treatment planning and clinical consultation as requested; Document services provided in accordance with agency and regulatory requirements; Collaborate effectively with counselors, treatment aides, nursing staff, and leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong therapeutic boundaries.
• Excellent crisis management skills.
• Ability to build rapport with adolescents and families.
• Leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Confidence directing staff and managing complex situations.
• Ability to balance empathy with accountability.
• Commitment to trauma-informed and strength-based care.
• Ability to maintain professionalism under pressure.
• Strong written documentation skills.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Ability to actively engage with youth throughout a residential setting.
• Ability to participate in recreational activities and community outings.
• Ability to respond appropriately during behavioral crises and emergency situations.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Pay

$40-$70 per hour, depending on qualifications, licensure, and experience.

Schedule

Part-Time, 20 hours per week; Weekend Position.

Benefits

• 401(k) with employer match
• Sick leave accrual

Minimum Required Qualifications

• CADC II or higher certification.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with adolescents, behavioral health populations, or substance use treatment clients.
• Experience working in residential, inpatient, or other milieu-based treatment settings.
• Experience facilitating groups and family programming.
• Knowledge of adolescent development, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and behavioral health treatment.
• Ability to lead effectively during high stress situations.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, Social Work