Substance Use Counselor

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities

• Clinically responsible for the substance use treatment of assigned clients.
• Develops appropriate therapeutic relationships with assigned caseload.
• Supports youth in developing individualized relapse prevention strategies.
• Conducts individual, group, and family counseling as prescribed in individualized treatment plans.
• Maintains 15 hours of direct client contact through facilitation of counseling sessions.
• Develops and implements treatment plans, treatment plan reviews, and produces client reports.
• Coordinates services and implements treatment services in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Presents clients monthly at staff meetings.
• Follows through on treatment team-developed interventions.
• Models interventions and provides clinical guidance to other staff.
• Assists in coordinating the transfer/discharge to continuing care services.
• Communicates client status to families and other agencies.
• Completes monthly clinical staffing summaries.
• Creates and completes client documentation in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Conducts urinalysis (UA) tests for clients as necessary.

Milieu

• Provides a safe and therapeutic environment for clients, staff, and visitors.
• Supports and utilizes the community as a means to enact change.
• Collaborates closely with other therapeutic staff to ensure coordinated care.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 1 year experience in behavioral health field or 3 years in substance use field.
• Ability to obtain CDCII certification within 3 years of employment.
• Therapy and Counseling — Knowledge of substance use and mental health disorders.
• Critical Thinking — Identifying strengths and weaknesses of solutions.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Making informed decisions based on available information.
• Active Learning — Understanding the impact of new information.
• Flexible Work Hours — Ability to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Driver’s License — Current and valid driver’s license.
• Reliable Transportation — Own transportation required.
• Community Engagement — Ability to work with diverse community groups, focusing on Alaska Native people.
• Writing and Communication Skills — Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Working Conditions — Office environment, frequent interruptions, sitting, using hands, talking, hearing, lifting up to 25 pounds, close vision, and occasional driving.