Substance Abuse Counselor/Therapist

Gateway Foundation is a national leader in reducing substance use, other addictive disorders and improving mental health and overall wellbeing by creating access to affordable, efficient, and high-quality services. Our employees have an opportunity to make a difference every day by helping people with substance abuse issues gain control of their lives.

Substance Abuse Counselors are responsible for

• Conducts client interviews and assessments to review substance use disorder and treatment history.
• Evaluates client response to treatment to recommend modifications to the treatment plan and assist with caseloads and development of individualized treatment plan and preparing individually appropriate goals, interventions, and necessary support.
• Assists with and provides didactic group counseling, including psychoeducation, drug education, and family education to ensure peer support occurs.
• Provides individual client counseling, educational programs and lectures to address relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, etc., and to assist in overcoming substance use disorder, adjusting to pro-social life, and making cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Carries case load up to 25 clients, per State and contract requirements.
• Collaborates with clients to develop discharge summary and continuing care and relapse prevention plans for supervisor’s approval to integrate aftercare treatment with referral resource services.
• Coordinates required services to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations in support of continued recovery.
• Collects and maintains treatment records and reports to ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.
• Performs office administrative duties, such as answering telephones; relaying messages; responding to inquiries regarding program services and policies; filing, photocopying and faxing documents; planning special events, assembling intake packets, etc.
• Work schedule is Monday - Thursday, 7:00am-5:30pm, working 4-10 hour shifts.

Job Requirements

• Must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a helping profession (Psychology, Social Work, Addiction Counseling, Child & Family Studies, Nursing, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Services, Health Education) from an accredited college or university.
• Some previous counseling experience, experience in substance use disorder or mental health treatment is preferred.
• Must obtain certification as identified by state within 30 months of the first date that the counseling services are provided – GATEWAY reimburses the cost. Acceptable Certifications include Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) from the Georgia Addiction Counselor’s Association (GACA), Certified Addiction Counselor from the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC) from the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC), and Certification as a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS). Acceptable Licensures include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS).
• Must be able to obtain Georgia Department of Corrections clearance to work in the correctional institution.