Counselor

Pinnacle Treatment Centers • Bakersfield, CA

11d

About The Position

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a provider of comprehensive addiction treatment services, using evidence-based practices and compassionate care to support patients’ holistic well-being. The Counselor supports patients with substance use disorders throughout their recovery by providing assessment, treatment planning, counseling, risk evaluation, and referrals. The position works Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Counselors orient patients to program policies and rights; complete intake, discharge planning, assessments, and treatment plans; and involve patients in decisions about their care. They assess patients’ biopsychosocial needs and strengths, determine the clinical need for counseling, monitor changes and relapse indicators, and provide individualized treatment. The role includes evaluating and escalating high-risk conditions, coordinating with clinical and medical staff, documenting care in accordance with applicable regulations and organizational policies, and connecting patients with specialized and community resources.

The role also includes individual and group counseling, use of techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, participation in treatment team meetings and training, community outreach, collection of research data when requested, and observation of urine sample collection when required. Compensation and qualification requirements vary by counselor tier. The organization offers career advancement through its Counselor Tier Program and a range of teammate benefits.

Requirements

• Counselor I: Associate degree in a relevant field and the registration or credentials required to provide counseling services to the patient population.
• Counselor I in Kern County: Bachelor’s degree, or high school diploma/GED with 75% certification education.
• Counselor II: Associate degree in a relevant field or a majority of approved counselor certification courses, and the license or certification necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population.
• Counselor II in Kern County: Bachelor’s degree or 75% of required counselor certification courses.
• Counselor II: Registration or certification from a certifying organization recognized by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs; proof of registration is required immediately upon employment, and employees must be registered before providing counseling services under DHCS requirements.
• Counselor II: 2–5 years of experience or master-level education.
• Counselor III: Degree and credentials must include licensure, license eligibility, or certification; effective clinical skills in complex cases are required.
• Counselor III: Certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor through a California-approved certification agency, or current licensed or license-eligible credentials with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology.
• Counselor III, if license-eligible: Maintain Board requirements for practice, including obtaining required clinical supervision from a Board-approved supervisor.
• Counselor III: Proof of licensure or certification by a state-approved regulatory agency is required immediately upon employment; employees must be credentialed before providing counseling services under DHCS requirements.

Responsibilities

• Orient new patients to program rules, policies, procedures, and patient rights.
• Conduct intakes, discharge planning, initial assessments, and initial treatment plans within applicable timelines and regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Involve patients in assessment, treatment planning, and interventions to support their participation in recovery.
• Administer biopsychosocial assessments at intake and on an ongoing basis.
• Use patients’ strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences to develop and implement individualized treatment plans and goals.
• Determine the clinical necessity of counseling services based on assessment and evaluation.
• Monitor and document changes in patients’ circumstances, identify relapse indicators, and address them through early relapse-prevention interventions.
• Assess high-risk conditions and administer BAM-R, C-SSRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 screening tools to evaluate patients’ mental and emotional status.
• Evaluate risk factors and the appropriateness of treatment in an opioid treatment program versus residential or other treatment modalities.
• Review other practitioners’ involvement in treatment of high-risk conditions, recommend referrals to specialists, and request releases of information when needed for coordination.
• Flag and refer high-risk patients to Medical Directors, Physician Extenders, or Regional Clinical Leadership according to urgency and referral procedures.
• Review physician notes after high-risk consultations and promptly escalate unaddressed concerns to the supervising counselor and clinic manager.
• Notify relevant staff in writing about high-risk patients and their conditions, and maintain and circulate treatment team or case conference minutes.
• Provide counseling and referral services, including connections to specialized services, support groups, and community resources; liaise with outside agencies as needed.
• Provide clinically appropriate individual and group counseling addressing issues identified in assessments and treatment plans, including relapse prevention, peer pressure, anger management, domestic violence, parenting, family preservation, and vocational rehabilitation.
• Use advanced counseling techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• Schedule counseling sessions, issue appointment cards, and record scheduled or rescheduled appointments in the EHR scheduler.
• Document counseling services with required signatures and dates in accordance with applicable regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies.
• Participate in community relations and outreach efforts.
• Attend recommended training, including physician training for counselors, Regional Clinical Leadership training, and case conferences with program physicians and physician assistants.
• Collect research data when requested.
• Observe collection of patient urine samples when required.
• Attend team meetings and complete required training courses on time.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on experience, education, and licensure.
• Career advancement opportunities through the Counselor Tier Program.
• Monthly performance-based bonuses recognizing quality patient care.
• Eligibility at 90% of facilities for the federal Student Loan Repayment Program, which selects applicants for 100% student loan forgiveness.
• Free access to more than 600 continuing education courses.
• 18 days of paid time off, sick leave, and 8 paid holidays.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Free clinical supervision, subject to licensure and availability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree