Counselor

Pinnacle Treatment Centers • Bakersfield, CA

5d

About The Position

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a provider of addiction treatment services committed to compassionate, evidence-based care and the holistic well-being of patients. The Counselor supports patients with substance use disorders throughout their recovery by providing assessment, treatment planning, counseling, risk monitoring, and referrals. Counselors work with patients and other clinical and administrative staff to deliver individualized care and follow applicable federal and state regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Compensation is $20 to $31 per hour, with actual pay determined by relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and other job-related factors. The posting describes Counselor I, Counselor II, and Counselor III qualification pathways. The required education, credentials, and experience vary by level and may also be subject to county-specific requirements.

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, Kern County: Bachelor’s degree, or high school diploma/GED with 75% certification education.
• Counselor II: Associate degree in a relevant field or the majority of approved counselor certification courses, and the license or certification necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population.
• Counselor II, Kern County: Bachelor’s degree or 75% of required counselor certification courses.
• Possess counselor registration or certification from a certifying organization recognized by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs.
• For California employees, provide proof of registration immediately upon employment with a California Alcohol and Drug Program certifying body; employees must be registered before providing counseling services, per DHCS requirements.
• Counselor II: 2–5 years of experience or master-level qualifications.
• Counselor III: Degree qualifications must include being licensed, license-eligible, or certified, and clinical skills must be effective in complex cases.
• 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 applicants who are license-eligible must maintain Board requirements for practice, including receiving the required clinical supervision from a Board-approved supervisor.
• Counselor III: Provide proof of licensure or certification by a state-approved regulatory agency immediately upon employment; employees must be credentialed before providing counseling services, per DHCS requirements.

Responsibilities

• Orient new patients to program rules, policies, procedures, and patient rights.
• Conduct intakes, discharge planning, initial assessments, and initial treatment plans professionally and within required timelines.
• Involve patients in assessment, treatment planning, and interventions to support their participation in recovery.
• Administer and update biopsychosocial assessments covering addiction, medical and mental health history, socioeconomic circumstances, legal matters, and other areas of patients’ lives.
• Use patients’ Strengths, Needs, Ability, and Preferences (SNAP) to create 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 and identify relapse indicators to support early intervention and relapse prevention.
• Assess patients for high-risk conditions that could endanger themselves or others, and administer BAM-R, C-SSRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 screening tools.
• Evaluate high-risk cases, consider whether the treatment setting is appropriate, review other practitioners’ involvement, and recommend referrals to specialists when needed.
• Obtain releases of information when needed to coordinate care with other practitioners.
• Flag and refer high-risk patients to Medical Directors, Physician Extenders, or Regional Clinical Leadership according to urgency and applicable referral procedures.
• Review physician notes after care for high-risk patients and escalate concerns to the supervising counselor and clinic manager when necessary.
• Notify relevant staff in writing about high-risk patients and their conditions, and maintain and circulate treatment team or case conference minutes.
• Provide professional counseling and referral services, including connections to specialized services, support groups, and community resources; liaise with outside agencies as needed.
• Provide individual and group counseling as clinically necessary, 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 such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• Schedule counseling sessions, issue appointment cards, and record scheduled or rescheduled sessions in the EHR scheduler.
• Document counseling services with required signatures and dates in accordance with regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies.
• Participate in community relations and outreach efforts.
• Attend recommended training, including physician training for counselors and RCL training, and attend case conferences with program physicians and physician assistants.
• Collect research data when requested.
• Observe collection of patients’ 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 for the federal Student Loan Repayment Program at 90% of facilities; the program selects applicants for potential forgiveness of 100% of student loans.
• 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