Counselor

Pinnacle Treatment Centers • Stockton, CA

5d

About The Position

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is hiring a Counselor to support patients recovering from substance use disorders. The Counselor provides compassionate, evidence-based services, assesses patients’ clinical and personal needs, develops individualized treatment plans, provides individual and group counseling, monitors recovery and safety risks, and coordinates referrals and care with medical professionals and community resources. The role also involves clinical documentation, treatment-team collaboration, training, community outreach, and related duties. The position is listed as Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with pay of $20 to $30 per hour. Compensation depends on relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and other job-related factors.

Requirements

• Counselor I: Associate degree in a relevant field, or a majority of approved counselor certification courses, license, or certification necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population. Kern County requires a bachelor’s degree or 75% of required counselor certification courses.
• Counselor II: Associate degree in a relevant field, or a majority of approved counselor certification courses, license, or certification necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population. Kern County requires a bachelor’s degree or 75% of required counselor certification courses.
• Counselor I and II: Counselor registration or certification from a certifying organization recognized by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. For California, proof of registration with a California Alcohol and Drug Program certifying body is required immediately upon employment, and employees must be registered before providing counseling services under DHCS requirements.
• Counselor III: Degree, licensure, license eligibility, or certification as specified for the role; effective clinical skills 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 license-eligible candidates must maintain Board requirements for practice, including required clinical supervision by a Board-approved supervisor.
• Counselor III: Proof of licensure or certification by a state-approved regulatory agency is required immediately upon employment, and employees must be credentialed before providing counseling services under DHCS requirements.
• Ability to provide counseling and documentation in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, CARF guidelines, and company policies.

Nice To Haves

• Counselor I: 0–2 years of experience.
• Counselor II: 2–5 years of experience or master-level counselor.
• Experience or skill in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• Free clinical supervision is available, depending on licensure and availability.

Responsibilities

• Orient new patients to program rules, policies, procedures, and patient rights.
• Conduct intakes, discharge planning, initial assessments, and initial treatment plans within applicable regulatory, CARF, and company timelines.
• Involve patients in assessment, treatment planning, and interventions to support their participation in recovery.
• Administer biopsychosocial assessments at intake and on an ongoing basis, covering addiction, medical and mental health history, socioeconomic circumstances, legal matters, and other relevant areas.
• 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 patient assessment and evaluation.
• Monitor and document changes in patients’ circumstances and identify relapse indicators early to support prevention interventions.
• Assess high-risk conditions and implement medical quality assurance and clinical risk management policies.
• Administer BAM-R, C-SSRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 screening tools to assess mental and emotional status.
• Evaluate risks and the appropriateness of treatment in an opioid treatment program versus residential or other treatment modalities.
• Review involvement of other practitioners in high-risk cases, recommend specialist referrals when needed, and request releases of information to coordinate care.
• Flag and refer high-risk patients to Medical Directors, Physician Extenders, or Regional Clinical Leadership, according to urgency.
• Review physician notes after consultations and escalate any unaddressed high-risk factors 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 individual and group counseling based on 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 regulations, CARF guidelines, and company policies.
• Participate in community relations and outreach.
• Attend required training, including physician training for counselors and Regional Clinical Leadership training, and attend case conferences with program physicians and physician assistants.
• Collect research data when requested.
• Observe patient urine-sample collection when required.
• Attend team meetings and complete required training courses on time.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Variable pay structure with compensation based on experience, education, and licensure.
• Defined advancement opportunities through a 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 forgiveness of 100% of their 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, based on licensure and availability.

What This Job Offers

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