Counselor

Pinnacle Treatment Brand • Santa Maria, CA

25d • $20 - $31

About The Position

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a provider of comprehensive addiction treatment services, using evidence-based practices and compassionate care to support patients with substance use disorders. The Counselor plays a key role in patients’ recovery by assessing their needs, developing individualized treatment plans, providing counseling, monitoring risk and progress, coordinating referrals, and documenting services in accordance with applicable regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies. The role also involves collaboration with medical and clinical staff, participation in training and case conferences, community outreach, and other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Counselor I: Associate degree in a relevant field and the registration or credentials necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population.
• For Kern County Counselor I roles, a bachelor’s degree or a high school diploma/GED with 75% certification education is required.
• Counselor II: Associate degree in a relevant field or completion of a majority of approved counselor certification courses, plus the license or certification necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population.
• For Kern County Counselor II roles, a bachelor’s degree or completion of 75% of required counselor certification courses is required.
• Counselor II: Counselor 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’s-level qualification.
• 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 credentials as licensed or license-eligible with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology.
• Counselor III applicants who are license-eligible must maintain Board requirements for practice, including obtaining the required clinical supervision from a Board-approved supervisor.
• Counselor III: Proof of licensure or certification from a state-approved regulatory agency is required immediately upon employment, and employees must be credentialed before providing counseling services under DHCS requirements.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree or higher is preferred for Counselor I.

Responsibilities

• Orient new patients to program rules, policies, procedures, and patient rights.
• Conduct intakes, discharge planning, initial assessments, and initial treatment plans within required timeframes and in accordance with regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies.
• Involve patients in assessment, treatment planning, and interventions to support ownership of their recovery.
• Administer biopsychosocial assessments at intake and on an ongoing basis, evaluating 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 develop and implement individualized treatment plans and help patients meet short- and long-term goals.
• Determine the clinical necessity of counseling services based on clinical assessment and evaluation.
• Monitor and document changes in patients’ circumstances, identify relapse indicators, and address them with early relapse-prevention interventions.
• Implement medical quality-assurance and clinical risk-management policies, including assessing high-risk conditions and risks to patients or others.
• Administer BAM-R, C-SSRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 screening tools to assess patients’ mental and emotional status.
• Evaluate risk factors and determine whether treatment in an opioid treatment program is appropriate compared with residential or other treatment modalities.
• Review involvement of other practitioners in treating high-risk conditions and recommend specialist referrals when needed; request releases of information when appropriate.
• Flag and refer high-risk patients to Medical Directors, Physician Extenders, and Regional Clinical Leadership according to urgency and applicable referral procedures.
• Review physician notes after high-risk consultations and escalate concerns to the supervising counselor and clinic manager if risk factors are not properly addressed.
• Notify relevant staff in writing about high-risk patients and their conditions, and maintain and circulate treatment-team or case-conference minutes.
• Coordinate referrals to specialized services, support groups, and community resources, and act as a liaison to outside agencies as necessary.
• 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 enter scheduled or rescheduled sessions in the EHR scheduler.
• Document counseling services, including signatures and dates, as required by regulations, CARF guidelines, and Pinnacle policies.
• Participate in community relations and outreach efforts.
• Attend required training, including physician training of counselors and Regional Clinical Leadership 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 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