Counselor

Pinnacle Treatment Centers • Ceres, CA

5d

About The Position

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a provider of comprehensive addiction treatment services, using evidence-based practices and compassionate care to support patients and teammates. Counselors support patients recovering from substance use disorders by assessing their needs, developing individualized treatment plans, providing counseling, monitoring risk and progress, and coordinating referrals and care with other professionals and community resources. The role includes individual and group counseling, treatment documentation, patient orientation, risk screening and escalation, participation in team meetings and training, and community outreach. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Requirements

• Counselor I and II: Associate degree in a relevant field, or a majority of approved counselor certification courses, or the license or certification necessary to provide counseling services to the patient population.
• For Kern County, a bachelor's degree or completion of 75% of required counselor certification courses is required.
• Counselor registration or certification from an organization recognized by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs is required. California employees must provide proof of registration immediately upon employment and be registered before providing counseling services, as required by DHCS.
• Counselor I: 0–2 years of experience.
• Counselor II: 2–5 years of experience.
• Counselor III: Master's-level counselor; degrees 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 credentials as licensed or license-eligible with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology.
• Counselor III candidates who are license-eligible must maintain Board requirements to practice, including receiving the 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, and employees must be credentialed before providing counseling services, as required by DHCS.

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 time requirements.
• Involve patients in assessment, treatment planning, and treatment interventions.
• Administer biopsychosocial assessments at intake and on an ongoing basis.
• Use patients’ strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences to develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Determine the clinical necessity of counseling services based on assessment and evaluation.
• Monitor and document changes in patients’ circumstances and identify relapse indicators early.
• Apply medical quality assurance and clinical risk management policies, assess high-risk conditions, administer BAM-R, C-SSRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 screening tools, and evaluate risk and appropriate treatment settings.
• Review other practitioners’ involvement in high-risk cases, recommend referrals to specialists, obtain releases of information as needed, and escalate high-risk concerns to medical and clinical leadership.
• Review physician notes concerning high-risk factors and escalate any 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 referrals to specialized providers, support groups, and community resources, and liaise with those resources 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 such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• Schedule counseling sessions, issue appointment cards, and record appointments or rescheduled sessions in the EHR scheduler.
• Document counseling services with required signatures and dates in accordance with applicable regulations, CARF guidelines, and company policies.
• Engage in community relations and outreach.
• Attend recommended training, including physician training for counselors and RCL training, and participate in 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 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 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 based on licensure and availability.

What This Job Offers

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