Mental Health Counselor

NEXUS FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER • Dallas, TX

6d • $60,000 - $64,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Nexus Family Recovery Center is a Dallas-based nonprofit supporting women and families affected by substance use disorder through detox, residential, and outpatient treatment. Its care is trauma-informed and evidence-based, and its workplace emphasizes respect, compassion, integrity, and staff support.

The Mental Health Counselor carries a caseload and provides individual and family therapy, assessments, recovery plans, therapeutic interventions, and crisis management for clients with co-occurring disorders. The counselor works with a multidisciplinary team to help clients achieve and maintain recovery, improve mental health stability, develop coping strategies, and enhance overall well-being. The role requires knowledge of evidence-based therapeutic approaches and adherence to applicable clinical, ethical, regulatory, and confidentiality requirements.

The position is full-time in Dallas, Texas, with a day shift and no travel. It requires a master’s degree in social sciences or a related field and an LPC, LCSW, or LMFT license. The role includes occasional physical activities such as standing, walking, using stairs, sitting, reaching, climbing or balancing, and bending or kneeling, as well as occasionally lifting or moving up to 20 pounds. The work environment typically has a moderate noise level.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social sciences or a related field from an accredited college.
• Current LPC, LCSW, or LMFT license.
• Knowledge of mental health disorders, substance use disorder, trauma, and co-occurring disorders.
• Understanding of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• Group facilitation, crisis intervention, risk assessment, treatment planning, and clinical documentation skills.
• Understanding of relapse triggers, recovery stages, and strategies for long-term sobriety.
• Ability to build trusting client relationships and provide empathetic, patient, respectful emotional support.
• Strong crisis intervention skills and ability to remain calm and effective in high-stress situations.
• Strong listening and communication skills.
• Understanding of trauma’s effects on women and ability to create a physically and emotionally safe environment that avoids re-traumatization.
• Ability to use trauma-specific interventions, such as TF-CBT or EMDR, as allowed by licensure.
• Cultural competency and ability to understand how cultural, social, and economic factors affect addiction and recovery.
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to assess client needs, develop recovery plans, adjust interventions, and identify underlying issues.
• Ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team and consult with peers, supervisors, and other healthcare professionals.
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain thorough, accurate, and confidential documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams.
• Familiarity with CMBHS and Welligent electronic health record systems and compliance with CFR 42 and HIPAA.
• Ability to follow the agency’s quality management plan, code of conduct, clinical and personnel policies, and procedures.
• Ability to apply common-sense understanding to written, oral, or diagram instructions and solve practical problems in standardized situations.
• Ability to perform assigned duties accurately, promptly, and to the required standard.
• For internal candidates, clinical experience and job performance meeting expectations in judgment, leadership, and initiative.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive ANSA assessments of clients’ substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and other problem areas.
• Develop individualized recovery plans based on assessment findings, client goals, and medical and psychosocial factors; ensure plans and interventions follow relevant best practices.
• Reassess client progress regularly and modify recovery plans as needed.
• Build therapeutic rapport with clients and families and provide individual therapy addressing substance use, co-occurring disorders, and recovery.
• Help clients develop coping skills, emotional regulation, communication skills, healthy relationships, recovery goals, and life skills.
• Provide crisis intervention and emotional support, including responding to relapse or setbacks.
• Assess and respond to mental health crises, suicidal ideation, self-harm risk, and behavioral concerns; develop safety plans, coordinate emergency interventions and referrals, and support de-escalation using trauma-responsive approaches.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions as requested, foster a supportive environment, monitor group dynamics, guide conflicts, and encourage participation.
• Provide psychoeducation about substance use, mental health conditions, sustaining recovery, the recovery process, medication management, anger management, and the effects of substances on physical and mental health.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records, including assessments, recovery plans, case notes, incidents, intake and discharge documentation, and progress reports.
• Comply with regulatory and ethical record-keeping and reporting standards.
• Coordinate care with staff and counselors, participate in multidisciplinary staffing and treatment team meetings, and arrange referrals to community resources and outside providers.
• Assist clients transitioning from residential or intensive outpatient care to less intensive aftercare programs.
• Advocate for clients within healthcare systems and community resources, and encourage participation in treatment, recovery planning, and mental health therapy.
• Follow applicable laws, ethical standards, professional guidelines, confidentiality requirements, and mandated reporting laws.
• Obtain and maintain training required to comply with state licensure rules and regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Full-time employees receive fully covered health insurance premiums for their own coverage.
• Health insurance coverage is available for dependents at a cost.
• Clinical and medical staff are eligible for student loan reimbursement through the organization’s HRSA-approved site designation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level