SUD/MH Counselor

Community for New Direction•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The SUD/MH Counselor works with outpatient treatment clients using a welcoming, empathetic, hopeful, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed approach. The role supports dual recovery from substance use and mental health disorders, encourages clients to take responsibility in recovery, and upholds professional and ethical standards as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. The counselor assesses clients, develops and monitors individualized treatment and continuing-care plans, and provides substance-use and mental-health counseling, education, crisis intervention, and group services. The role also requires maintaining clinical and service documentation, communicating treatment updates to referral sources, and participating in staff meetings and professional development activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human service or behavioral science, three years of experience in chemical-dependency or mental-health treatment, and a CDCA, LCDC II, LPC, or LSW license; or a high school diploma or equivalent, an LCDC II, LCDC III, or comparable license or certification, and three years of relevant experience.
A minimum of an LPC or LSW is required to provide mental-health services.
Knowledge of substance-abuse trends, 12-step support systems, and ASAM treatment criteria.
Knowledge of substance-abuse and co-occurring disorders, including their characteristics, assessment, and treatment.
Ability to use trauma-informed approaches in client treatment.
Maturity, professionalism, and a sincere desire to work with people in recovery.
Strong interpersonal skills for handling sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
Ability to analyze information, think critically, and solve problems.
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
Commitment to learning, creating positive change, and enabling others to learn.
Strong verbal communication skills and ability to work with a diverse population.
Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
Proficiency with a personal computer and software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and with office equipment such as fax machines, copiers, and printers.
Valid Ohio driver’s license.
Must pass a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Independent license preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop a comprehensive clinical formulation using chemical-dependency, biopsychosocial, and related assessments, together with the client’s current functioning.
Provide chemical-dependency counseling and/or counseling for individuals, families, and groups, as well as crisis intervention and chemical-dependency education.
Develop, assign, and monitor individualized treatment and continuing-care plans in cooperation with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
Support clients seeking or already engaged in recovery to reduce the impact of mental and substance-use disorders in the community.
Document clinical procedures and day-to-day services as required by funders, accreditation bodies, and Community for New Direction.
Provide referral sources with regular updates on client progress, lack of progress, attendance, and treatment outcomes.
Educate clients to modify behaviors and prevent relapse in pursuit of recovery.
Provide mental-health education groups, assessments, and individual, family, and group mental-health counseling.
Participate in staff meetings and committees, and attend professional development conferences, trainings, webinars, and seminars as needed.
Use role modeling and empathetic support to help clients recover from substance-use disorders.
Collaborate with clients to develop treatment plans that identify and prioritize problems, goals, and treatment methods.
Act as a positive role model and provide clients with guidance and support.
Perform other duties as assigned to promote the organization’s mission and vision.