SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR

Alpharus Health; Live Oak (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful work in corrections

Diverse patient population

Professional growth opportunities

Supportive team culture

Job summary

Alpharus Health in Live Oak, FL is seeking a Substance Use Counselor to provide counseling to individuals with substance use disorders within a correctional setting. This full-time role operates Mon-Fri, 7AM-3:30PM, under state contracts and supervision.

Responsibilities include client interviews, treatment planning, group and individual counseling, progress tracking, and discharge planning with aftercare referrals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a helping profession from an accredited college or university.
• Preferred: experience in substance use treatment and/or mental health counseling.
• Licensure or certification preferred (CAP/MCAP/LMHC/LCSW/LMFT).

Responsibilities

• Conduct client interviews to assess substance use history.
• Review treatment response and modify plans as needed.
• Provide didactic group counseling, psychoeducation, and family education as appropriate.
• Deliver individual counseling and relapse-prevention techniques.
• Maintain treatment records; ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.
• Coordinate discharge planning and aftercare referral plans with supervisor approval.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a helping profession

Job description

SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR

Post Date: Aug 24, 2026

Location: Live Oak, FL, US, 32060

Position Type: Full Time

Requisition Number: 34331

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7AM - 3:30PM

Who is Alpharus Health?

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to helping people build healthier lives. For nearly 60 years, we have provided substance use and mental health treatment that helps individuals, families, and communities find healing, hope, and lasting wellbeing. Our mission is simple: We help people build healthier lives. By combining clinical expertise with a person-centered approach, we help people build the skills, resilience, and support systems needed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll be working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth. When you join us, you'll discover personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

We are honored to offer behavioral healthcare services in Corrections

Perks of working in correctional healthcare:

• Opportunity to make a positive impact on a marginalized population
• Exposure to diverse patient demographics
• Focus on driving change, tracking progress, and improving care
• Development of skills in a unique healthcare setting

Counselors are responsible for:

• Conducts client interviews to review substance use disorder and treatment history.
• Evaluates client response to treatment to recommend modifications to the treatment plan and assist with caseloads and development of individualized treatment plan and preparing individually appropriate goals, interventions, and necessary support.
• Assists with and provides basic didactic group counseling, including psychoeducation, drug education, and family education to ensure peer support occurs.
• Provides individual client counseling, educational programs and lectures to address relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, etc., and to assist in overcoming substance use disorder, adjusting to pro-social life, and making cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Under direct supervision and with supervisor's approval, carries case load, per State and contract requirements.
• Collaborates with clients to develop discharge summary and plans for supervisor's approval to integrate aftercare treatment with referral resource services.
• Coordinates required services to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations in support of continued recovery.
• Collects and maintains treatment records and reports to ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a helping profession from an accredited college or university
• Some previous experience substance use treatment/counseling and/or mental health counseling is preferred
• Current Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) or Masters Certified Addictions Counselor (MCAP) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred
• Must be able to obtain Florida Department of Corrections clearance to work in the correctional institution.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of human growth and psychosocial development
• Basic knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level.