About Job
Are you a counselor or clinician with a substance use disorder work history? This is an ideal position for someone interested in coming in from the ground level while helping the program grow in an awesome place. Although the program is new, we've been around for over 100 years. We specialize in assisting youth become wonderful adults.
AOD COUNSELOR
- Provide individual and group counseling to students addressing substance use and related behavioral issues utilizing a strong understanding of motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and recovery-oriented services.
- Develop and implement individualized recovery plans based on student needs and goals in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
- Deliver evidence-based Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) prevention education in classroom settings and group formats.
- Coordinate with school personnel, FSSM Site Coordinator, and FSSM SBS Manager to identify students in need of support, utilizing referral systems and intervention frameworks.
- Assist students in identifying triggers, patterns of use, relapsed risks, and healthy coping strategies.
- Offer support in recovery and relapse prevention, including self-monitoring and positive decision- making skills.
- Serve as a liaison to families, helping them understand substance use dynamics and engage in the student’s recovery process.
- Provide referrals to outside treatment providers, medical professionals, and support networks such as 12-step groups.
- Participate in Student Support Team meetings, Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan meetings when relevant.
- Maintain timely and confidential documentation for assessments, treatment planning, service notes, and progress reports.
- Demonstrate an understanding and practice of relationship-based treatment, Character Counts values, strength-based, MI, Seeking Safety, and CBT treatment modality models while incorporating trauma-informed, and culturally/LGBTQ-sensitive approach in working with youth.
- Ability to work independently within a school system, adapt services to meet student needs in an academic environment, and to engage and support diverse student populations.
Requirement for AOD
- Minimum 1-year documented experience working with adolescents with substance abuse disorders.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with youth in school, residential, or clinical setting.
- Certification as a CCAPP, CAADE, CADTP or similar recognized certifying body.
- Training and experience in adolescent development, trauma-informed care, and co-occurring disorders preferred.
CLINICIAN
- Provides therapeutic and/or clinical coordination services to youth referred by administrators or self- referral.
- Provides individual, group and family counseling to youth addressing substance use and related behavioral issues utilizing a strong understanding of motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and recovery-oriented service
- Assesses youth and family needs through administration of comprehensive
- Psycho-social assessments to determine proper course of treatment.
- Maintains proper oversight of documentation of treatment, including assessments, treatment planning, service linkages, and individual, group & family counseling sessions. Ensures services are properly documented and supported with written clinical notes and consistent with productivity requirements per funding contracts.
- For students referred through diversion programs, maintains communication with referring administrators regarding student’s participation in treatment programs to monitor compliance with school policy
- Ensures that delivery of services aligns with best practices in adolescent behavioral health, including trauma-informed care, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and culturally competent practices, and is in accordance with program guidelines and Vista Del Mar philosophies.
- Conducts psychoeducational, process, and substance abuse groups based upon evidence based practices, maintains required informal documentation of these sessions on TIER through required paperwork, shares relevant information with treatment team as clinically indicated as well as individual substance abuse sessions in collaboration with youth’s primary clinical team.
- Demonstrates an understanding and practice of relationship-based treatment, Character Counts values, strength-based, trauma-informed care, and culturally/LGBTQ-sensitive approach in working with you
- Always maintains a professional approach with clients, colleagues, placement workers and supervisors, as demonstrated by demeanor and adherence to dress cod
- Serves as an effective advocate for all youth and understands/demonstrates the requirement of reporting suspected abuse and/or mistreatment of youth under their care (this includes and is not limited to physical abuse and verbal abuse).
Requirements for Counselor
- Licensed in California as LCSW, LMFT or LPCC and in good standing with the Board of Behavioral Science.
- Minimum 1-year direct clinical experience in assessment, intervention, and therapy with adolescents with substance abuse issues.
- Strongly preferred to have a valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor, or Alcohol and Drug Counselor or equivalent experience to support cooccurring disorders in mental health and struggling with addiction.
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred but not required.
- Ability to independently use a computer and learn necessary computer programs.
Benefits for both positions
- Full benefits offered (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- FSA/Dependent Care and Supplemental benefits through The Standard
- 403(b) – 3% Employer contribution based off annual salary
- 4 Mental Health Days
- Up to 12 Paid Holidays
- Up to 25% for Cell Phone Discounts with 3 Major Carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $55,000.00 - $83,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
Professional Field




Patient Focus
Diagnoses
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dual Diagnosis
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Issues
Coping Skills
Substance Abuse
Trauma
Age Groups
Adolescents/Teenagers (14-19)
Adults
Therapeutic Approach
Methodologies
ECT
Modalities
Families
Individuals
Practice Specifics
Populations
Individuals with Addiction Issues
Victims of Crime/Abuse (VOC/VOA)
Racial Justice Allied
School
Settings
Residential
In-patient Non-Psychiatric
In-patient Psychiatric
Milieu
Nursing Home
Private Practice
Research Facilities/Labs/Clinical Trials
Schools
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
Home Health/In-home
Long-Term Structured Residences
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