Alcohol and Drug Counselor job description.
An alcohol and drug counselor provides assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing support to individuals working through substance use disorders. They conduct intake evaluations, lead individual and group counseling sessions, and coordinate care with medical providers, families, and community resources. Alcohol and drug counselors typically work in outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, or hospital-based programs, helping clients build coping skills and sustain recovery.
The Alcohol and Drug Counselor job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Alcohol and Drug Counselor Reports to: Clinical Director
An alcohol and drug counselor provides assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing support to individuals working through substance use disorders. They conduct intake evaluations, lead individual and group counseling sessions, and coordinate care with medical providers, families, and community resources. Alcohol and drug counselors typically work in outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, or hospital-based programs, helping clients build coping skills and sustain recovery.
- Conduct intake assessments to evaluate substance use history and treatment needs
- Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients and care teams
- Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions focused on recovery and relapse prevention
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Conduct intake assessments to evaluate substance use history and treatment needs
- Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients and care teams
- Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions focused on recovery and relapse prevention
- Monitor client progress and adjust treatment plans as needed
- Maintain accurate, confidential case records in compliance with agency and legal requirements
- Coordinate referrals to medical, psychiatric, or social services as needed
- Educate clients and families on substance use disorders and recovery resources
- Respond to crisis situations, including relapse or risk of harm
- Participate in case reviews, supervision, and continuing education
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field (master's preferred for some roles)
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- Experience conducting substance use assessments and treatment planning
- Strong crisis-management and active-listening skills
- Ability to maintain client confidentiality per applicable privacy regulations
- Master's degree in counseling, social work, or a clinical field
- Experience with specific treatment modalities (e.g., motivational interviewing, CBT)
- Bilingual or multilingual ability
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Alcohol and Drug Counselor job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Alcohol and Drug Counselor job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinical Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What license does an alcohol and drug counselor need?
- Requirements vary; qualifications should specify current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer rather than a single fixed credential.
- What's the difference between this role and a substance abuse counselor?
- The titles are largely interchangeable in practice; both focus on assessing and treating substance use disorders, though exact scope of practice depends on licensure level and employer.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Substance Abuse Counselor
A substance abuse counselor provides assessment, individual and group counseling, and case management to clients recovering from addiction.
Mental Health Counselor
A Mental Health Counselor provides individual, group, or family counseling to help clients manage emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns.
Behavioral Health Specialist
A Behavioral Health Specialist provides direct support to individuals managing mental health or behavioral challenges, implementing treatment plans and coaching clients toward healthier coping strategies.
This Alcohol and Drug Counselor job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.