Drug and Alcohol Counselor job description.
A drug and alcohol counselor provides assessment, treatment planning, and counseling services to individuals working through substance use disorders. They conduct intake evaluations, develop individualized treatment plans, lead individual or group counseling sessions, and coordinate care with medical and social service providers. The role requires strong clinical judgment, empathy, and the ability to support clients through relapse prevention and recovery. Drug and alcohol counselors typically work in outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, hospitals, or community health organizations.
The Drug and Alcohol 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: Drug and Alcohol Counselor Reports to: Clinical Director / Program Manager
A drug and alcohol counselor provides assessment, treatment planning, and counseling services to individuals working through substance use disorders. They conduct intake evaluations, develop individualized treatment plans, lead individual or group counseling sessions, and coordinate care with medical and social service providers. The role requires strong clinical judgment, empathy, and the ability to support clients through relapse prevention and recovery. Drug and alcohol counselors typically work in outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, hospitals, or community health organizations.
- Conduct intake assessments to evaluate client substance use history and treatment needs
- Develop and update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients
- 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.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Director / Program Manager
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 client substance use history and treatment needs
- Develop and update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients
- Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions focused on recovery and relapse prevention
- Monitor client progress and adjust treatment approaches as needed
- Coordinate care with physicians, psychiatrists, and social service agencies
- Maintain accurate, confidential client records in compliance with organizational policy
- Provide crisis intervention support when clients face acute risk
- Educate clients and families on substance use disorders and recovery resources
- Participate in case reviews and clinical supervision
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field
- Current licensure/certification as required by state and employer
- Experience providing individual or group counseling, ideally in substance use treatment
- Strong assessment, documentation, and crisis-intervention skills
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) or equivalent specialty credential
- Experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Drug and Alcohol 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 Drug and Alcohol 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 / Program Manager) 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 licensure does a drug and alcohol counselor need?
- Requirements vary by state and employer, but most positions require current counseling licensure or a substance use counseling certification as mandated by the jurisdiction.
- Do drug and alcohol counselors work with groups or individuals?
- Both — most roles combine one-on-one counseling with facilitating group therapy sessions as part of a structured treatment program.
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 Technician
A Behavioral Health Technician provides direct support to individuals receiving mental health or substance use treatment, assisting with daily activities, monitoring behavior, and reinforcing treatment plans developed by clinical staff.
This Drug and Alcohol 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.