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CERTIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR

Classification: Non-exempt
Department: Substance Abuse
Reports to: The Director of the Substance Abuse Program


Summary/Objective:
The Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) offers clinical services including
individual service plan (ISP) development, hosting group counseling, assessing
individuals, and providing substance abuse education. The CSAC may also provide
practical or administrative support in certain tasks to individuals as they transition to the
community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Implements ISPs under clinical supervision and at the direction of the Clinical Director, particularly provides thorough assessment, group and individual counseling, and consultation services to individuals who present for care with substance use risk factors and/or disorders.

  • Develops ISPs within the scope of the CSAC certification at the discretion of the Clinical Director.

  • Keeps the Clinical Director informed of all clinically-relevant data acquired while providing services to individuals.

  • Coordinates with community referral resources in the development of specific treatment programs, including community-based resources directed at addressing vocational or educational needs.

  • Determines facts and conditions surrounding the difficulties in coping with various life situations and draws conclusions as to the underlying causes/contributing factors of the problems and the associated consequences to individual clients and their families. As appropriate, obtains additional social and personal information from significant others in the client's life to ascertain the full scope and impact of the problems presented.

  • Assists individuals in overcoming practical obstacles to community reintegration and compliance with ISP goals, such as assisting in securing identification cards or driver’s licenses, or providing education in community transportation resources (e.g. public or insurance-provided transportation benefits).

  • Actively engage in all company training and orientation activities and demonstrate a working knowledge of Company Program Policies and Procedures.

  • Meets with clients to obtain personal information and medical histories and consults with other professionals to get a clear picture of the patient's status and extent of problems.

  • Designs a program of treatment and rehabilitation tailored to the patient's individual situation based on knowledge of alcohol and drug dependency and counseling and treatment methods.

  • Uses a combination of individual and group counseling sessions to help clients and observes their attitudes and readiness to accept help and guidance.

  • Meets with family members to educate them on the roles they can play in the recovery process.

  • Educates patients about community-based organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and social and employment services that may help restore them to productive roles in the community.

  • Maintains case histories and progress reports. Modifies treatment programs based on observation.

  • Assists patients with coping with family problems and recommends appropriate social services as support for the entire family unit.
     

REQUIIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

● Empathetic manner to deal with clients who may have multiple problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Must possess a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health field, such as social work, psychology, family therapy, counseling, etc. from an accredited program.

  • Must be certified as a substance abuse counselor by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

  • Must possess the ability to teach therapeutic techniques in prevention and intervention for substance use disorders to assist clients in the recovery process.

  • Must possess professional-level knowledge of standard and accepted theories, methods, principles, practices, and techniques of clinical supervision for treating individuals working on recovery from substance abuse disorders. Must additionally possess a working knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria and the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Patient Placement Criteria (ASAM-PPC).

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

● Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

● Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

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