Counselor III

Make a difference with VOA Oregon For over 125 years, Volunteers of America Oregon has been dedicated to serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Through our programs in behavioral health, addiction treatment, reentry services, and support for children and families, we provide life-changing services that promote safety, healing, and empowerment.

Join a mission-driven organization that truly values its employees This is a full-time position with excellent benefits, including:

Comprehensive health coverage – medical, dental, and vision insurance, with an employee medical premium starting at just $12.50 per paycheck

Financial protection – life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance

Retirement security – 403(b) with an automatic 5.5% employer contribution after 18 months, regardless of employee participation

Work-life balance – a generous paid time off (PTO) plan, starting with accruals that earn 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second, and 26 days in the third

Upfront sick leave – 80 hours of front-loaded sick time (prorated in the first year), which resets annually on January 1

Paid holidays – 10 paid holidays each year, plus three personal holidays (prorated in the first year) for employees to take time off to celebrate holidays, events, or milestones that matter most to them

Student loan forgiveness – As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VOA Oregon is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which can help employees reduce or eliminate their federal student loan debt after 10 years of qualifying payments.

Additional perks – flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, and other voluntary benefits and discounts

At VOA Oregon, you'll be part of a compassionate and dedicated team, making a real difference in our community. Apply today

Position Close Date 10/29/2025

The Counselor III Relief is responsible for delivering quality Alcohol and Drug and Mental Health treatment services to men involved in the corrections system through group facilitation, individualized treatment planning, case management, clinical team coordination, and chart maintenance.

Education, Training and Experience:

Master's degree in psychology, social work or behavioral science field is required.

Ability to register with MHACBO as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP-R) or ability to obtain and maintain active status with an eligible state licensing board.

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification preferred.

Significant experience in most or all of the following areas:chemical dependency, non-SPMI mental health, dual-diagnosis, trauma, criminality, men's issues, at-risk populations, diverse populations, and residential treatment.

Competencies:

Skills and abilities in all of the following areas: mental health and addictions assessment, DSM-5 diagnosis, treatment and discharge planning, individual and group therapy.

Ability to provide gender-specific, culturally competent services. 

Knowledge of Motivational Interviewing/Stages of Change, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Family Systems Theory and Mindfulness desirable.

Ability to engage in a productive, therapeutic relationship with clients.

Other Eligibility Requirements:

If in recovery, able to demonstrate at least two years of continuous sobriety under nonresidential, independent living conditions for the immediate past two years at the time of hire and maintain sobriety for duration of employment in this role.

Must be able to pass a criminal history check.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Engage collaboratively with clients in assessment, diagnosis, treatment, behavioral intervention and discharge planning processes.

Provide weekly individual counseling sessions to clients, using Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change theory and practice.

Use evidence-based curriculum to facilitate a variety of therapeutic and psycho educational groups for clients.

Maintain charts in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rules for Inpatient Drug and Alcohol and Outpatient Mental Health services, and respond to chart reviews in a timely manner.

As appropriate, document clinical services provided within 72 hours for insurance billing purposes.

Engage collaboratively with collateral community providers including but not limited to probation officers, child welfare workers, mental health providers, and primary care physicians in the development of individualized treatment plans. 

Engage collaboratively with clients to evaluate progress in treatment on a regular basis and provide a monthly report detailing this progress with clients' probation officers.

Maintain the confidentiality of all clients and records according to HIPAA and 42-CFR rules.

Support the program and agency's Continuous Improvement, Client Proposal, Client Concern and Grievance processes.

Provide services in accordance with professional ethical guidelines.

Maintain healthy professional boundaries with clients and co-workers at all times.

Participate in weekly staff and treatment team meetings.

Other responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibility:  Position is not responsible for supervision of other employees.

Schedule: This is a relief, on-call position with variable hours.

Work Environment:

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects and keyboard, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, talk or hear.

The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions:  Work is performed in a residential treatment center.  Must be prepared to handle client crises and/or emergencies.