- Office in Ames
Job Details
Job Location: Ames, IA
Position Type: Full Time
Education Level: 4 Year Degree
Salary Range: $50.00 - $55.00 Hourly
Job Shift: Day
Job Category: Behavioral Health/Therapy
We are YSS!
YSS is looking for a empathetic, insightful, and skilled Independent Contractors to serve as Outpatient Addictions Counselors, helping us make a lasting difference in the lives of young people facing substance use disorders.
In this position you will play a vital role in supporting youth navigating substance use challenges by providing assessments for chemical dependency and delivering both individual and group counseling in a safe, respectful, and empowering environment. As part of your responsibilities, you can expect to:
- Lead Individual and Group Counseling Sessions: Facilitate engaging and therapeutic sessions that offer clients the space to explore challenges, celebrate progress, and provide feedback on the program.
- Empower Client Autonomy: Support each client's right to make their own choices and respectfully help them navigate the natural consequences and reactions to those decisions.
- Develop and Implement Treatment Plans: Collaborate with clients to create personalized treatment plans, and take an active role in putting those plans into action.
- Provide Crisis Intervention: Respond effectively and compassionately to clients experiencing crisis, ensuring safety and emotional support.
- Conduct Educational Programming: Facilitate Substance Abuse Awareness Groups to promote understanding and informed decision-making around substance use and recovery.
his description is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
What we ask...
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask for the following:
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field.
- At least two (2) years of experience providing individual, group, and family therapy.
- Current Iowa Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (tCADC, CADC, or IADC).
- Formal training in the field of substance use disorders.
- Contractor must maintain professional liability insurance.
- Must be 21 years old with a valid driver's license.
The IDEAL Candidate Will:
- Be mission-driven, with a commitment to equity, inclusion, and positive social impact.
- Consistently approach their work with humility, respect, and sensitivity to diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
- Demonstrate reliability and independence, managing responsibilities with minimal supervision.
- Speak a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).
Who we are (and why you’ll love us)...
We’re YSS – one of Iowa’s oldest & largest nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission? To spark hope, create opportunities, and help young people thrive. With life-changing programs, a passionate leadership team, and our brand-new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re growing fast and thinking big. Check us out at yss.org!
At YSS, we celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences that each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and empowering environment where everyone can grow and succeed. And we’re always working to do better, together.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
We celebrate the strength in your story.
Have you walked the path of recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Are you driven to transform your experience into a source of strength and hope for others? If so, YSS wants to hear from you.
We believe your lived experience brings a compassionate and redemptive perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and offering guidance as a role model and mentor, you have the power to make a meaningful impact at YSS.
For those in recovery, we typically ask for two years of sobriety to ensure stability and leadership readiness, though we may consider candidates with one year on a case-by-case basis.
Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Apply Now
