- Professional
- Ufficio in Ames
Job Details
Job Location: Ames, IA
Position Type: Full Time
Education Level: 4 Year Degree
Salary Range: $20.74 - $31.10 Salary
Job Shift: Any
Job Category: Behavioral Health/Therapy
We are YSS!
YSS is looking for a compassionate, resilient Outpatient Addictions Counselor who can turn clinical expertise and empathy into real impact for our Intensive Outpatient Program..
The Outpatient Addictions Counselor provides compassionate, evidence-based support to youth navigating chemical dependency and related challenges. This role delivers individualized treatment and group counseling in a safe, respectful environment—helping clients build healthier coping skills and maintain a substance-free lifestyle. This position does require evening hours due to group sessions, typically until 7:00 pm, but this could change as needed for the program. Responsibilities include:
Client Support & Counseling
- Build trusting, therapeutic relationships with youth, adolescents, young adults, and families.
- Provide individual, group, and family counseling focused on recovery, resilience, and personal growth.
- Develop and implement treatment plans tailored to each client’s needs.
- Conduct assessments and screenings for referred clients.
- Lead and co-facilitate 12-step and Substance Abuse Awareness groups.
- Offer crisis intervention and make timely clinical decisions as needed.
- Collaborate with families, caseworkers, schools, and referral sources to support client success.
- Coordinate discharge planning, aftercare referrals, and graduation processes.
Caseload & Case Management
- Serve as the primary counselor for assigned clients (caseloads vary by referrals).
- Meet with each client individually at least weekly (outside school hours when possible).
- Maintain accurate, timely documentation that meets agency and state standards.
- Present client updates at Continued Stay Reviews and staff meetings.
- Ensure all funding arrangements (Medicaid, insurance, DHS, etc.) are in place and documented.
Professionalism & Collaboration
- Uphold all confidentiality, ethical, and professional standards.
- Represent YSS with professionalism in the community and among referral partners.
- Participate in staff meetings, supervision (minimum twice monthly), and required trainings.
- Maintain positive, respectful relationships with clients, families, and team members.
- Contribute to a supportive, mission-driven environment centered on youth success and recovery.
This description is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
What you can expect in return...
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future. Beyond meaningful, mission-driven work, YSS provides the following benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
- Accrued PTO, plus paid time off for holidays, your birthday, and volunteering
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pet insurance discounts
- PSLF Program qualification
- Recognition, training, and wellness programs
- Retirement 403(b)
What we ask...
To create a world where youth are valued and empowered, we ask staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a ”Can Do” Spirit. We also ask for the following:
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in 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.
SHOULD HAVES - Preferred Qualifications
- Masters degree in a related field.
- Skilled communicator who listens with empathy and responds with respect.
- Confident facilitator comfortable leading groups and working one-on-one.
- Organized, reliable, and proactive in managing caseloads and paperwork.
- Passionate about supporting youth and families affected by substance use.
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.
- Speak a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).
We celebrate the strength in your story.
Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families.
Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
For those in recovery, we typically ask for two years of sobriety to ensure stability and readiness for leadership, though candidates with one year may be considered case by case.
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.
Heads Up! Don’t Miss Our Messages! - We communicate with applicants via email – straight from our Paycom system. So be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and maybe your spam/junk folder too). Got questions? Email [email protected] - we’re happy to help!
The YSS Hiring Process
- Apply – Fill out the online app at yss.org/ysscareers.
- Assessment – We’ll check out your skills and experience.
- Interview – Phone, video, or in-person – we’ll chat and get to know you.
- References – Send us three+ people who can sing your praises.
- Screening – Background and driving checks (plus license verification if needed).
- Offer – If it’s a match, you’ll get a formal offer through Paycom.
* Applicable Degrees: Addiction Counseling, Addiction Studies, Adolescent Psychology, Behavioral Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Child Psychology, Clinical Mental Health, Corrections, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Family Science, Family Studies, Family Therapy, Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Nursing, Psychology, Public Administration, Public Health, Rehabilitation Services, Social Work, Therapeutic Recreation, Youth Development, Youth Services
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