The purpose of this study was to describe and examine the levels and sources of job satisfaction, and the relationship between job satisfaction and clinical supervision variables for certified substance abuse counselors engaged in full-time counseling practice. All participants in this study met or exceeded the educational and supervised experience requirements of the two boards responsible for the certification of the majority of certified substance abuse counselors in the nation (Page and Bailey, 1995). Five hundred and five counselors were surveyed by mail using an Individual Information Form and a modified form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (Weiss, Dawis, England and Loftquist, 1967). The participants were least satisfied with the opportunities for advancement and most satisfied with the opportunity to be of help to others. The results of this study also indicated that the participants' job satisfaction could be predicted, to a significant degree, by the presence of a combination of four clinical supervision variables. Finally, 76.2% of the participants, though satisfied with their present job, indicated that they would leave the position within the next five years. This included 17.75% who indicated they planned on leaving the profession of substance abuse counseling altogether.
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