addiction recovery consultant

mental health technician

licensed practical nurse

front desk agent

licensed professional counselor

NorthStar Regional

What is the best part of working at the company?
I am an employee of Northstar Regional, and I am also a graduate of both of their programs. What I can say with full honesty is that this place helped save my life. Because of that, my perspective on this work is both personal and professional.

Like any organization in the mental health and healthcare field, there have been ups and downs. This is not easy work, and there are stressful seasons that come with serving people in deep need. But what I have seen at Northstar Regional is a team that continues to grow, get stronger, and stay committed to the mission of helping people rebuild their lives.

It is a great place to work. The environment is healthy, upbeat, and meaningful. What I appreciate most is how staff hold each other up so we can keep showing up for clients in the way they deserve. That kind of teamwork matters in this field, because the work we do can truly be life changing.

I understand that some of the other comments here reflect difficult experiences or frustrations. I do not dismiss that people may have their own perspective. At the same time, I do not believe some of those judgments fairly represent a place that has done so much to change and save lives. This is a tough field, and the people who stay grounded through the hard times are the ones who understand what it really means to be part of a team while also bringing honesty, accountability, and hope to the clients we serve.

Northstar Regional has had a powerful impact on my life, both as a person and as a professional. I am proud to work here, and I am grateful for what this place stands for.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There are no real stressors at Northstar Regional. If you wish to work here, you must understand that assisting people's life change comes with bearing each other's burdens both clients coming in off the streets and team member's. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The environment at Northstar Regional is supportive, upbeat, and team focused. It is a place where staff work together, encourage one another, and stay committed to helping clients through difficult seasons. The culture is built around accountability, compassion, and a shared purpose, which makes the work meaningful and rewarding.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day for me at Northstar Regional starts with arriving at work, getting settled into my office, and preparing to meet clients where they are at. From there, my day is centered around meaningful conversation, support, and helping people begin piecing together parts of their lives they may not have believed were possible. Each day looks a little different, but the heart of the work stays the same, showing up for people, listening well, offering hope, and helping them move forward one step at a time.

One of the worst places I have ever worked. 
Left out of the of the job description is: babysitter, secretary, coffee maker, assistant to counselors & any & all who ask. 

Communication lacks between all staff, especially between front desk & the intake coordinator. 

I applied to answer voicemails & calls, make & transfer calls;  the front desk posted description consists of verifying insurances for clients, formerly adding prospective clients to waitlists after creating charts for them, scheduling assessments & scanning documents to clients' charts. 

Being immunocompromised with management very well aware, no one ever asked if I was comfortable being the only onsite front desk personnel for the company. No one asked if I would like to work from home. 
Due to this, my workload went from a handful of tasks, to triple. 

The billing manager doesn't know how to separate work life from her personal issues. She's one of those people, where if she has a bad day, you're having a bad day too. 
There are no professional boundaries at NSR. 

The power couple who runs the Chaska location hired all their personal friends-so, even if you had concerns to bring up to HR, you wouldn't get far. 

Dr. Winegarden, one of the CEOs, has this idea that the world & the company revolves around him.

If you're looking for a disorganized company with many flaws, no financial benefit & lack of professionalism, NSR is the company for you.

My workdays are busy from the moment I clock in until the moment I clock out! 
The work is mentally hard. There are days you want to walk out! The clients have high expectations and want things easy. The company wants T's crossed and I's dotted. You will feel some days like you were run over by a freight train but then there are days where everything seems to fall into place and you get a second to step outside and look at the beautiful landscape.
1 of the biggest things I've learned at this place is that boss's can genuinely stand behind you. They don't throw you under the bus, instead, they stand by you to take on the bus. It's amazing and I feel like they will be there if I need them. 
It's hard work. It's hard to see people fail when you thought they'd succeed or lie straight to your face about important factors and this will happen more than it won't but when you hear about the client who is still sober months after being here and becoming peer specialists it makes every hard moment 100% worth it. It's the BEST feeling.

This company is a joke. They do not listen to staff concerns or anything that doesn't fit their agenda. Every day is an absolute disaster where staff need to wing it because there is no real direction or support. Favoritism and nepotism is high, with rules being made purely out of what management wants. New "rules" every day that don't work nor make sense. There is very little training and very high turnover. They hire very unqualified people who literally just sit there all day not interacting with participants, and it's up to the couple of staff who actually work to do everything. There is also no work-life balance. This place is mentally draining. I am not trying to be rude and speak out of emotion. Which I am not, or else this review would be 3+ pages. I am just looking out for the good & honest people who are genuinely just trying to help people or looking to expand their career after just getting their degree, it’s what I did. I enjoyed clients, they’re all awesome people with inspiring stories. It hurts to see how they’re treated.

NorthStar is a growing company with a small company feel. Everyone has a genuine interest and concern for how their coworkers are doing. This can be taken as unprofessional for those who like to do their 9-5 and be done. This also feeds into the individuals who thrive on gossip.
There is a big emphasis on self-care due to the nature of the work.
Clients are a big reason as to why many have a hard time leaving their work at work---they have a vested interest.
With the growing business, leadership definitely has a learning curve. They sometimes treat the company and employees like it's still a smaller company and it creates confusion. Different leadership styles also attribute to this.
Overall, the company itself is a great company, they just have to learn how to adapt to the changes that are happening instead of trying to do things the same way due to fear of change.


The best part about working at NSR is the amount of clients that we are helping. I have learned so much in my LADC field and continue to learn new ideas everyday. The management is incredible and supports their staff in everyway possible. I recently had to take a LOA due to a crisis. I have NEVER been supported as much as I was by any employer I've ever had. NSR was amazing and continues to support staff with empathy. The workplace culture is also excellent. We call ourselves "the dream team". I couldn't be happier in my position. The hardest part of my job is ambivalent clients. Watching them walk out the door not being ready for help. We never know what the consequences could be and it leaves our team scared and worried at times. The most enjoyable part of my job is helping so many women find sobriety and recovery. To watch them grow in the 4-6 weeks that they are here is remarkable. 

I worked here for a 3-4 months and seemed to enjoy it at first. They were very flexible with my schedule and supportive if I needed them. Unfortunately the lack of professionalism is unbelievable. Staff at the residential location constantly talk behind each others backs and  constantly find ways to screw one another over for group coverage if they are going to be gone. I felt like the communication was lacking. They would keep clients who would use time after time and graduate them WSA but would kick someone out with 1 strike if they had a vape, etc. anything they weren't supposed to but were honest when giving it up. Two employees started dating both within two different departments (counselor/tech). They constantly sit in the office and flirt with each other where clients can see it or hear it. Like I said, run away and don't walk. You're better off going to Meridian. That alone says a lot.

Working at NorthStar Regional has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The team is highly supportive and truly committed to providing excellent, evidence-based care for clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The collaborative environment fosters professional growth, and the organization consistently invests in staff training to ensure best practices in treatment.

What sets NSR apart is the focus on individualized, client-centered care. Watching clients make significant strides in their recovery journey is inspiring, and it’s clear that the program’s comprehensive approach makes a lasting impact. I’m proud to be part of a team that values compassion and integrity.
If you’re passionate about making a difference, NorthStar Regional is an incredible place to work!


I started my career at NorthStar Regional 5 years ago. I was an LADC for a few years and was promoted to Program Director 2 years ago. I have worked at 3 of our locations and all though the clients may be different, the atmosphere of support, encouragement and teamwork is the same no matter where I am at. At NSR, client care is the most important to all of us who work here along with delivering excellent treatment services that promote education, wellness and over all well-being to aid in long term recovery. We support each other in order to best support our clients. I am proud of the work I get to do on a daily basis and I could not work with a better team of individuals who are all just as driven as myself to teach the tools of recovery and allow our clients to feel safe, supported and cared for while in our care. If you are looking for a great team atmosphere, look no further!

What is the best part of working at the company?
Beginning was great - but the cliches and toxic work environment tore ppl down- turn over rate is very high with no expectations from employees who don’t work but ones who do are expected to do everything for others 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Toxic co-workers- cliches- drama- zero support 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Toxic - Toxic- Toxic-  a lot of drama- a lot of gossip - zero support - when patients treat staff with disrespect the patient is told they are in the right- 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Chaotic- a list of more things then you can get done in a 6 hour period besides doing med pass for at least 3 of those 6 hours for approx 50 patients

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Addiction recovery consultant 15 salaries reported	$19.23 per hour
Mental health technician 11 salaries reported	$77,364 per year
Licensed practical nurse 11 salaries reported	$30.45 per hour
Front desk agent 5 salaries reported	$17.90 per hour
Licensed professional counselor 14 salaries reported	$69,643 per year

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