This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 31, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be August 20th, 2025 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.*** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j. Education Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience, Education, and Licensure In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates. Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team. AND GS-11 grade level KSAs: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. Preferred Experience: FVA experience preferred. Understanding of Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) within the VA. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing and walking. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.
Clinical Responsibilities Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including measurement-based care assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing high quality care. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual, couples/family, and/or group psychotherapy using empirically supported approaches (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Activation, CBT, DBT, ACT, IPT, IBCT, PE, CPT, etc.) Accountable for clinician practice including encountering patient visits, appropriately documenting clinician information and encounters, measuring outcomes to interventions, and meeting productivity standards. Completes biopsychosocial assessments, treatments plans, and other clinical documentation in timely manner. Educates Veterans and family members regarding relevant mental health and MST-related concerns. Adheres to facility and national risk management policies for assessment, management, consultation, and documentation related to suicide/homicide risk. Complies with all Facility and Service Line documentation requirements including, but not limited to, use of prescribed templates when applicable, timely completion of documentation of assessment, treatment, risk evaluations, and other clinical contacts. Adheres to Facility and Service Line policies and practices for delivering clinical care. This includes, but is not limited to, suicide risk reduction practices, timeliness of care and access standards, professional conduct requirements, and CPRS documentation conventions. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including; Individual, couples/family and group psychotherapy in the GMH/BHIP Clinics using empirically supported approaches (e.g., Cognitive Behavior Therapy) Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Health System, as appropriate. Administrative Responsibilities Completes Local, VISN, and National Level MST Program reports x Timely accurate completion of "suspense" or "action due" items related to the MST Program and services Documentation and therapeutic interventions for Veterans who have experienced MST Advocates for needed treatment and related services for Veterans who experienced MST Educates community partners, VA professional and Non-professional staff regarding MST in the Veteran population x Consults with providers, treatment teams, and administration as needed in relation to MST issues Remains up to date on issues, treatments, and policies impacting MST within the Veteran population x Serves as Point of Contact for MST at the WCHCS Academic/Teaching/Training: Serves as a consultant to other Hospital staff and trainees as assigned to assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Provides didactic training regarding approaches for assessing and treating MST survivors. Provides didactic training regarding approaches for assessing and treating PTSD with MST survivors. Research/Program Evaluation/Administration: Collaborates in the establishment of MST program monitors and outcome measurements within the GMH/BHIP clinic as assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes as directed. Assists in refining program description documents, works with staff for constant Joint Commission readiness, and leads GMH/BHIP program quality assurance monitoring procedures as assigned. Assists in the development of treatment protocols for patients with MST-related concerns and coordinating care. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am- 430pm Compressed/Flexible: May be Authorized Telework: Yes. This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote. Location negotiable may be discussed during the interview process to meet the Return To Office requirement. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60899-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized