Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Created at: January 07, 2026 00:15

Company: Veterans Health Administration

Location: DAYTON, OH, 45400

Job Description:

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
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. 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. 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. Grade Determinations - Sr. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-12 Experience, Education, and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. 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: Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
The incumbent will be part of the Mental Health Service at the Dayton Medical Center and will play a non-supervisory lead role in the context of the Mental Health Clinic's Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Team in the provision of specialty outpatient care to Veterans. Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Functions (70%) Assesses and treats complicated psychosocial problems of veterans with a wide range of mental health diagnoses and conditions. Implements treatment modalities, provides counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. Conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Offers psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Participates in scheduling, triaging, and monitoring the flow of patients in the MHC and assisting with admissions of MHC patients to inpatient psychiatry unit when indicated. Recognizes emergency situations, summons appropriate help and responds appropriately including provision of case management services, liaison to family members and crisis intervention services. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Contributes to interdisciplinary care planning conferences, BHIP huddles and Team Meetings. Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. Provides concrete social work services such as resource allocation, referrals for food, housing, and /or transportation, and may assist Veteran clients with local, State and Federal benefits applications. Assists Veterans with Advance Directives, including Psychiatric Advance Directives. Coordinates with the ADAMHS Board and/or County Probate Court for the care needs of patients under a court order. Provides consultation services to other staff and students regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. Administrative Functions (30%) Coordinates same day access for Veterans established within the BHIP Team. Works with the BHIP Team in the accomplishment of routine Team and unit activities. Conducts BHIP team huddles/meetings. Participates in the team panel management and identifies stable patients to be referred back (discharge) to the PACT teams. Reviews DSS reports to identify patients needing biopsychosocial assessments/assessment updates, treatment plans and treatment plan updates. Collaborates with the team RN in keeping track of secure messaging from Veterans. Functions as a case manager for Veterans in the BHIP team with multiple missed opportunities, including "no-shows", to determine the best method to manage the patients' patterns of repetitive cancellations and no-shows. Chart audits/reviews conducted to monitor fidelity to BHIP model of care and optimum panel management. Assumes responsibility and accountability as delegated in the BHIP Team and the MHC, under the direct or indirect supervision of the Clinic Coordinator. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm Monday thru Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93024-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized


See details

Back to jobs