Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program)

Summary

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.

Duties

• This position is located within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) under the Behavioral Health Service (BHS) at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Wenatchee, WA. This Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) psychotherapist assignment represents substantial additional responsibility over and above that which is required at the full performance grade level. Duties will include: Clinical Responsibilities Screening/Assessment: Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, psychosocial acuity, Mental Health symptoms according to DSM-5-TR, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation, and follow-up. Fully utilizes the current DSM in making diagnoses (of all MH diagnosis) and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnoses and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Delivers services both in person and via video technology. Treatment Planning/Interventions: Has specialized knowledge of a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. LPMHC will be able to provide advanced therapy and consultation for PTSD, depression, anxiety and other major MH disorders using EBPs. Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Ability to assess and safety plan for suicidality. Uses Measurement Based Care (MBC) measures to evaluate initial and ongoing treatment needs and episodes of care, utilizing the continuum of care model. Demonstrates advanced 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. Conducts case management services for Veterans enrolled BHIP Psychology Services, to include but not limited to: coordination of care with other clinics/programs/facilities, provision of resources/education, completing clinical reminders, administering measurement based care, and managing emergent Veteran needs within the clinic. Academic/Teaching/Training May provide clinical supervision of non-licensed and licensed MHCs to assist with clinical skill development, and may serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline. Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned Mental Health Counselor staff Administrative Responsibilities Provides recommendations to supervisors of any clinical changes to policy and procedure and ability to design system changes based on data. Communicates assignments with milestones, priorities, expected outcomes, deadlines, and timeframes for completing assignments. Addresses program issues under review and problems to be resolved by providing advice on work methods, practices and procedures. Assists BHIP Program Manager with quality management, improvement, and compliance with accreditation organizations and VA standards, CARF, JACHO, SAMSHA data. Assists with management of referrals from BHIP Psychology services clinic and coordination of care between clinics, as well as case management of dually diagnosed higher-needs Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc (Inclement Weather Only) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.