Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) (Recruitment/Relocation Incentive)

Summary

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor is assigned the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). The LPMHC's primary duties involve initial assessment and psychotherapy of Veterans in a residential setting with a wide range of mental health problems, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, & substance use and/or comorbid medical/psychosocial issues. The LPMHC provides diagnostic services as well as evidence based psychotherapies in individual & group settings.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 10, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 23, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st and 15th of each month as vacancies become available. 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. Select every location in which you would like to be considered as this cannot be changed at the time of selection. Applicant Expiration: Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USA Jobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Engages in information gathering, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation and follow-up. Utilizes a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Treatment approaches include but are not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure, and cognitive processing therapy. Demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. Serves on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively. Possesses basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Tele-mental health (if necessary). Possesses knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Makes professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Possesses advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students 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. Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Establishes goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment. Fully utilizes the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Develops and delivers psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. Serves as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) for assigned veterans and conducts the duties of this role. Participates as a member of medical center hospital committees as directed. Maintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are their responsibility. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings as held by CTVHCS and MH&BM management. Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, MH&BM staff meetings, and complies with peer review procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized 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. 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

4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. 5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. 6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 7. 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. 8. 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: Experience within a residential/inpatient setting. Experience with group psychotherapy. Experience incorporating measurement-based care into treatment. Experience working on complex clinical setting. Experience with suicide risk stratification. Fully Licensed LPC is preferred for this position. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDUCATION IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Accreditation Information: The master's or doctoral degree must be fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application NOTE: If your school was accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CACREP website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.