Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor EDRP Approved

This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 11/19/2025. Additional applications will be referred as needed.

The LPMHCs primary duties involve initial assessment and brief psychological treatment for Veterans with a wide range of co-occurring disorders including but not limited to anxiety PTSD depression substance use as well as those with complex co-occurring medical conditions. The LPMHC is a member of an interdisciplinary MHC team and provides evidence-based individual couples and group psychotherapy to veterans. The incumbent will perform a variety of duties including but not limited to the following:

-Possess knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan interventions based on research and theory family and system interaction formal diagnostic criteria risk assessment evidence-based practice and assessment tools.
-Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and the knowledge to formulate implement and re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the patients problems strengths readiness to change external influences and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue and interactional patterns within the client system. This includes the utilization of testing measures where appropriate.
-Provides counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals groups couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system.
-Possesses knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes case law ethical codes and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy. This includes the ability to assist clients in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality.
-Demonstrates skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents data management maintaining accurate timely and thorough clinical documentation and tracking quality improvements.
-Serves ss the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) for assigned veterans and conducts the duties of this role.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor/51913-F or 59914-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

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. *HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.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 masters 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 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.NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

• Grandfather Provision. All persons employed in VHA in as LPMHC on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• 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.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-9 (Entry Level)
  • Experience Education and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-masters degree) or for LPMHCs at the masters or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b. and are working toward completion of prerequisites for addition the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
    1. Ability to engage in intake and assessment problem identification diagnosis treatment planning and implementation continuum of care evaluation and follow-up.
    2. Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
    3. Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive affective behavioral or systemic interventions and strategies that address high risk behaviors wellness personal growth and career development across the life span.
    4. Ability to use a wide variety of individual group or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
    5. Ability to serve 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.
    6. 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 telehealth.
    7. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
    8. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes case laws ethical codes and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
    9. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-11 (Full Performance Level)
  • Experience Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements candidates must have at least one year of post-masters or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
    1. Ability to make professional evaluations decisions and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
    2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
    3. 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.