Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

If you are NOT a current permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency you should apply to announcement # CBST--26-DAY.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• The incumbent works with Veterans who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical psychiatric emotional behavioral and psychosocial problems.
• Completes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veterans maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable. Telehealth equipment will be utilized to deliver group and individual services as well as education through a variety of devices including computer telephone home clinical video telehealth.
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions.
• Possesses a working knowledge and experience in use of mental health diagnoses disabilities and evidence-based treatments including acute chronic and traumatic illnesses.
• Independently implements treatment modalities provide educational classes and/or therapeutic groups for Veterans and families.
• Provides consultation to other treatment team members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veterans health care planning and compliance with treatment.
• Maintains knowledge of Veterans benefits and services community resources and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.
• Completes clinical documentation according to MHSL and healthcare center standards. Documentation is clinically appropriate and thorough and demonstrates the components of treatment considered the standard of care.
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm or 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. (Subject to change based on the needs of the facility).
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
• 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 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.

Qualifications

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.
  • Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be licensed.
• 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:
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 in subparagraph (c) 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.

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.
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:

• 5 years of clinical experience in outpatient Mental Health and/or Primary Care Mental Health Integration.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing lifting carrying sitting stooping bending pulling and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. However the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.