Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-EDRP Authorized
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Job Location:
Amarillo, TX - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 73939 - 96116
Posted on:
2 days ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
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 $200000) & 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.
The incumbent in this position functions as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) for the Amarillo VA Health Care System Behavioral Health Care Line in Amarillo under the immediate supervision of the Chief Behavioral Health Service.
The LPMHC will be a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The BHIP team is an interdisciplinary team of mental health care professionals that provide comprehensive accessible Veteran-centered mental health care in partnership with the Veterans and when Veteran consents the Veterans personal support person(s). The Behavioral Health Clinic utilizes a broad range of treatment modalities and the incumbent will perform a variety of psychotherapy interventions and service assignments which requires specialized knowledge in the nature and impact of behavioral health conditions on the Veteran and family system.
The LPMHC Completes an initial comprehensive assessment and provides resources and referrals based on this assessment. Treatment plan is developed in collaboration with Veteran and guided by VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline. Plan is developed with input from the Veteran and from the Veterans family friends or authorized surrogate when appropriate and with the Veterans consent. Plan is personalized and includes measurable objectives. Plan includes documentation of what treatment is being provided that different treatment options including evidence-based interventions were considered and the ongoing assessment used to determine whether treatment changes are needed. Provider will include referrals for specialty care (e.g. substance use disorder program MHICM suicide prevention) domiciliary programs intensive outpatient treatment and other appropriate interventions. Of utmost concern will be the safety of the client and assurance of effective outcomes for recovery and stabilization.
Provides individual and family clinical services. Services consist of time-limited evidence-based psychotherapy and evidence-informed therapy with the goal of recovery and stabilization. Utilizes measurement-based care to track patient progress and guide treatment decision making. Appropriately monitors and addresses suicidal and homicidal risk.
Establishes a positive working relationship with the client. Regularly monitors and evaluates progress towards goals discusses progress with client and addresses barriers to treatment. Adjusts treatment plans based on treatment response change in psychosocial stressor or life circumstance and change in suicide risk. Follows-up with client after referral or if the client misses a counseling session.
Work Schedule: Typical tour of duty is M-F 8:00am-4:30pm but may be adjusted due to needs of the facility
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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
Applications will be referred as needed.
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
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.
- 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: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-11 (Full Performance Level)
Experience Education and 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.
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 family counseling interventions.
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:
- At least one year conducting biopsychosocial assessments of patients needs in a healthcare setting.
- Experience in working with a multidisciplinary treatment team (at least 1 year).
- Experience in providing EBPs (evidenced based psychotherapies).
- At least one year experience working with mental health issues such as depression anxiety PTSD.
- At least one year experience in electronic medical record documentation of health and behavioral issues.
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
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: 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: masters 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: 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 (CACREP) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
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