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

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 Veterans 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: May be Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact 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.
• 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

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• 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.
• 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 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.

• Loss of Licensure: Once licensed LPMHCs must maintain a full valid and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations:
Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-12
Experience Education and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities
In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment.
• Advanced and expert 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.
• Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data.
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients rendering professional opinions based on experience expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills.
• Ability to teach mentor staff and trainees and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications.
• Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies procedures practice guidelines and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession.

Assignments: Senior LPMHCs provide treatment to patients with complex needs including multiple mental health diagnoses and numerous psychosocial issues using independent judgment. LPMHCs at this level provide clinical consultation to less experienced staff which may include coordinating crisis situations. Senior LPMHCs will provide clinical supervision to LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees and may serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline. Senior LPMHCs develop behavioral health related training curriculum and often conduct trainings for clinical staff. LPMHCs model ethical and professional behaviors and standards to include multicultural awareness. Senior LPMHCs meet routinely with interprofessional team members and leadership to communicate about program and patient issues for in depth problem solving. Senior LPMHCs collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and frequently serve as a liaison. This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management. This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation.

Preferred Experience: Experience with Veterans

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements:
Light lifting (Under 15 pounds); Use of fingers; Specific visual requirement (See computer screen); Hearing (aid may be permitted)

Environmental Factors:
Working closely with others; Working alone