Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

SummaryThe incumbent's primary duties involve initial assessment and brief psychological treatment for Veterans with a wide range of co-occurring disorders - including but not limited to schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders - Bipolar Disorder - personality disorders - anxiety - PTSD - depression - substance use - as well as those with complex co-occurring medical conditions. The LPMHC is a member of a multidisciplinary team that provides a full range of mental health services.QualificationsApplicants 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.Basic RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducationHold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health CounselingClinical Rehabilitation CounselingClinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counselingor 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 CounselingCommunity CounselingGerontology CounselingMarital - Couple - and Family CounselingCACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited programAdditional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/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 counselingLicensurePersons 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 treatmentNOTE: 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 recordExceptionVHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensureThis exception only applies up to the full performance levelFor grade levels at or above the full performance level - the candidate must be licensed.The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 3 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the clinical supervision of a licensed LPMHC who is at or above the full performance levelThis exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9)For grade levels at or above the full performance level - the candidate must be licensedThe Human Resources Office will provide the unlicensed LPMHC in writing the requirement to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadlineThe written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty dateGrandfather ProvisionAll 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 occupationPhysical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019English Language ProficiencyLPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3.jMay 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 candidatesLicensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience - Education - and LicensureIn addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of post-master's 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) belowLPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC traineeSome state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCsPlease refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervisionDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to make professional evaluations - decisions - and recommendation for treatment planning and implementationAdvanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationshipAbility 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 orientationAbility to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distressRequires independent judgment and skillAbility to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills - including evidenced- based practices - screening - and psychosocial assessmentAbility to use a wide variety of individual - group - or familial counseling interventionsdemonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skillsAbility to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practicesAbility to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills - family support - and community integrationThis may include evidence-based psychotherapyPreferred Experience: Full and unrestricted licensePrior experience working in the VHAPrior experience working in an inpatient or other similar settingTraining in brief models of psychotherapy and treatmentExperience interacting with and participating in multidisciplinary treatment teams in a residential or inpatient setting - Training in evidence-based psychotherapies appropriate to the settingReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11Physical Requirements: The work is sedentarySome work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct workWork may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work siteIncumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.DutiesThe Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) is assigned to the inpatient acute psychiatry unit and other inpatient/residential care settings 100% timeThe LPMHC's primary duties involve initial biopsychosocial assessment - treatment planning - and psychological treatment to Veterans with a history of trauma - including those patients with military sexual trauma and co-occurring disorders - including anxiety - depression - substance use - and personality disordersThe LPMHC is a member of an interdisciplinary PTSD clinical team within an acute psychiatric care unitThe LPMHC provides a full range of evidence-based psychological services - including group - couples - and individual psychotherapyDirect Patient Care Functions: Possesses 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 toolsProvides evidence-based treatment interventionsParticipates as a member of a multidisciplinary clinical team providing a full range of mental health servicesContributes to the gathering of assessment information and the development of a detailed treatment plan for veterans serviced by the programAssists Suicide Prevention Team with ensuring continuity of care for Veterans recently hospitalized at non-VA facilitiesDemonstrates skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents - data management - maintaining accurate - timely and thorough clinical documentation - and tracking quality improvementsServes as an advisor - consultant and/or resource person to the staff within the medical centerParticipates as a member of medical center hospital committees as directedMaintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are their responsibilityComplies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patientsComplies 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 Central Texas VA Healthcare System and Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine (MH & MB) ManagementAttends regular Psychology Service staff meetings - Medical Staff meetings - MH&BM staff meetings and complies with Psychology Service peer review proceduresOther duties as assigned based on clinic needsWork Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am -4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized