Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor
The Behavioral Health Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor must have the knowledge and skills to make independent decisions regarding the assessment, treatment, and case management of the diagnostically diverse BHC patient population. As a member of the interdisciplinary BHC team, the Behavioral Health Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor must form and maintain effective working relationships with staff from the Behavioral Health Clinic, Medical, Nursing, Social Work, Rehabilitation, Chaplain, and Dietetic Services in order to provide patients with an integrated and comprehensive treatment program. Principle duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Assessment:
The incumbent independently conducts intake screenings and evaluations of Veterans and their significant others; performs a comprehensive intake assessment that satisfies Joint Commission (JC) standards and provides clinically meaningful information related to the specific cognitive - social learning treatment approach used in the BHC; reassesses and monitors the status of problematic behaviors; routinely evaluates the impact that therapeutic interventions have on patient problems; assesses patients' progress toward meeting treatment goals and objectives; determines the need for additional assessment of specific problem areas; conducts and documents a discharge assessment that summarizes the extent to which each problem is resolved and the extent to which additional treatment is needed; and schedules and monitors specimen collection for assessment of substance abuse. Treatment:
The Behavioral Health Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy, as well as crisis intervention. When providing treatment, incumbent relies on own clinical judgment to address patient problems in a fashion that is consistent with the knowledge and skills of other professional staff with Masters level training. Conducts short, medium, long-term in-depth counseling and facilitates both open-ended, process groups, and time-limited, closed, structured groups for patients with substance abuse problems, mental health problems, or co-morbid conditions. The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor may also facilitate group counseling and conduct assessments for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC). Provides crisis intervention and stabilization to patients and significant others. The incumbent develops and, as needed, revises treatment plans. He/she will keep abreast of new treatment techniques and evidence based practices. Case Management:
The role of the MHTC is to coordinate treatment activities to ensure that each patient is provided with an individualized, integrated, biopsychosocial approach to case management. Program and Staff Development:
The incumbent takes a supportive role in the administrative/clinical functions of the program such as quality assurance, policy and procedure development, program planning, preparation of reports, and other duties as assigned. The incumbent actively participates in BHC committees; provides training to Medical Center and BHC staff through patient review conferences, BHC in-service programs, and medical education presentations; keeps abreast of new developments in the field of behavioral health; and maintains accurate records and data needed for local and national reports. The incumbent is also responsible for designing and conducting group therapy sessions; recommending methods to improve the quality, quantity, and integration of treatment services. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 8:
00 a.m. to 4:
30 p.m. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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 master's 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; and Marriage and Family Therapy. Licensure:
Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. English Language Proficiency:
Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determination for GS-11 (Full Performance Level):
In addition to the basic requirements for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's degree mental health counseling experience; OR In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field may be substituted for the required one year of professional mental health counseling experience. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below:
Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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. 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. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Assessment:
The incumbent independently conducts intake screenings and evaluations of Veterans and their significant others; performs a comprehensive intake assessment that satisfies Joint Commission (JC) standards and provides clinically meaningful information related to the specific cognitive - social learning treatment approach used in the BHC; reassesses and monitors the status of problematic behaviors; routinely evaluates the impact that therapeutic interventions have on patient problems; assesses patients' progress toward meeting treatment goals and objectives; determines the need for additional assessment of specific problem areas; conducts and documents a discharge assessment that summarizes the extent to which each problem is resolved and the extent to which additional treatment is needed; and schedules and monitors specimen collection for assessment of substance abuse. Treatment:
The Behavioral Health Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy, as well as crisis intervention. When providing treatment, incumbent relies on own clinical judgment to address patient problems in a fashion that is consistent with the knowledge and skills of other professional staff with Masters level training. Conducts short, medium, long-term in-depth counseling and facilitates both open-ended, process groups, and time-limited, closed, structured groups for patients with substance abuse problems, mental health problems, or co-morbid conditions. The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor may also facilitate group counseling and conduct assessments for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC). Provides crisis intervention and stabilization to patients and significant others. The incumbent develops and, as needed, revises treatment plans. He/she will keep abreast of new treatment techniques and evidence based practices. Case Management:
The role of the MHTC is to coordinate treatment activities to ensure that each patient is provided with an individualized, integrated, biopsychosocial approach to case management. Program and Staff Development:
The incumbent takes a supportive role in the administrative/clinical functions of the program such as quality assurance, policy and procedure development, program planning, preparation of reports, and other duties as assigned. The incumbent actively participates in BHC committees; provides training to Medical Center and BHC staff through patient review conferences, BHC in-service programs, and medical education presentations; keeps abreast of new developments in the field of behavioral health; and maintains accurate records and data needed for local and national reports. The incumbent is also responsible for designing and conducting group therapy sessions; recommending methods to improve the quality, quantity, and integration of treatment services. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 8:
00 a.m. to 4:
30 p.m. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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 master's 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; and Marriage and Family Therapy. Licensure:
Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. English Language Proficiency:
Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determination for GS-11 (Full Performance Level):
In addition to the basic requirements for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's degree mental health counseling experience; OR In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field may be substituted for the required one year of professional mental health counseling experience. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below:
Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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. 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. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.
- Department:
0101 Social Science - Salary Range:
$64,009 to $83,210 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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