Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-EDRP

About the role

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 $200,000) & 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.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate programming within both various mental health and primary care programs.
• Be involved in research activities, especially as related to program evaluation responsibilities.
• Have responsibility for and oversight of the programmatic resources of various clinical programs that are specialized/complex and significantly impact the delivery of health care service to Veterans in the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS).
• Aid the work of various clinical programs and their staff, ensuring that work is assigned in a systematic way and meets facility and VA guidelines/standards.
• Provide a full range of psychological services and diagnose mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and significant others.
• Provide a range of psychological therapeutic interventions with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated.
• Be asked to prepare and teach seminars/workshops for STVHCS trainees/staff on topics within competency areas.

Requirements

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-EDRP position is within Mental Health in the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (DRRTP) clinic.

Qualifications

• 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).
• Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
• One year of post-master's or post-doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) that demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.
• 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.
• 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.
• Use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions.
• 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.
• 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.
• Learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.