Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.
• Provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee.
• Make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendations for treatment planning and implementation.
• Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas.
• Provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress.
• Develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration.
• Use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions.
• Develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans (may include Veteran's family) experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• Conduct suicide assessment and safety planning for high-risk Veterans.
• Assist in assessing and coordinating care for Veterans who are in need of acute psychiatric stabilization.
• Provide brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g., 1-6 sessions for broad range of concerns).
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran (may include Veteran's family) and with PACT.
• Provide case management services, as needed and/or indicated.
• Facilitate referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility.
• Assess for and identify high-risk Veteran and implement appropriate safety protocols.
• Provide crisis intervention services and have working knowledge of referral process for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and residential PTSD, SUD, and other specialty programs.
• Provide consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan.
• Develop specialized interventions tailored to unique needs of Veteran populations and provide innovations in delivery of mental health programs.
• Maintain daily open access slots.
• Use time-limited, evidence-based interventions that are simple and concrete.
• Triage appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services.
• Use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions.
• Develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration.
• Provide brief assessment and/or intervention to address (including but not limited to): depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD, MST, trauma, sleep issues, chronic pain, substance abuse/dependence (including tobacco use), anger management, relationship distress, management of chronic medical conditions, attentional concerns, memory concerns, and other interventions as clinically appropriate.

Qualifications

• 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).
• Licensure: Must hold a full and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
• Experience: At least one (1) year of post-master's or post-doctoral degree mental health counseling experience and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level.

Skills

• Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application practices.
• Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, and behavioral interventions, and strategies that address high-risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span.
• Sensitivity to diversity and multicultural counseling skills.
• Ability to 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.
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

Benefits

Program Approval - award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Pay

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.

Schedule

The Incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others.