Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

About the role

This Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) will be assigned to a Behavioral Health program within the Behavioral Health Service (BHS) at the West Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care System (WTXVAHCS). The incumbent will provide face-to-face and/or telemental health (e.g., VA Video Connect, CVT) services to Veterans across WTXVAHCS sites of care.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families, independently working with those experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Completes intake assessments independently to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families, utilizing these assessments to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment and attainment of the highest level of independence possible.
• Actively participates as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with Veterans, families, and team members in the development and implementation of treatment plans.
• Possesses a basic working knowledge and experience in behavioral health and substance use diagnoses and treatment procedures.
• Facilitates discharge planning in collaboration with Veterans, their families, and interdisciplinary team members to ensure timely execution of appropriate discharge plans.
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services.
• Independently implements treatment modalities, providing counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families.
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, government programs, and community programs.
• Provides consultation to other treatment team members and staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of identified psychosocial problems on their healthcare planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning.
• Provides case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care, utilizing principles of human growth and development over the lifespan to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
• Serves on committees and work groups at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.
• Furthers professional growth through continuing education, ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment.
• Provides assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors and serve as a preceptor for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor students when appropriate.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management, as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA.

Requirements

The LPMHC is responsible for providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care and therapeutic services to veterans and their families. Duties include conducting behavior health assessments and developing treatment plans, as well as providing consultation to Behavioral Health Service Providers to determine eligibility and appropriate levels of care for veterans requiring services.

Qualifications

• Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 http://www.cacrep.org/directory/.
• Licensure - Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. NOTE: Applicants pending the completion of the licensure requirement may be selected (GS-09 only) and given up to a three-year temporary appointment.
• May 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).