Senior Counselor - Marriage and Family Therapist (Advanced)

Summary

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.

Qualifications

• 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
  • English Language Proficiency
  • MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3j

• Education:

  • Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: Marriage and Family Therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) - OR Marriage and Family Therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution - OR A comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Social Work - Psychiatric Nursing - Psychology - and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession
  • Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full - current - and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a state
  • Grandfather Provision: An MFT employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/18/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting all qualification requirements

• Grade Determinations:

  • In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
  • The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
  • Education - Experience and Licensure
  • To qualify for the GS-12 you must possess have you successfully completed evidence-based training in family therapy and graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Board (AMFTRB) examination
  • Candidate must have at least 5 years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy (with at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level)
  • This experience must demonstrate the use of an evidence-based family therapy model while exhibiting progressive professional competency and expertise that demonstrates the following professional Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
  • Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals - families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy
  • Ability to provide crisis intervention which includes assessment - safety planning and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment utilizing family systems theory/therapy
  • Ability to provide family systems therapy - which seeks to address Veterans and their family members on an individual level and deals with interpersonal interactions
  • Ability to provide unlicensed MFT staff/trainees with systemic clinical supervision towards licensure from a family systems theory/therapy perspective

• Additional Requirement:

  • AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential

• Physical Requirements:

  • The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation

Duties

• Direct Service Provision: Independently implement professional clinical practice applications in the provision of readjustment counseling to individuals - couples - families - and groups

• Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention: Provides consultation and associated support for staff developing crisis intervention strategies - which includes assessment - safety planning - and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment using family systems theory/therapy

• Care Coordination: Communicates routinely with inter-professional team members and leadership to communicate about program and patient issues for in-depth problem solving - while consistently modeling ethical and professional behaviors and standards to include multicultural awareness

• Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - Medical Center and Zone - District - or national level - or in the community as deemed appropriate by the Vet Center Director

• Outreach: Acts as clinical consultant to the Vet Center outreach workers to improve their sensitivity to clinical indicators and basic interviewing questions to expedite the transition of prospective clients contacted on outreach to actual Vet Center readjustment counseling clients

• Coordinates with Vet Center Outreach Specialists to ensure seamless referral of individuals engaged in the community at outreach events

• Documentation/Administrative Responsibilities/Consultation: Actively participate in one-to-one clinical and administrative oversight during administrative and clinical staff meetings as directed by the Vet Center Director

• Documents clinical interactions and services delivered as required by policy

• Screening and Assessment: Works directly with eligible individuals to establish a therapeutic relationship sufficient for completing all required readjustment counseling intake procedures to include an assessment of risk for self-harm and psychosocial stressors

• Counseling Planning/Goal Setting: Based on the outcome of the intake - will develop and periodically update an individualized readjustment counseling service plan that reflects a course of therapeutic and psychosocial interventions - inclusive of outcome measurements

• Clinical Supervision - Consultation - Training - Review and Evaluation: Provides clinical consultation services to other staff members with clinical service responsibilities under the supervision of the Vet Center Director

• The scope of clinical consultation services will include all aspects of direct readjustment counseling service such as advising on the clinical assessment - service planning - and case coordination with community providers when the individual's needs are beyond the scope of services available at a Vet Center

• Will provide clinical consultation and supervision to meet the requirements for independent licensure with special attention to providing to unlicensed staff/trainees systematic clinical supervision towards licensure

• Provides clinical oversight (chart auditing - etc) as outlined by policy

• Team cohesion and coordination: Actively participate in staff meetings designed to promote team building and staff development

• May perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the grade and assignment and which are within the scope of practice

• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday thru Friday some evenings and weekends possible - standard operational hours with occasional evenings based on operational need of the facility

• Telework: Not Available

• Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #

323480

Contact Information

For questions/assistance regarding EDRP - contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator