Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Program
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
In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
Education:
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
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
Grandfather Provision: An LPMHC employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/3/2018) 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 the full qualification requirements
Pay
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
Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-12: Experience - Education - and Licensure
In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs
Schedule
Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm
Duties
Provides specialized individual - group and family evidence-based psychotherapy for co-occurring Substance Use and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
Services are provided within OSATP including at the Coralville VA Mental Health Clinic - Clinical Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and Community Resource and Referral Centers (CRRCs)
Incumbent is a subject matter expert in treating SUD/PTSD co-occurring disorders and provides consultation to staff within and outside of the OSATP and the Mental Health Service Line
Provides training and consultation to staff and trainees on evidence-based psychotherapies available for SUD/PTSD and demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the complex specialty area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications
Provides additional training and consultation for staff/trainees in other evidence-based therapies for SUD and co-occurring disorders
Collects - analyzes and monitors data outcomes to determine treatment efficacy for programs within OSATP
Oversees implementation and analysis of measurement-based care within OSATP and focuses on implementation - process improvements and program development based on data and program needs
Performs specialized treatment of highly complex physical or mental illness in group - individual and family therapy
Incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
Has a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans in the mental health clinic and/or their families
Able to independently work with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
Must independently complete thorough biopsychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and/or their families
Utilizes this assessment in facilitating the veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable
Documents the ASAM patient placement criteria in order to determine appropriate level of substance abuse treatment for the client
Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement a variety of treatment modalities
Administers psychological instruments including but not limited to Audit/DAST and Brief Addiction Monitor - BDI-II - BAI - PCL in order to measure progress and effectiveness of treatment as well as monitor and improve treatment based on the individual client's current needs
Possesses skills to provide case management services and provides case management to clients with high intensity needs
Provides crisis counseling to veterans and their families who present with acute problems and needs including suicidal or homicidal ideations
Completes clinical documentation according to OSATP and medical center standards Documentation is clinically appropriate and thorough and demonstrates the components of treatment considered the standard of care
Documents the ASAM patient placement criteria in order to determine appropriate level of substance abuse treatment for the client
Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement a variety of treatment modalities
Administers psychological instruments including but not limited to Audit/DAST and Brief Addiction Monitor - BDI-II - BAI - PCL in order to measure progress and effectiveness of treatment as well as monitor and improve treatment based on the individual client's current needs
Possesses skills to provide case management services and provides case management to clients with high intensity needs
Provides crisis counseling to veterans and their families who present with acute problems and needs including suicidal or homicidal ideations
Completes clinical documentation according to OSATP and medical center standards Documentation is clinically appropriate and thorough and demonstrates the components of treatment considered the standard of care