Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

As a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center the incumbent provides direct patient care to the Veteran patients as a member of the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) - while also frequently collaborating and consulting with the Outpatient Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Program - with the amount of time dedicated to each program depending on the program needs.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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 - 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/
• NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling
• Licensure - Must hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - which includes diagnosis and treatment
• 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
• GS-11 LPMHC (Full Performance Level) Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 you must have at least 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: Ability to 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
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions
• 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
• Ability to 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
• Ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
• Ability to make professional evaluations - decisions - and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation
• Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas - build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments - review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation
• Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress
• Requires independent judgment and skill
• Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills - including evidenced- based practices - screening - and psychosocial assessment
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions
• Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices
• Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills - family support - and community integration
• This may include evidence-based psychotherapy
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 11
• Physical Requirements: Work - divided between office and clinical ward settings - is primarily sedentary
• May require prolonged standing - moderate walking - and manual dexterity
• Requires carrying light items - such as books - files - or laptop computer
• Work requires extreme patience and controlling one's emotions
• The work may also require assisting physically disabled clients and may include lifting them.
  
  

Duties

• Provides direct patient care to the Veteran patients as a member of the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) - while also frequently collaborating and consulting with the Outpatient Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Program - with the amount of time dedicated to each program depending on the program needs
• Provides evaluation - individual and group psychotherapy - and interdisciplinary consultation - with evidence-based treatments emphasized (e.g
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Prolonged Exposure - etc.) Provides treatment to Veterans with co-morbid PTSD spectrum and SUD related diagnosis - also including evaluation - individual and group psychotherapy - and interdisciplinary consultation - with evidence-based treatments emphasized (e.g
• motivational interviewing - stages of change - cognitive behavioral approaches)
• Independently assesses and identifies high-risk patients and implements appropriate safety protocols and standards of care
• Provides thorough and appropriate assessments to identify relevant presenting problems - determine in-home and environmental contributors - and to understand obstacles to recovery and/or follow through with recommended treatments
• Provides case management with members of the outpatient interdisciplinary team in order to coordinate a collaborative effort to meet the agreed upon goals for a veteran's recovery needs
• Acts as the liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families
• Makes referrals to programming to address homelessness - hospice services - nursing home care - home health services - financial resources - VA benefits - and transportation services
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 23043F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: 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
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions/assistance.Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized