Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Summary

This incumbent functions as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) located at the Dayton VA Medical Center. The LPMHC provides a full range of direct patient care services to MH RRTP Veterans with Substance Use Disorders - Mental Health Disorders - and a range of psychosocial stressors including homelessness.

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
• 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)
• 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 LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - which includes diagnosis and treatment
• NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• Exception: VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure
• This exception only applies up to the full performance level
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level - the candidate must be licensed
• Failure to Obtain License: In all cases - LPMHCs must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed within three years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC series and may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Licensure: Once licensed - LPMHCs must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling - which includes diagnosis and treatment
• Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level
• Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b. - and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure
• In addition - the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:1
• Ability to engage in intake and assessment - problem identification - diagnosis - treatment planning and implementation - continuum of care - evaluation and follow-up.2
• 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.3
• 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.4
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions.5
• 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.6
• 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.7
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.8
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes - case laws - ethical codes - and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.9
• Ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-11 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below
• LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee
• Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs
• Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• The candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:1
• Ability to make professional evaluations - decisions - and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.2
• Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.3
• 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.4
• 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.5
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions.6
• 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.7
• 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.
  
  

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Provides full range of clinical counseling services to assigned Veterans - to include individual and group therapies - family therapy - psychoeducation - assessment and diagnosis - and case management Conducts diagnostic assessments and treatment planning with a focus on emotional - social - and environmental strengths and problems related to diagnosis - illness - treatment - and/or life situation
• Provides services as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team and serves as a clinical consultant for the MH RRTP treatment team
• Coordinates community-based services through information and referrals to community agencies - VA - and other government programs as needed
• Completes suicide screening and related clinical reminders to identify high-risk patients and make referrals for additional services when indicated
• Provides crisis intervention services - seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint and has a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis - disabilities and treatment procedures
• Documents in EHR in accordance with VHA directive and policy
• Operates a motor vehicle and transports patients off-site as required
• Performs other duties as required
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91907-A - 91908-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary and primarily performed in an office setting
• Typical office work involves active listening - reading - observing - and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior and writing reports and clinical notes
• The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers - keyboards - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
• Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity are required
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• If required as a condition of employment - the incumbent must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - employee physicals - etc.