Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Summary

VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon - outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington - and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-9 (Entry Level) (a) 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
• (b) Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-9 LPMHCs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised - including co-signatures where required - as they are not functioning at the full performance level
• They are typically assigned to VHA areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Since they are not practicing at an independent level - they should not be assigned to areas where independent practice is required - such as in a CBOC - unless there is a licensed LPMHC in the area who can provide supervision for practice
• Under supervision - LPMHCs at this level provide professional mental health counseling services
• (c) 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 (Full Performance Level) (a) 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
• (b) Assignments
• This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs
• At this level they are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge - theory - and training foundations of professional counseling
• LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate
• LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level - 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
• 5
• Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills - including evidenced- based practices - screening - and psychosocial assessment
• 6
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions
• 7
• 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
• 8
• 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 in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
  
  

Duties

• General Description: This position is located in the Mental Health Service line at the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) within the Mental Health Division's Women's & Gender Diverse Mental Health Specialty Team (WGDMH)
• The WGDMH team is designed to serve women and gender diverse Veterans across the Portland VA Catchment area who need specialty services within our 4 focus areas of Reproductive Mental Health - Eating Disorders - Gender Affirming Care with a Specific Medical Transition Related Concern - and Identity-Based Trauma with a Gender-Specific Health Concern
• This position may be stationed at any of the VA Portland Health Care System clinics
• The WGDMH Program provides outpatient mental health treatment to veterans with mental health diagnoses
• The VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings
• VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon - outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington - and six Community Based Outpatient Clinics
• VAPORHCS is an academic medical facility with significant teaching and research programs
• The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) will provide mental health services to the Veteran population enrolled at the VA Portland Health Care System
• Services include provision of high quality case management - psychosocial assessment - Psychotherapy - advocacy - and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran
• This is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the Mental Health Division or other interdisciplinary treatment teams as appropriate.The incumbent must possess at a minimum master degree of professional counseling or other related field from a CACREP accredited program with at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency - Screening/Assessment - The Licensed Professional Counselor will develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members and significant others
• The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status
• The biopsychosocial assessment will include clinical interview - administration of psychiatric test instruments - and/or collateral information
• Based on the biopsychosocial assessment - the mental health Licensed Professional Counselor uses professional judgment and beginning practice skills to diagnose using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• The Licensed Professional Counselor provides goal planning - evaluation - and intervention with serious and complicated - highly diverse cases involving psychiatric illness
• He/she demonstrates an understanding of current techniques to the treatment of this Veteran population related to their physical limitations - psychological needs - psychiatric conditions - environmental needs and age associated illnesses and conditions
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The Licensed Professional Counselor develops and/or contributes to the development of the mental health treatment plan and the setting of achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team
• The Licensed Professional Counselor provides consultation and makes recommendations to the interdisciplinary team on course of treatment
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 08:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized