Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

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.

Qualifications:

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & 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: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors must be proficient in spoken & written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.

Education: Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & 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, & 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-183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, & unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis & treatment.

• Exception: VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. The requirement of licensure may be waived for a period not to exceed 3 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the clinical supervision of a licensed LPMHC who is at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9). For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed.

Drivers License: A valid state drivers license is required as this position requires local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans through the use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements.

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:

GS-9 (Entry Level):Experience, Education, & Licensure: This 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 under basic requirements, & are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure
~AND~
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation & follow-up
• Knowledge of current Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals & 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, & strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, & 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, & relational functioning of individuals, groups & families & on the counseling approaches, strategies, & 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 & thorough clinical documentation & delivery of services, such as Telehealth
• Ability to learn & utilize software programs in use by VHA
• Knowledge & understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, & regulations affecting professional practice of counseling
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally & in writing, with people from varied backgrounds

GS-11 (Full Performance Level):Experience, Education, & 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 & must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level.
~AND~
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the basic requirements & meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, & recommendation for treatment planning & implementation
• Advanced knowledge & mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems & maintaining an effective counseling relationship
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues & trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings & discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases & confer about the counseling perspectives & orientation
• Ability to provide complex crisis intervention & stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment & skill
• Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices, screening, & 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 & formulation of treatment goals & application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices
• Ability to develop & facilitate psychotherapy & psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, & community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.


Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others. The incumbent must be able to pass VA requirements for operation of a government vehicle. Position may require walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require travel to provide clinical services to Veterans in the community, clinics, medical centers, CBOC's, etc. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Responsibilities:

This position is located in the Mental Health Service at the George E. Wahlen VA Salt Lake City Health Care System and is assigned to a BHIP Team. The duties and responsibilities are to practice independently in the provision of mental health services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors provide a full range of psychological assessment and treatment services to Veterans with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses.

• Diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychological evaluations.
• Treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities.
• Provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders.
• Offer empirically validated and evidence-based psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
• Design and implement effective treatment strategies based on clinical need.
• Participate in the training of medical students, psychiatric residents, and nursing students as appropriate.
• Participate in the LPMHC Training Program and may be responsible for clinical oversight of LPMHC students or interns as assigned.
• Serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees.

Work Schedule: 8AM to 4:30PM Monday-Friday
Telework: May be available on an ad-hoc basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 612640, 612650
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $61,722 - $200,000