Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to (Current & Permanent) Federal Employees and US Citizens. This position is posted to multiple occupations. Please see the Benefits section for details. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The LPMHC is responsible for providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care and therapeutic services to veterans and their families. Duties include conducting behavior health assessments and developing treatment plans, as well as providing consultation to Behavioral Health Service Providers to determine eligibility and appropriate levels of care for veterans requiring services.

The incumbent delivers direct therapy to individuals, families, couples, and groups, ensuring that treatment is tailored to the unique needs of the veteran population. Additionally, the LPMHC collaborates closely with other Behavioral Health Service programs to facilitate seamless transitions to appropriate care services for veterans. In the outpatient setting, the LPMHC is tasked with providing crisis intervention as needed. The incumbent must hold a master's degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, including diagnosis and treatment.

The LPMHC:

• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families, independently working with those experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Completes intake assessments independently to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families, utilizing these assessments to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment and attainment of the highest level of independence possible.
• Actively participates as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with Veterans, families, and team members in the development and implementation of treatment plans.
• Possesses a basic working knowledge and experience in behavioral health and substance use diagnoses and treatment procedures.
• Facilitates discharge planning in collaboration with Veterans, their families, and interdisciplinary team members to ensure timely execution of appropriate discharge plans.
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services.
• Independently implements treatment modalities, providing counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families.
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, government programs, and community programs.
• Provides consultation to other treatment team members and staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of identified psychosocial problems on their healthcare planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning.
• Provides case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care, utilizing principles of human growth and development over the lifespan to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
• Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility.
• Serves on committees and work groups at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.
• Furthers professional growth through continuing education, ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment.
• Provides assistances with the orientation and learning of less experienced Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors and serve as a preceptor for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor students when appropriate.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management, as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA.

Duties are continued in Benefits Section.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Recruitment Incentives. Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time, part time[,] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service

Relocation Incentives. Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive, it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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).

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.


Grade Determinations:

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:

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.
10. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
11. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
12. 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.
13. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.
14. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.
15. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions.
16. 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.
17. 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working in a VA Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program or within the VA
• Experience in delivering Evidenced Based Psychotherapies
• Experience facilitating care for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), PTSD, and substance use disorder
• Experience in working on a Behavioral Health interdisciplinary team and coordinating care with other services and providers

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

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Resume/CV
• Other (2)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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