Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to provide nonmedical clinical counseling to individuals, couples, families, and groups on family dynamics, parent-child interaction, couples' communication, adjustment to commonly occurring personal and family issues/circumstances, adjustment to military life, and psycho-educational training programs.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Non-medical Clinical Counseling (NMC)

Receive and assess referrals made by military and civilian agencies for individuals, couples, families, and groups experiencing situational stressors, including deployment, grief, relocation, separation, relationship issues, parent/child issues, family hardships, and other military life challenges.
Provide direct, short term, solution focused NMC counseling services using psychotherapeutic services, such as cognitive therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, family systems therapy, expressive therapies, etc.
Develop and execute short-term, solution-focused NMC counseling treatment plans for those individuals who request such services and who present with commonly occurring life circumstance issues or adjustment disorders.
Assess individual/family needs and explore basic personality structures in relation to behavior patterns, mechanisms, and symptoms.
Assess and triage clients who present risk to harm self or others, and refer to the appropriate, nearest behavioral health provider. Refer clients with issues falling outside the authorized scope of care (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders, major depression, etc.) within the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) to military or civilian behavioral health providers. Coordinate with legal, medical and social services including commands, to assist in counseling and referral. Initiate, develop, and facilitate group treatment programs to address the needs of families, such as marital groups and child and adolescent groups.
Assist, individuals and families with finding satisfactory ways of coping with commonly occurring life stresses (e.g., career change, work-related stress), family dynamics (e.g., divorce, communication problems), parenting, crisis response (e.g., physical, sexual or emotional abuse), or other stressors. Provide critical incident intervention services, when requested.
Conduct on-site/regional quarterly quality assurance (QA) reviews of cases, per DON policy, to ensure that all NMC counseling services provided are safe and of good quality.

Installation Family Advocacy Program (FAP)

Serve as the installation FAP clinical subject matter expert (SME), consulting installation leadership, medical professionals and the command triad of FAP involved military service/family members regarding clinical needs assessment, determining clinical intervention, and utilizing evidence-based treatment strategies and treatment.
Provide initial and on-going case management services.
Triage clients, identify the situation, comply with and educate on mandated and required reporting protocols of child and domestic abuse, conduct risk and lethality assessments, develop safety and treatment plans, provide referrals, establish individualized treatment goals tailored to the needs of service/family members, and follow-up on child abuse/neglect and domestic abuse allegations involving military members and their families.
Identify crisis situations (e.g., suicide or homicide risk, danger of physical or sexual abuse to family members, increased risk of interfamilial or extra-familial violence) when conducting clinical assessments and provide immediate crisis intervention, conduct risk assessment, and prepare and/or coordinate safety planning IAW best practices in the mental health community.
Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide diagnostic and prognostic impressions to other health care providers, commanders, senior enlisted advisors, local child protective services, law enforcement, and legal personnel to facilitate community-wide response for family maltreatment, when appropriate.

Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth

Receive reports of problematic sexual behaviors in children and youth (PSB-CY) from military and civilian representatives and take appropriate action per FAP PSB-CY requirements.
Provide or coordinate clinical services access with other FAP providers or with community clinical providers for exhibiting children, youth, and their families, including psychoeducational support, assessment, and clinical intervention.
Provide or coordinate specialized assessments and evaluations when recommended by the CCSM.

. Community Liaison

Liaison with cities, counties, states, federal, non-government agencies, and military agencies and commands to enhance FAP prevention and response affecting the military community. Represent the Navy at community liaison meetings, educating on domestic violence risk/protective factors, collaborating on coordinating services for military members and their families, and engaging in community domestic violence prevention and awareness activities to establish or strengthen relationships with other agencies serving the target population.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
The incumbent must meet FAP personnel - clinical staff qualifications listed in Title 32 CFR Part 61, Subpart B, PS 28; and the Tier II qualification requirements described in the current SECNAVINST
This position requires regular contact with children under the age of 18 and a favorable determination of suitability to do so, and periodic re-verification check of multiple agency records.

Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of the CNIC Fleet and Family Support Program and comprehensive knowledge of military lifestyles including common stressors to effectively modify treatment programs to meet the needs of the military community.
Professional knowledge of and skill in applying laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, directives and instructions governing child and spouse abuse and family violence issues and professional knowledge of family violence dynamics to identify situations of family violence, conduct risk assessments and coordinate safety planning.
In-depth knowledge of family systems related to patterns of abusive behavior, abuse response, substance abuse, human behavior, human sexuality, attention deficit disorder, and juvenile delinquency and skill in applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to recognize, identify, and assess mental disorders and personal and social problems, reach accurate conclusions and provide appropriate solutions.
Expert knowledge of and skill in employing various evidence-based and trauma-informed counseling approaches, clinical treatment principles and practices, research methods, group dynamics, motivational interviewing, developmental psychology, and family systems therapy to counsel individuals, couples, families and groups.
Skill in applying various counseling approaches, including psychosocial, to assess, triage, refer and manage difficult and serious cases involving individuals and families who present at-risk behavior.
Professional knowledge of and skill in using various verbal communication methods and techniques to effectively work with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds; to present sensitive or controversial information to various groups; discuss cases; deliver presentations; and develop and maintain professional relationships with other treatment professionals.
Professional knowledge of and skill in using various written communication methods and techniques and using FFSP management information systems and other applicable software and web-based programs to effectively document case management and treatment plans, to document and explain NMC counseling requirements and services provided, to facilitate completion of work assignments, and to develop presentations.

Education

Successful candidates for this position shall meet all qualifications as outlined below:

State licensure or state certification that provides legal authority to provide clinical services as an independent practitioner.
When the state licensing or certification requirements include a written examination, candidates must have achieved a passing score on that examination.
Possess at least a master's degree in one of the following clinical fields: Marriage and Family therapy, Social Work or Psychology from an accredited program.
Have engaged in 2 years (which includes at least 2000 hours) full-time, post- Masters supervised clinical experience.
Two (2) years of experience in assisting and providing advocacy services to victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault.

Applicants should be prepared to submit their credentialing packet as soon as possible, but no later than 5 days from the date of acceptance of the initial offer.

Additional information

Salary is dependent on experience and/or education. Some positions have special requirements.

Selectee may be required to complete a one (1) year probationary period. Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required. We utilize E-Verify to confirm selectee's eligibility to work in the United States. Salary is dependent on experience and/or education. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 60 days of issuance of selection certificate.

Spouses of active duty military members of the Armed Forces may receive preference in hiring under this announcement if they are among the best qualified referred and are within reach of selection. Spouse Preference does not apply to NF 04 and NF 05 positions. Please clearly identify in your application that you are asking for spouse preference and complete the Request for Military Spouse Preference form and submit a copy of current PCS orders. Failure to submit current PCS orders with application will prevent spousal preference from being granted. Acceptance or declination of a regular full or part-time non-appropriated or appropriated fund position ends your ability to claim this preference.

For positions requiring travel more than twice per year, selectee may be required to obtain and maintain in good standing a Government-issued Travel Card for official government travel purposes.

Executive Order 12564 requires a Federal workplace free of illegal drugs. According to the Executive Order, all Federal employees are required to remain drug free throughout their employment. Commander, Navy Installations Command is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated, and use of or intoxication by illegal drugs will result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal Service.

SELECTIVE SERVICE REQUIREMENT: If you are a male born after December 31,1959 and at least 18 years of age, employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must register with the Selective Service System (military draft), unless you meet certain exemptions. If applicable, failure to register will prevent you from being considered for employment. To register, please visit the Selective Service web site at https://www.sss.gov/register/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Review our benefits

How you will be evaluated

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

All resumes will be reviewed to determine if they meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and will be rated based on the information provided in the resume to determine the level of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) related to the job requirements. Using the qualifications of the position, a predetermined rating criterion of KSAs will be used for each resume. Best qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews.

Required Documents

The following documents are required at the time of application:

Resume
Proof of education/training: provide a copy of your awarded/conferred college transcript(s); if degree hasn't been conferred, provide copy of HS Diploma, GED, or equivalent
If claiming Department of Defense (DOD) Non-appropriated Fund (NAF) Business Based Action (BBA) priority consideration: provide a copy of the notice of separation
If claiming Military Spouse Preference: provide a copy of the sponsor's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and a marriage certificate at the time of application
If claiming Veteran's Preference: provide a copy of your DD-214, Member-4 page and any supporting documentation (SF-15, V.A. disability letter, proof of service, etc.)

How to Apply

To be considered for this vacancy you must apply and complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/06/2026 to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12871816

It is your responsibility to ensure your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date.

Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Applicant

To verify or check the status of your application, log into your USAJobs account. Once logged in, the Welcome screen lists your applications, your application status and the date it was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status

The Department of the Navy (DON) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Applicants are assured of equal consideration regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, reprisal, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor. This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who believe they may require reasonable accommodations should email their request to nsapplications@nhr-ma.com to ensure proper consideration is given. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Agency contact information

NDW NAF HR

Email: ndwnafhr@us.navy.mil

Address: Naval Air Station Patuxent River
47402 Buse Rd
Bldg 467
Patuxent River, MD 20670
US

Next steps

All applicants will be notified regarding their status by email. Applicants will either be contacted for an interview or sent an email of non-selection 3-6 weeks after the announcement closing date. Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an inaccurate email address or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 60 days of issuance of selection certificate.

Non-Medical Clinical Counselor Job in Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD