Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (OPMH)

Veterans Health Administration • Carbondale, IL

7h • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides counseling and mental health services to Veterans and/or their families. The role includes psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, consultation, discharge planning, education about resources, and clinical documentation. The position may be filled at GS-9 through GS-11, with GS-11 identified as the full performance level. The selected grade depends on qualifications and experience.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The incumbent may also be responsible for early morning, evening, or weekend tours and participation in an on-call rotation to support Veteran care during weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility and application requirements. Reimbursement may be up to $200,000; the award amount and eligibility period of one to five years are determined by the program office. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply.

Applicants must meet VA education, licensure, and English proficiency requirements. The role requires a qualifying CACREP-accredited master's or doctoral degree and, for independent practice, a full, current, unrestricted license. Grade-specific requirements apply: GS-9 is an entry-level grade, while GS-11 requires at least one year of post-master's or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and independent-practice licensure. A one- or two-year trial period may apply. Federal employment benefits are available, with eligibility depending on the position and the employee's circumstances.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Master's or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, both fields, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program; a transcript must be provided with the application.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment, for appointment or reassignment to an LPMHC position in the GS-0183 series.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to conduct intake and assessment, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, coordinate continuity of care, and evaluate and follow up.
• Knowledge of the current DSM and its use in treatment goals and clinical interventions.
• Knowledge of professional counseling practice, human development, and interventions addressing high-risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the lifespan.
• Ability to use individual, group, and family counseling interventions; sensitivity to diversity and multicultural counseling skills.
• Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team and apply counseling approaches to individual, group, and family functioning.
• Basic computer software skills for drafting documents, data management, clinical documentation, and service delivery, including Telehealth; ability to learn and use VHA software.
• Knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting counseling practice.
• Effective oral and written communication with people from varied backgrounds.
• For GS-11: at least one year of post-master's or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and independent-practice licensure.
• For GS-11: ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and treatment recommendations; advanced counseling-process skills; provide subject-matter consultation; provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization; collaboratively establish treatment goals; use varied counseling interventions and evidence-based practices; use the DSM for diagnosis and treatment planning; and develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psychoeducation groups.
• Meet applicable federal hiring and onboarding requirements, including Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959, background/security investigation, identification and application-document requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period if required; continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with at least two years of experience and current competency using evidence-based practices with adult patients in a mental health setting.
• Completed training in at least one evidence-based treatment intervention for mental health diagnoses.
• Current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the applicable grandfathering criteria may qualify under the Grandfathering Provision.

Responsibilities

• Complete thorough psychosocial assessments and document relevant areas of functioning to support diagnoses and treatment-related conclusions.
• Provide DSM diagnoses to determine Veterans’ and/or families’ psychosocial functioning and needs.
• Provide emergency and crisis interventions, conduct rapid assessments, develop crisis management plans, and facilitate transfer of care or referrals according to the Veteran’s needs.
• Provide individual, group, family, or couples psychotherapy when clinically indicated and therapeutically beneficial.
• Successfully train in and implement evidence-based psychotherapies.
• Consult with treatment team members and staff about psychosocial needs and their effects on health care planning, treatment compliance, and discharge planning.
• Document direct Veteran care for at least 80% of the time allotted to direct care in the clinician’s weekly profile.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families.
• Work independently with Veterans and families experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Facilitate timely discharge planning in collaboration with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment team members.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, advance directives, and how to access community-based and other government services.
• Coordinate Veteran and family participation in developing recovery-oriented treatment plans and make appropriate referrals.
• Maintain knowledge of Veteran benefits, services, community resources, and referral processes.
• Supervise mental health or human-service students, other appropriate students, or less experienced staff as appropriate.
• Complete clinical notes and encounters within 24 hours, assigned or required TMS trainings, and OPPE assessments for other providers by assigned due dates.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with a potential award of up to $200,000.
• Federal employee benefits package, subject to position type and individual eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level