Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, GA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (GS-09/11) serves as an Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Coordinator within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The role provides psychosocial assessment, mental health care coordination, treatment planning, crisis intervention, referrals, high-risk Veteran monitoring, and continuity-of-care support.

At GS-09, counselors provide professional mental health counseling under close clinical supervision and are not authorized to practice independently. At GS-11, counselors work at the full-performance level and independently use clinical judgment in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and care coordination.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, a combined Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Meet the license requirement for the selected grade: GS-11 applicants must hold a full, current, unrestricted license to practice independently, including diagnosis and treatment. A licensure waiver may be available at GS-09 for otherwise-qualified applicants completing state licensure prerequisites; unlicensed counselors must work under clinical supervision.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For GS-11, have at least one year of post-master’s or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and meet the grade-level KSAs.
• For GS-09, qualify as an entry-level counselor with less than one year of post-master’s experience or a graduate degree without independent-practice licensure, and meet the grade-level KSAs.
• Demonstrate the applicable KSAs, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, counseling interventions, outcome evaluation, follow-up, use of the DSM, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, clinical documentation, computer and data-management skills, and effective communication with people from diverse backgrounds.
• GS-11 candidates must demonstrate advanced treatment-planning and counseling skills, professional consultation, independent crisis intervention, evidence-based practice, and the ability to provide individual, group, and family counseling.
• Meet federal employment conditions, including background/security investigation, required onboarding and identification documentation, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA health care personnel.
• Complete all application requirements specified in the announcement.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification conditions.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.
• Creditable experience must be post-master’s professional mental health counseling experience; qualifying fellowship or post-graduate training may substitute year-for-year. Part-time experience is credited proportionally. Pre-degree practicum experience does not substitute for required professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial and mental health care coordination assessments to identify Veterans’ treatment needs, risk factors, and barriers to care.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and adjust individualized mental health care coordination plans with Veterans and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Coordinate mental health services, referrals, appointments, and transitions of care across VA specialty programs and community resources.
• Provide same-day access, walk-in services, clinical triage, urgent referrals, and crisis intervention within the scope of practice.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for Veterans and promote treatment engagement, continuity of care, and access to appropriate services.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to address complex mental health needs, including suicide prevention and care for high-risk Veterans.
• Provide education and resources to Veterans, families, and caregivers to support self-management, informed decision-making, and recovery.
• Monitor population health dashboards to identify gaps in care, track assigned Veterans, and facilitate proactive outreach.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic health record documentation of assessments, treatment plans, interventions, and care coordination activities.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, program evaluations, and quality improvement initiatives.
• At GS-09, provide counseling services under close clinical supervision, including co-signatures when required.
• At GS-11, independently provide professional mental health counseling services and exercise clinical judgment.

Benefits

• A federal employee benefits package is available to the employee and family, with eligibility dependent on position type.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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