Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides counseling and treatment coordination to Veterans in a Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP). The counselor independently applies a recovery-oriented model, carries a caseload, and works with Veterans to develop treatment goals and plans based on initial assessments. The role coordinates care from admission through discharge, helping Veterans reconnect with their chosen communities and arranging referrals to VA, government, and community services.

The counselor provides individual, group, and family counseling, including at least five group hours each week and individual meetings with assigned Veterans at least every other week. The position also involves crisis intervention, identifying high-risk patients, coordinating family conferences, consulting with staff about psychosocial needs, and contributing to recovery-oriented RRTP programming with the interdisciplinary team.

The role requires knowledge of mental and medical diagnoses, treatment procedures, medications, and relevant Veterans’ benefits and services. The counselor maintains confidentiality, participates in team and service-line meetings, completes required training, observes VA performance measures, and contributes to ethical consultations and peer review. The Senior LPMHC may be expected to be eligible to supervise LPMHCs who need supervision for licensure.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval; reimbursement may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years.

Requirements

• 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.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment, except where the stated VHA licensure waiver applies to otherwise qualified candidates pending completion of state licensure prerequisites up to the full performance level.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-09: less than one year of post-master’s experience, or graduate-level education with completion of education requirements while working toward independent licensure prerequisites; candidates must demonstrate the specified GS-09 counseling knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-11: at least one year of post-master’s or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and independent-practice licensure, as well as the specified GS-09 and GS-11 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to conduct intake and assessment, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, coordinate continuity of care, evaluate outcomes, and provide follow-up.
• Knowledge of the current DSM and its application to diagnosis, treatment goals, and clinical interventions.
• Ability to use individual, group, and family counseling interventions and to work on an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to provide professional evaluations and treatment recommendations, maintain effective counseling relationships, and establish treatment goals collaboratively with patients.
• Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization using independent judgment and skill.
• Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psychoeducation groups, including groups addressing life skills, family support, and community integration.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
• Basic skill with computer software for document drafting, data management, accurate clinical documentation, and service delivery; ability to learn and use VHA software.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting counseling practice.
• For GS-11 candidates providing supervision: compliance with applicable state licensing requirements for clinical supervision.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• For males born after December 31, 1959, Selective Service registration is required.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of the online onboarding process and required pre-employment identification and documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must complete a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with substance use disorder.

Responsibilities

• Independently implement the recovery model of treatment and carry a caseload of Residential Veterans.
• Use initial assessments to collaboratively develop treatment goals and plans of care with Veterans.
• Coordinate treatment from admission through discharge, including discharge planning and support for community re-engagement.
• Coordinate care closely with the treatment team and participate in daily group treatment coordination meetings for the assigned caseload.
• Meet individually with assigned Veterans at least once every other week and provide at least five group treatment hours per week, with additional individual sessions as needed and recommended by the treatment team.
• Coordinate referrals to VA programs, other government programs, and community agencies based on Veterans’ needs and eligibility.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide crisis intervention, including addressing underlying causes, coordinating family conferences, and serving as a liaison to family members.
• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families and provide individual, group, and family counseling and therapy.
• Consult with staff regarding Veterans’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment adherence.
• Evaluate professional practice through peer review, case conferences, and other organizational processes.
• Collaborate with the RRTP team to develop and implement recovery-oriented programming.
• Participate in RRTP, service-line, and team meetings and share observations and information to support Veteran treatment.
• Apply knowledge of Veterans’ benefits and services and facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Comply with VA performance measures and work with the assigned team to improve practice patterns and performance.
• Complete mandatory web-based training by required due dates.
• Collaborate in identifying and addressing ethical issues, participate in ethical consultations, and apply relevant ethical principles and institutional policy.
• Maintain complete Veteran confidentiality and provide considerate care that respects Veterans’, families’, and staff members’ personal values and belief systems.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• As a Senior LPMHC, be eligible to provide supervision to LPMHCs who require supervision for licensure.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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