Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Mental Health - PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration • Chesapeake, VA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton VA Medical Center, Chesapeake, Virginia clinic. It is aligned with the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Program (PCMHI) and Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) Hub, under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line. Clinical services may also be provided at other listed community-based outpatient clinics and locations.

The counselor provides mental health therapy and clinical services to eligible Veterans in outpatient mental health and behavioral health interdisciplinary programs. The position may be filled at GS-9 (entry level, closely supervised) or GS-11 (full performance level, independently practicing). The full performance level is GS-11; the actual selected grade may range from GS-9 to GS-11.

The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework and virtual work are not available. The work is primarily sedentary and is performed mainly in a well-lit, temperature-controlled office environment, with occasional lifting and other physical tasks.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, both, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program. Traditional Rehabilitation Counseling programs do not meet the stated standard.
• A full, current, unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment, except that a limited licensure waiver may apply at the GS-9 entry level under the specified supervision conditions.
• GS-9 candidates: less than one year of post-master’s experience, or graduates who have not yet obtained independent licensure and are completing licensure prerequisites; meet the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities for the entry grade.
• GS-11 candidates: at least one year of post-master’s or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and independent-practice licensure; meet the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities for the full performance grade.
• Ability to conduct intake and assessment, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, provide continuity of care, and evaluate and follow up.
• Knowledge of the current DSM and professional counseling practices, including treatment goals and clinical interventions.
• Knowledge of counseling and human development principles and interventions addressing high-risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the lifespan.
• Ability to use a variety of individual, group, and family counseling interventions and to contribute to interdisciplinary care.
• Computer skills for drafting documents, data management, accurate and timely clinical documentation, service delivery, and learning 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, ability to make professional treatment decisions and recommendations; maintain effective counseling relationships; consult with colleagues and trainees; provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization; collaboratively establish treatment goals using advanced skills and evidence-based practices; apply multicultural counseling skills; use the DSM in diagnosis and treatment planning; and develop and facilitate psychotherapy or psychoeducation groups.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely clinical assessment and collaborative care and treatment for Veterans experiencing mental health symptoms or behavioral health issues.
• Provide individual and group interventions addressing health psychology concerns, psychosocial stressors, grief, life-phase difficulties, and mild-to-moderate mental health presentations.
• Use collaborative, stepped, and measurement-based care, including longitudinal follow-up, for common mental and behavioral health conditions in primary care.
• Work as a member of a multidisciplinary team and consult with professionals from varied disciplines about mental health diagnoses and treatment plans.
• Conduct cognitive screenings when indicated to address functional or cognitive ability questions.
• Educate patients, family members, professional staff, and trainees; engage Veterans’ families in empirically supported caregiver-burden treatment when needed.
• Complete risk assessments and follow mental health crisis procedures as indicated.
• Conduct case finding, outreach, and screening to identify patients’ psychosocial needs.
• Implement counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups; conduct psychosocial assessments; and develop treatment plans collaboratively with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary teams as applicable.
• Provide psychosocial interventions and measure their outcomes.
• Use word-processing, data-management, and other computer systems, particularly those used by VHA.
• Follow operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, assigned program or clinic, and Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service.
• Attend and participate in administrative and informational meetings and take part in MH&BS LPMHC training, education, and administrative activities as indicated.
• Participate in committee assignments, including Performance Improvement, Peer Review, and Performance Measures.
• Maintain responsibility for implementation of the Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL).

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on the position and employment status.

What This Job Offers

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