Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Veterans Health Administration • Pensacola, FL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides ambulatory and outpatient behavioral health services to Veterans with mental health and substance use disorders and to their significant others. Patients may have concurrent psychiatric, personality, substance use, and medical conditions, as well as significant psychosocial stressors.

The counselor provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, individual, group, and family counseling, crisis intervention, case management, and coordination of care. Services use a recovery-oriented, Veteran-centered approach and evidence-based counseling practices. The position works with interdisciplinary healthcare teams, maintains clinical records and confidentiality, and contributes to quality improvement and program evaluation activities.

The position is in an office/clinic setting. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on facility needs. Telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. The full performance level is GS-11, and selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A 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 full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment, for positions at or above the full-performance level. VA may waive licensure for otherwise qualified candidates who are completing state prerequisites, up to the full-performance level.
• For GS-9: less than one year of post-master's experience or a graduate who has completed required education and is working toward independent licensure prerequisites; candidates must demonstrate the listed GS-9 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 listed GS-9 and GS-11 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to conduct intake and assessment, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, support continuity of care, and evaluate and follow up.
• Knowledge of the current DSM and its use in diagnosis, treatment goals, and appropriate clinical interventions.
• Knowledge of counseling practice and human development principles, including 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 work on interdisciplinary teams and apply counseling approaches to support individuals, groups, and families.
• Basic computer software skills for drafting, data management, clinical documentation, and service delivery, including telehealth; ability to learn and use VHA software.
• Knowledge of statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional counseling practice.
• Effective oral and written communication with people from varied backgrounds.
• For GS-11, ability to make professional evaluations and treatment recommendations; advanced mastery of the counseling process and effective counseling relationships; provide consultation to colleagues and trainees; provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization using independent judgment; collaboratively establish goals and treatment using advanced counseling skills and evidence-based practices; use the current DSM; and develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psychoeducation groups.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Subject to background and security investigation; selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must complete all application requirements specified in the announcement, including providing a transcript when relying on education to qualify.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of experience in outpatient mental health and/or Primary Care Mental Health Integration.
• Experience assessing and addressing patient needs in treatment planning.
• Proficiency in individual, group, couples, and family therapy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial, mental health, and substance use assessments to determine treatment needs, level of care, and program eligibility.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate individualized treatment plans using a recovery-oriented, Veteran-centered approach.
• Provide individual, group, and family counseling using evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, stabilization, and timely clinical responses to Veterans in acute psychological distress.
• Monitor treatment progress through reassessment, documentation, and evaluation of therapeutic outcomes.
• Serve as a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator when assigned, coordinating and integrating services across interdisciplinary teams.
• Collaborate with Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Specialty Clinics, Nursing, Social Work, Rehabilitation Services, Chaplain Service, and other disciplines.
• Prepare diagnostic summaries and clinical documentation supporting treatment, continuity of care, and compliance with accreditation and documentation standards.
• Coordinate case management, referrals, follow-up services, discharge planning, and connections to community resources.
• Assess psychosocial needs, including housing, food security, transportation, and benefits, and facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Educate Veterans and family members about treatment options, resources, VA benefits, and community support services.
• Facilitate psychoeducational, process-oriented, and structured therapeutic groups for Veterans with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning meetings and communicate clinical findings to relevant healthcare providers.
• Conduct discharge assessments and develop aftercare plans to support continuity of treatment and recovery.
• Support quality improvement, program evaluation, policy development, and performance improvement efforts within Behavioral Health programs.
• Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based practices, emerging treatment modalities, and developments in behavioral health care.
• Conduct community outreach to increase access to behavioral health services for Veterans and their families, including underserved populations.
• Use electronic health record systems and other health information technologies to maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical records.
• Protect patient confidentiality and comply with privacy, information security, and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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