Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - (BHIP) Associate

Veterans Health Administration • Parma, OH

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) serves as a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Associate, providing Veteran-centered, recovery-oriented, evidence-based care to Veterans receiving services through the VA Medical Center’s interdisciplinary outpatient mental health clinic. The role serves Veterans with a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions and works as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.

The position provides case management, psychotherapy, biopsychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, and care coordination across the continuum of care. The counselor follows national guidance and local policies and procedures, contributes to program planning and development, and connects Veterans with VA and community resources. Interventions and activities must be documented in the patient’s electronic health record within established timeframes.

The vacancy may be filled at GS-9 or GS-11, with GS-11 identified as the full performance level. GS-9 is the entry level and may include counselors working toward independent licensure. GS-11 requires at least one year of post-master’s or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and an independent-practice license. The position is primarily sedentary and requires operation of a government-owned or leased motor vehicle, a valid state driver’s license, and medical clearance. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with regular telework of three or more days per pay period; this is not a virtual position.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and approval. The application must be submitted within four months of appointment. The program office determines the award amount, up to $200,000, and eligibility period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens 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 applicable LPMHC licensure requirement: GS-11 requires a full, current, unrestricted license for independent practice; GS-9 may include an otherwise qualified counselor who has not yet completed independent licensure prerequisites, subject to the stated VHA provisions.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For GS-9, have less than one year of post-master’s experience or qualify as a master’s- or doctoral-level graduate not yet independently licensed, and demonstrate the stated KSAs.
• For GS-11, have at least one year of post-master’s or post-doctoral mental health counseling experience and an independent-practice license, and demonstrate the stated KSAs.
• Demonstrate ability to perform intake and assessment, identify problems, diagnose, plan and implement treatment, support continuity of care, and conduct evaluation and follow-up.
• Know and apply the current DSM in formulating treatment goals and selecting appropriate clinical interventions.
• Demonstrate counseling knowledge and skills, including human development principles, interventions addressing high-risk behaviors, and strategies for wellness, personal growth, and career development across the lifespan.
• Use a range of individual, group, or family counseling interventions and demonstrate multicultural counseling skills and sensitivity to diversity.
• Work effectively on an interdisciplinary team, focusing on individual, group, and family functioning and appropriate counseling approaches.
• Use computer applications for document drafting, data management, clinical documentation, service delivery, and learning VHA software programs; GS-9 qualifications include basic software skills and the ability to learn VHA programs.
• Know relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting counseling practice.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
• For GS-11, demonstrate professional judgment in evaluations and treatment recommendations; advanced counseling-process knowledge; ability to consult with colleagues and trainees; complex crisis intervention and stabilization skills; collaborative goal-setting and advanced assessment and evidence-based practice skills; DSM-based diagnosis; and ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psychoeducation groups.
• Complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including any applicable urinalysis, background/security investigation, physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements if applicable.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period as required.
• Possess a valid state-issued driver’s license and obtain medical clearance from Employee Occupational Health for required vehicle operation.
• Complete all application requirements described in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management by determining and monitoring care coordination needs over time and facilitating follow-up and outreach to promote proactive, personalized care and continuity.
• Follow national guidance and local policies and standard operating procedures for mental health services.
• Participate in program planning and development; advise the supervisor about changing caseload trends and recommend program procedure or policy changes based on work experience.
• Provide psychotherapeutic interventions, including evidence-based treatments when appropriate, to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care.
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments to identify high-risk factors, including suicidal or homicidal ideation, acute needs for VA or community services, and case-management and treatment needs.
• Provide crisis intervention in collaboration with the multidisciplinary treatment team for Veterans experiencing severe social or mental health crises.
• Serve as a liaison between VA and community resources, using knowledge of VHA programs and community services and supporting education and bidirectional communication for coordinated care.
• Document interventions and activities in patients’ electronic health records within established timeframes to support appropriate handoffs and care documentation.

Benefits

• Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to program approval and requirements.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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