Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (SUD)

Veterans Health Administration • Johnson City, TN

12h

About The Position

The Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides advanced clinical services to the Substance Use Disorders BHIP/MAT clinics and is responsible for delivering effective care to Veterans with addictive and co-occurring psychological disorders. Services include individual, group, and family psychotherapy; patient health education; referrals to adjunctive treatments; and aftercare planning and follow-up.

The counselor independently provides or coordinates screening, clinical assessment, individual and group therapy, collateral family counseling, and psychoeducational sessions in the Substance Use Disorders Outpatient Program. Services are documented in the CPRS computer program in accordance with applicable Joint Commission, CARF, VHA, and medical center policies and procedures. The role supports SUD programs including IOP, MAT Clinic, and BHIP clinic, and may include interdisciplinary coverage, responding to urgent or crisis events, and assisting with training.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework may be available as determined by agency policy; this is not a virtual position. Evening and/or weekend work may be required to meet patient care needs. The position is sedentary but requires movement throughout the medical center.

Requirements

• Master's or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, a combined program, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor; candidates must also be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• At least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Five years of post-licensed experience demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, progressive professional competency, and expertise.
• Advanced knowledge of theories and modalities used in specialized treatment of complex mental illness.
• Ability to incorporate multiple complex causes into differential diagnosis and treatment, including psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Ability to determine service priorities and provide specialized treatment, including advanced skill in specialized interventions for Veterans with complex needs.
• Ability to coordinate specialized psychosocial services and programs and design system changes based on data.
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation and professional opinions to colleagues and trainees.
• Ability to teach, mentor, and supervise staff and trainees.
• Ability to communicate in writing and orally with leadership, staff, and community stakeholders about policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and professional practice issues.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for recruiting qualified citizens.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to meet the physical and mental requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Completion of background/security investigation and required onboarding and employment 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.

Responsibilities

• Provide or coordinate screening, clinical assessment, individual and group therapy, collateral family counseling or therapy, and psychoeducational sessions in the Substance Use Disorders Outpatient Program.
• Document services in the CPRS system in accordance with applicable accreditation, VHA, and medical center policies and procedures.
• Refer Veterans to other agencies, community resources, governmental resources, or appropriate treatment resources inside or outside the medical center.
• Act as a liaison among treatment programs within Mental Health Service, providing education, counseling, and treatment recommendations according to program-specific criteria.
• Participate in the multidisciplinary SUD services team and provide therapeutic services along the continuum of Stepped Care for Veterans with SUD.
• Collaborate with patients and treatment team members to develop comprehensive treatment plans based on psychosocial assessments and patient strengths and needs.
• Develop comprehensive aftercare plans to support continued recovery after program completion.
• Communicate and network with community and system referral sources.
• Provide staffing coverage for IOP, MAT Clinic, and BHIP clinic, including interdisciplinary coverage, response to urgent or crisis patient situations, and assigned training functions.
• Assist in monitoring recordkeeping procedures for compliance with applicable state and federal regulations and accrediting-body requirements.
• Participate in Mental Health Service work groups, committees, and service-improvement activities as directed.
• Assist in training therapists in intervention techniques and participate in staff education.
• Teach and mentor staff and trainees, provide clinical supervision for licensure or specialty certifications, and provide consultation to colleagues and trainees.

Benefits

• Federal benefits package available to the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Selected applicants may request consideration of prior work or military service for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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