Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Veterans Health Administration • Shreveport, LA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (SLPMHC) provides independent, expert clinical care in the Outpatient Mental Health setting as part of the Mental Health Service line’s post-traumatic stress disorder clinical team (PCT). The role serves Veterans with serious or severe mental health needs and crises who require continuing professional psychological support. The position is at the GS-12 level.

The counselor provides screening, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions for psychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on time-limited, evidence-based approaches. They develop treatment plans with Veterans using shared decision-making, establish discharge goals and timelines, and coordinate discharge when goals are reached, integrating internal and external support resources. Care may include individual, group, or family counseling and psychotherapy, as well as psychosocial and case-management interventions. The role requires training in at least two evidence-based psychotherapy modalities relevant to outpatient mental health, including one PTSD-specific treatment: CPT, PE, or EMDR.

The position also includes crisis assessment and safety planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, coordination of specialized psychosocial services, consultation, teaching, mentoring, and clinical supervision. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on facility needs. Telework is available; this is not a virtual position. Work is performed in an office or clinic setting and may involve stressful situations and handling several tasks at once.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written 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, unless qualifying under the applicable grandfathering provision.
• At least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to GS-11.
• Five years of post-licensed experience demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, progressive professional competency, and expertise.
• Licensure to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of theories and modalities used in specialized treatment of complex mental illness.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in 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.
• Advanced and expert skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs.
• Ability to coordinate specialized psychosocial services and programs and design data-based system changes.
• Ability to provide subject-matter consultation and communicate effectively in writing and orally with leadership, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to teach, mentor, and supervise staff and trainees.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation.
• Must meet onboarding and identification-document requirements and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.

Nice To Haves

• Training and proficiency in at least two evidence-based therapy techniques.
• Skills in patient engagement, crisis response, interdisciplinary collaboration, recovery-oriented care, and adaptability.
• Data-informed clinical decision-making.
• Knowledge of community and VA resources.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the assigned interdisciplinary team to ensure Veteran needs are met and support optimum clinical care.
• Provide screening, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions for a variety of psychiatric disorders, emphasizing time-limited, evidence-based approaches.
• Develop comprehensive treatment plans with Veterans through shared decision-making, including projected discharge goals and timelines.
• Discharge Veterans from care when they have reached identified goals and integrate internal and external support resources.
• Provide specialized individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy, and advanced psychosocial or case-management interventions for Veterans with complex needs.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions and use at least two evidence-based psychotherapy modalities, including one PTSD-specific treatment such as CPT, PE, or EMDR.
• Conduct timely comprehensive assessments of at-risk Veterans in crisis, identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plans as appropriate.
• Coordinate delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs.
• Provide subject-matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on psychosocial treatment and render professional opinions based on experience and expertise.
• Teach and mentor staff and trainees and provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications.
• Communicate with leadership, staff, and community stakeholders about policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues related to the profession.
• Design system changes based on data.

Benefits

• Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program requirements and approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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