Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor works with Veterans in a Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP), providing assessment, treatment, case management, and coordination from admission through discharge. The counselor independently conducts psychosocial assessments, develops treatment plans and recovery-oriented goals with Veterans, delivers individual and group interventions, and evaluates outcomes. The role includes at least 15 hours of group treatment per week, supplemental individual sessions as needed, and individual meetings with assigned Veterans at least once every other week.

The counselor coordinates closely with the RRTP treatment team and other VA, government, and community services to support continuity of care and community reintegration. The position includes crisis intervention, identifying high-risk patients, family conferences, consultation to staff, participation in team and service meetings, and collaboration on recovery-oriented programming. The counselor also supports ethical practice, confidentiality, performance measures, and required training, and is expected to be eligible to supervise LPMHCs seeking licensure.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework, relocation, and recruitment incentives are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program requirements and approval; eligible awards may be up to $200,000. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment, and former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Requirements

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, a combination of those fields, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment.
• 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.
• Licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• Advanced knowledge of theories and modalities for specialized treatment of complex mental illness, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning.
• Advanced skill in specialized interventions for Veterans with complex needs, including individual, group, or family counseling or psychotherapy and psychosocial or case-management interventions.
• Ability to coordinate specialized psychosocial services and programs and design system changes based on data.
• Ability to provide subject-matter consultation to colleagues and trainees.
• Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with leadership, staff, and community stakeholders about policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and professional issues.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must meet applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, pre-employment physical, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must complete all application requirements specified in the announcement.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide interventions, measuring outcomes.
• Implement the recovery model of treatment and develop treatment plans and goals jointly with Veterans.
• Provide ongoing case management and treatment coordination from admission through discharge.
• Coordinate daily group treatment meetings for the assigned caseload and meet individually with assigned Veterans at least once every other week.
• Provide a minimum of 15 group treatment hours per week, along with supplemental individual sessions as needed and recommended by the treatment team.
• Coordinate community-based services and referrals to VA, government, and community agency programs.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide crisis intervention, including coordinating family conferences and serving as a liaison to family members.
• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with Veterans and families, and provide individual, group, and family counseling and therapy.
• Consult with staff regarding Veterans’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment adherence.
• Participate in RRTP team meetings and collaborate with the team to develop and implement recovery-oriented programming.
• Evaluate own practice through peer review, case conferences, and other organizational methods.
• Comply with VA performance measures, attend service line and team meetings, complete mandatory training, and maintain Veteran confidentiality.
• Collaborate in identifying and addressing ethical issues, including participating in ethical consultations and applying institutional policy.
• Provide supervision to LPMHCs who require supervision for licensure, as eligible.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; award may be up to $200,000.
• Federal employee benefits package for the employee and family, with specific eligibility dependent on position type.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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