Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Veterans Health Administration • Rocky Hill, CT

3d

About The Position

The Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides direct readjustment counseling, outreach, referrals, follow-up care coordination, and clinical consultation for eligible individuals, couples, families, and groups. The role coordinates client care and supports staff professional development, offering expert consultation on complex psychosocial conditions, relationship concerns, and readjustment stress using evidence-based family systems theory and therapy.

The counselor independently conducts clinical services, including intake and screening, risk assessment, crisis intervention, safety planning, treatment planning, and individualized counseling plans with outcome measures. The position coordinates care with interprofessional teams, leadership, and community providers; supports outreach staff in identifying clinical needs and referring prospective clients; and documents services in accordance with policy.

The role also provides clinical supervision and consultation to staff and trainees, including systematic supervision toward independent licensure, chart auditing, and support for staff training and development. The counselor participates in staff meetings, committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate. Other duties may be assigned when appropriate to the grade, assignment, and scope of practice.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some nights and weekends required. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. The role is permanent, and permanent change of station relocation is not authorized. It is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval; approved repayment may be up to $200,000 over one to five years.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified 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.
• At least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to GS-11.
• At least five years of post-licensed experience demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, professional competency, and expertise.
• Licensure to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• Advanced knowledge of theories and modalities for specialized treatment of complex mental illness.
• Ability to incorporate multiple causes into differential diagnosis and treatment, including psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Ability to prioritize services and provide specialized treatment, including advanced interventions for Veterans with complex needs.
• Experience or ability in individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy, and advanced 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 and offer professional opinions grounded in expertise and effective clinical practice.
• Ability to teach, mentor, and supervise staff and trainees for licensure or specialty certification.
• Ability to communicate in writing and orally with leadership, staff, and community stakeholders about policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and professional issues.
• Successful completion of required background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, drug screening when applicable, and onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Compliance with Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Service of a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

• Independently provide readjustment counseling to eligible individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Provide consultation and support to staff developing crisis intervention strategies, including risk assessment, safety planning, and complex treatment planning.
• Coordinate client care with interprofessional team members, leadership, and community providers, modeling ethical, professional, and culturally aware practice.
• Participate in facility, Medical Center, zone, district, national, or community committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate.
• Consult with Vet Center outreach workers to improve recognition of clinical indicators and interviewing practices, and coordinate referrals from outreach events.
• Participate in clinical and administrative oversight during staff meetings as directed by the Vet Center Director.
• Document clinical interactions and services in accordance with policy.
• Conduct intake procedures, establish therapeutic relationships, and assess risk of self-harm and psychosocial stressors.
• Develop and periodically update individualized readjustment counseling service plans, including therapeutic and psychosocial interventions and outcome measures.
• Provide clinical consultation and supervision to staff and trainees, including supervision toward licensure and consultation on assessment, service planning, and care coordination.
• Provide clinical oversight, including chart auditing, as outlined by policy.
• Participate in staff meetings to promote team cohesion, team building, and staff development.
• Perform other duties as assigned when appropriate for the grade and assignment and within the scope of practice.

Benefits

• Eligibility to apply for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to requirements and approval; award amounts may be up to $200,000 for one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits are available to the employee and family, with specific eligibility depending on position and employment status.
• Selected applicants may qualify to receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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