Counselor Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, both, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Full, current, 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-12 for the GS-13 grade, demonstrating advanced practice skills and professional competency.
• Advanced knowledge of theories and modalities for 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 prioritize services and provide specialized treatment, including 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 consult with colleagues and trainees, teach and 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 professional policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues.
• Ability to make program-management judgments and decisions, monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance, develop appropriate productivity standards, and manage clinical, training, or administrative programs.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Successful completion of background/security investigation and required onboarding and application documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with Veterans in an inpatient psychiatric setting.
• Leadership or supervisory experience (required as stated in the preferred-experience section).
• Familiarity with psychiatric emergency services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU), including strategic planning and implementation of short- and long-term program goals.
• Oversee and allocate administrative, programmatic, and other resources; exercise line and staff authority for resource allocations within the Acute Psychiatric Treatment Program.
• Supervise APU staff and ensure efficient operation of the organizational unit.
• Serve as a liaison between the APU and individuals seeking treatment, and as the subject-matter expert for the APU.
• Consult with leadership about issues affecting APU staff and services, and provide leadership guidance and consultation to APU and other assigned units, including PTSD and SUD services.
• Establish program monitors and outcome measurements; use data-driven quality assurance to assess outcomes and implement improvement strategies.
• Complete required program evaluations and documentation in a timely manner and ensure compliance with applicable accrediting and monitoring bodies.
• Consult with medical-center staff and trainees about patients’ psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations.
• Serve on Medical Center, healthcare system, VISN, and/or national VA committees or task forces.
• Participate in leadership roles in professional organizations and represent the Medical Center or healthcare system at professional and community events, groups, and committees.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.