Job Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Job Description

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and writtenEnglish in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements,candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degreemental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must belicensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs insubparagraph (c) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinicalpractice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do notlicense an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensedLPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirementsfor providing clinical supervision. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAsfor the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1.Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation fortreatment planning and implementation. 2.Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counselingprocess which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining aneffective counseling relationship. 3.Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on thecounseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation ofcompetence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments,review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives andorientation. 4.Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who arein psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. 5.Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with thepatient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- basedpractices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. 6.Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counselinginterventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multiculturalcounseling skills. 7.Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation oftreatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention usingprofessional counseling practices. 8.Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groupsthat include life skills, family support, and community integration. This mayinclude evidence based psychotherapy. Preferred Experience: Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.