Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

The incumbent is assigned as Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) in Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) who works at the interface between primary care (PC) and mental health care in an integrated care model. Duties include, but are not limited to: Functional assessments based on 20-30-minute appointments to determine how the presenting problem is impacting the patient's functioning, what level of care is appropriate, what services the patient agreeable to, and teaching a new skill or strategy with which the Veteran can leave the clinic Triaging appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services, when applicable. Application of principles of population-based care; addressing behavioral health needs of the prime care population before the condition becomes chronic. Collaboration and consultation with the Veteran's Patient Aligned Care Team to address Veteran's physical and behavioral health needs as a team. Regular utilization of measurement based care (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, ISI, etc.). Available for same-day warm-handoffs of PC patients. Brief behavioral health interventions (e.g., 1-6 20-30 minute sessions every 2-4 weeks for grief, adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, weight management, insomnia) that are problem-focused and solution oriented. Crisis intervention. All other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 0800-1630, Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 929530

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. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record. 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: GS-11 Experience, Education, and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision. Assignments: This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs. At this level they are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling. LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation.…