Summary The incumbent serves as a fully qualified Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) in the Mental Health Service. The incumbent has primary assignment as a therapist within a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. BHIP functions as the outpatient mental health clinic and is one of the functional units providing psychological services to the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Responsibilities VA offers a Comprehensive Total Rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is located at PFC James Dunn VA Clinic Pueblo CO, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care | Veterans Affairs The incumbent serves as a fully qualified Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) in the Mental Health Service within a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. The duties include but are not limited to the following: Diagnose mental disorders. Treat mental disorders through individual, family, and group psychotherapy, utilizing Evidence Based Treatments. Perform formal and informal assessments for a wide variety of patient conditions and diagnoses, including mental illness, substance abuse and general emotional and cognitive functioning. Ensure the assessment and care provided accommodate to the cognitive, emotional, chronological maturation, and diversity needs of the person served Provide a bull range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence-based models of care in the outpatient mental health setting. Conduct assessments appropriate to individual patients with attention to the implications of test results for a veteran's every-day, real-world function and successful treatment/management of health problems with an emphasis on behavioral health factors associated with improved quality of life. Provide psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention. Work with assigned Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team to support optimum clinical care. Consult and coordinate care with community providers following HIPPA practices to support psychosocial recovery of the person served. Support activities of the Psychology Training Program and participate in relevant educational seminars. Participate in improvement of clinical supervision skills with emphasis on Evidence Based Practice models. Participate in program development tasks, as assigned. Participate in planning of measurement, gathering and analysis of outcome data to guide program evaluation and development. Implement program design and assists in clinical management of program staff, as assigned. Participate in planning of measurement, gathering and analysis of outcome data to guide program evaluation and development. Implement program design and assists in clinical management of program staff, as assigned. Assume responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation. Maintain ongoing scholarly and self-education activities. Participate in research with relevant populations as opportunities arise. Participate in psychology peer review. - Serve on committees or workgroups, as assigned. Serve on committees or workgroups, as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-54109-A, 554-54110-A. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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 DETERMINATION GS-09 Experience, Education, and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one (1) year of experience (post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education, and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up. Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices. Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. GS-11 Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one (1) 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 listed 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. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. 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). Preferred Experience: Experience providing psychotherapy in outpatient setting. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. Some travel may be required in order to attend trainings. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
