LPMHCs provide treatment to patients with complex needs including multiple mental health diagnoses, and numerous psychosocial issues, using independent judgment. LPMHCs at this level provide clinical consultation to less experienced staff which may include coordinating crisis situations. Senior LPMHCs will provide clinical supervision to LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees, and may serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline and behavioral health related training.

Duties

Liscensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (General Therapist): Provides evidence-based psychotherapy to Veterans and eligible family members, including evidence-based interventions for general mental health conditions, such as PE, CPT, and/or EMDR. Demonstrates skills in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. Ability to diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychosocial assessments for Veterans suffering from a wide variety of mental disorders. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. ,Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: assessment, individual and group psychotherapy for individuals with mental health and medical disorders utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated. Provides specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Senior Licensed Counselors may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Consistently tracks all assigned consults and verifies that consults are answered in a timely manner. Works closely with all Veteran participants to educate them regarding the importance of attending all appointments as scheduled and canceling appointments in advance when absence is unavoidable. Provides services via WC as clinically indicated. Consistently reviews clinical reminders and counsels Veterans as appropriate regarding issues such as alcohol use, smoking cessation, etc. Collaborates with staff on Mental Health Treatment Team (SHIP) Serves on Medical Center, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. Represents Mental Health on decision-making committees at the Medical Center, VISN or National VA committees, as needed. Represents the Medical Center or VISN at professional/program community group/events and committees, as need. Supports the Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals of the Medical Center and actively participates in Performance Improvement activities. All employees are encouraged to identify opportunities to take immediate actions that are intended to increase the patient's level of satisfaction or exceed the patient's/family's expectation of service. Provide On-Call Mental Health services on a rotating basis. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 - 4:30 PM) Alternate tours may be discussed with management Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. 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. 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: - Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-12: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Experience: Candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.. Examples of specialized experience include: Making professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Providing subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas. Provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Utilizing the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Developing and facilitating psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. And, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/106 April 3, 2018 Part II Appendix G43 Liscensed Profesiional Mental Health Counselor Qulification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resource Office. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor and are generally sedentary in nature but may require occasional travel. Physical activity involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and carrying light items such as papers, books or other supplies. The incumbent uses a computer and standard office equipment to complete tasks. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with the Veteran/Patient population and their families/caregivers. A level of self-awareness is essential.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.

Contacts

• Address Beckley VA Medical Center 200 Veterans Avenue Beckley, WV 25801 US
• Name: Che Smith
• Email: [email protected]