The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPC) practices in Behavioral Health clinical settings to provide mental health services. Duties may include serving as the Primary Mental Health Treatment Coordinator, care manager, case manager, and psychotherapist to a patient population with highly complex health and mental health problems. The incumbent requires specialized knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis, intervention, and treatment. 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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. §7402(b)(11). To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.) Education. Hold a master's degree in mental health 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; and Marriage and Family Therapy. A doctoral degree in mental health counseling may not be substituted for the master's degree in mental health counseling. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Exception. Non-licensed LPMHCs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate LPMHC under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the supervision of a licensed LPMHC at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9). For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-9 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. The entry level is used for LPMHCs with less than one year of post-master's degree experience or for LPMHCs who are graduates, not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Under supervision, LPMHCs at this level provide professional mental health counseling services. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Ability to engage in information gathering, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation and follow-up. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. 8. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. GS-11 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of post-master's degree mental health counseling experience. OR In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional mental health counseling experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. 2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 3. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students 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. 4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. 5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment. 6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 7. 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. 8. Ability to develop and deliver psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/42 Part II Appendix G43 ["The LPC functional responsibilities include: providing psychotherapy and care management; helping patients and families cope with the crisis of illness; maximize social and interpersonal functioning of patients; promoting vocational and social rehabilitation; providing education to patients and interdisciplinary team members of the psychosocial impact of illness and disease progression; and conducting behavioral health assessments, making DSM diagnoses, creating behavioral health treatment plans. The LPC is assigned to work within an interdisciplinary team to provide these services ensuring Veterans timely access to mental health and psychosocial services. Works in collaboration with other team members, clinical staff, volunteers and others in VA and community agencies to assist Veterans in recognizing and resolving their problems and needs. Veterans encountered, and problems exhibited necessitate a variety of psychological, rehabilitation, marriage and family counseling, and mental health techniques including, but not limited to, individual, group, conjoint, vocational, educational, substance abuse and readjustment counseling. The incumbent must also be skilled in the areas of post-traumatic stress disorder, affective disorders, serious mental illnesses, domestic violence, sexual assault, child, elder, and dependent abuse, substance abuse, homelessness, grief and bereavement, and end of life issues. the LPMHC will be serving as coordinator and operator for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and all operations pertaining to the use of equipment and for patient care. Will work in close coordination with respective teams and under direction of respective supervisors/managers and team leads. The LPC will: - Conduct psychosocial assessments and making psychosocial DSM-5 diagnoses - Develop psychosocial treatment plans with attention to age specific and populations specific needs/concerns - Monitor treatment plans to include tracking process in the care delivered, the outcomes achieved, and the goals attained - Provide psychosocial and evidence-based interventions and counseling for individuals, groups and families - Utilize standardized instruments in the assessment of mental health conditions - Provide evidence-based individual and group counseling and/or psychotherapy - Provide marital and family counseling - Develop information and referral resources and services. - Develop community linkages and coordinating the clinical application of community services - Provide admission and discharge planning services - Provide care management and coordination services - Document in computerized medical records - Adhere to patients' rights and patient advocacy responsibilities - Provide psychosocial crisis intervention services - Provide patient and family education services - Provide mental health care in all LVAMC and its VA Clinical settings including ED, PCMHI, Primary Care, Inpatient, Outpatient, Residential, etc. - Screen for and providing treatment services for substance abuse, tobacco use, depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation and risk factors - Adhere to HIPAA and privacy regulations and VHA Directives related to release of information - Provide specific complementary and integrative health practices in which specialized training has been received as identified below o Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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