Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) (Recruitment/Relocation Incentive)
What you'd do
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor is assigned the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). The LPMHC's primary duties involve initial assessment and psychotherapy of Veterans in a residential setting with a wide range of mental health problems, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, & substance use and/or comorbid medical/psychosocial issues. The LPMHC provides diagnostic services as well as evidence based psychotherapies in individual & group settings.
Major duties
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 10, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 23, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st and 15th of each month as vacancies become available. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Select every location in which you would like to be considered as this cannot be changed at the time of selection. Applicant Expiration: Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USA Jobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Engages in information gathering, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning,implementation, evaluation and follow-up. Utilizes a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Treatment approaches include but are not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy,acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure,and cognitive processing therapy. Demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. Serves 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. Possesses 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 Tele-mental health (if necessary). Possesses knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Makes professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Possesses advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. Provides 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. Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Establishes goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment. Fully utilizes the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Develops and delivers psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. Serves as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) for assigned veterans and conducts the duties of this role. Participates as a member of medical center hospital committees as directed. Maintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are their responsibility. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings as held by CTVHCS and MH&BM management. Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, MH&BM staff meetings, and complies with peer review procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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. Grandfather Provision. All persons employed in VHA in as LPMHC on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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 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. 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. 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 familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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 Preferred Experience: Experience within a residential/inpatient setting. Experience with group psychotherapy. Experience incorporating measurement-based care into treatment. Experience working on complex clinical setting. Experience with suicide risk stratification. Fully Licensed LPC is preferred for this position. 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: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.