Licensed Professional Mental Health...

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial and psychiatric assessments to establish diagnoses using approved clinical tools and scope of practice.
• Provide evidence-based individual, group, and family psychotherapy interventions for veterans facing conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, serious mental health disorders, and comorbid mental health needs.
• Implement Measurement-Based Care (MBC) to assess the effectiveness of clinical practices and services, utilizing outcome evaluations to enhance treatment protocols.
• Demonstrate adaptability by designing service improvements based on empirical findings and maintaining a flexible work schedule to accommodate emergent or urgent care requirements.
• Interview veterans and their families/significant others to gather information on the veteran's situation, presenting problems, causes, and their impact on functioning and health. Familiarity with VA treatment and benefit programs is essential.
• Evaluate client situations, including the veteran's reaction and coping abilities, to formulate reasoned conclusions and psychosocial diagnoses using professional judgment and advanced practice skills.
• Assess risk factors and develop preliminary disposition plans in collaboration with the veteran and their support network.
• Manage complex cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high-risk diagnoses, making independent professional decisions and treatment recommendations where consequences can be significant and outcomes unpredictable.
• Develop and coordinate treatment plans with BHIP team members, setting treatment goals. Utilize knowledge of available VA and non-VA resources to make informed decisions about services and referrals, and provide expert consultation to the interdisciplinary team.
• Deliver high-quality therapy by employing Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) tailored to the needs of the veteran population.
• Conclude appropriate courses of action, even in situations with serious implications for the veteran's life, based on advanced practice skills, professional judgment, and expertise in self-care capability, support systems, and healthcare needs.
• Maintain clinical practice standards within assigned areas and programs, continuously evaluating practice through peer review, case conferences, and other organized means. Actively participate in the development and maintenance of professional treatment standards.
• Serve as a community and family liaison, establishing and maintaining contact with patients, families, VA services, mental health agencies, and other resource organizations.
• Provide support and consultation to various individuals, programs, and agencies in the best interest of the patient, adhering to VA confidentiality and information exchange regulations.
• Accurately document all veteran and family contacts in the electronic health record using approved formats and templates.
• Foster positive working relationships with colleagues, volunteers, consumers, and stakeholders within the VA and external community agencies.
• Actively participate in all relevant meetings, including interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, staff meetings, and committee assignments.
• Engage in performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by program offices and local policies.
• Provide clinical supervision to trainees and professionals across various disciplines and training levels, including those seeking licensure.
• Offer leadership guidance and consultation to staff within assigned units.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English, as per VA Handbook 5005.
• 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 CACREP-accredited program.
• A full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC), including diagnosis and treatment, is mandatory for positions in the GS-0183 series within VHA.
• Must be physically and mentally capable of performing the essential functions of the position safely and without hazard to self or others.
• Requires adequate visual acuity (with corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear speech, and manual dexterity.
• Ability to perform moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds).
• Willingness to work with occasional exposure to patients experiencing combative behavior due to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• Must be a mature, flexible, and sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and prioritizing tasks based on patient needs.
• Completion of all application requirements as detailed in the 'Required Documents' section of the announcement.

Preferred:

• Extensive experience working with PTSD, including familiarity with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and other evidence-based protocols (EBPs).
• Proficiency in suicide prevention and capable in mental health crisis care.
• Completion of evidence-based protocols (EBPs) training with certification.

Benefits:

• Relocation/Recruitment incentives may be authorized.
• A comprehensive benefits package is provided as part of a career with the U.S. government.