Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Local Recovery Coordinator

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking dedicated Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors (LPMHCs) to provide comprehensive mental health services to Veterans. Roles range from full performance clinical practice to senior-level positions with advanced responsibilities, clinical supervision, and program leadership.

• *Key Responsibilities:**
• **Clinical Practice:** Conduct professional evaluations, develop, and implement individualized treatment plans.
• **Crisis Intervention:** Provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization for Veterans experiencing psychological distress.
• **Therapeutic Modalities:** Deliver individual, group, and family counseling, utilizing a wide range of evidence-based practices and interventions.
• **Diagnosis & Treatment:** Apply advanced knowledge of the counseling process, including DSM utilization for accurate diagnosis and formulation of treatment goals.
• **Group Facilitation:** Develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho-education groups focused on life skills, family support, and community integration.
• **Consultation:** Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on counseling processes within various specialty areas.
• *Senior LPMHC (GS-12) Specific Responsibilities:**

In addition to the above, Senior LPMHCs will:

• **Specialized Treatment:** Provide expert-level specialized treatment for Veterans with complex mental illnesses and multiple psychosocial issues.
• **Clinical Supervision:** Offer clinical consultation to less experienced staff, coordinate crisis situations, and provide formal supervision for licensure or certifications.
• **Leadership & Program Development:** Serve as a subject matter expert, develop and conduct behavioral health training curricula, and design system improvements based on data.
• **Collaboration:** Engage in routine interprofessional team meetings, collaborate with internal/external stakeholders, and act as a liaison.
• *Minimum Requirements:**
• **U.S. Citizenship:** Required.
• **English Language Proficiency:** Proficient in spoken and written English.
• **Education:** Master's or Doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, or a CACREP-accredited related field. (Note: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs are excluded).
• **Licensure:** Full, current, and unrestricted license for independent practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment. (Note: For grade levels at or above full performance, independent licensure is required).
• *Experience & Qualifications by Grade Level:**
• *Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (GS-11 - Full Performance):**
• **Experience:** At least one year of post-master's or post-doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA).
• **Skills:** Demonstrated ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendations for treatment; provide complex crisis intervention; and utilize advanced counseling skills.
• *Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (GS-12):**
• **Experience:** Minimum one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, *plus* five years of post-licensed experience demonstrating advanced practice and judgment.
• **Licensure:** Licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• **Advanced Skills:** Mastery of theories and modalities for complex mental illness, ability to incorporate multiple causation in diagnosis, expert skill in specialized interventions, and proven ability to teach, mentor, and provide professional consultation.