Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Mental Health - PCMHI)

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC), Chesapeake Virginia clinic. This position is aligned under the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Program (PCMHI) and Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) Hub, which is administratively aligned under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line.

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides mental health therapy for eligible veterans in the Mental Health Outpatient or Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program clinic. Provision of clinical services may also extend to the Virginia Beach CBOC, Portsmouth CBOC, Albemarle APOC, and additional CBOC locations. Duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities Provides immediate access to clinical assessment and appropriate collaborative care and treatment for those experiencing mental health symptoms or behavioral health issues. Provides individual and group interventions to support patients that are coping with health psychology presentations (e.g., sleep, pain, adherence to medical regimen, adjustment to illness), psychosocial stressors, grief or phase of life difficulties (e.g., discrimination, stress management, coping with loss, transition to civilian life), and mild-moderate mental health presentations. Practices collaborative, stepped and measurement-based care, including appropriate longitudinal follow-up, to address common mental health and behavioral health conditions for the primary care population. Functions successfully as a member of a multidisciplinary team of medical and mental health providers and provides consultation about mental health diagnoses and appropriate treatment plans to professionals representing a variety of disciplines. Provides cognitive screenings to address specific functional and/or cognitive ability questions as indicated. Provides education to patients, family members of patients, professional staff, and trainees. In addition, will engages families of Veterans in empirically supported treatment for caregiver burden when necessary. Completes thorough risk assessments and follows mental health crisis procedures as indicated. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Possesses the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team if applicable. Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Administrative Responsibilities Possesses working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, assigned program and/clinic, and the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Program Manager, Service Chief, Chief of Staff, and/or Medical Center Director. Remains actively involved in MH&BS LPMHC training, education, and administrative activities as indicated. Actively participates in and assumes responsibilities associated with committee assignments to include Performance Improvement, Peer Review, and Performance Measures. Maintains responsibility for implementation of Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL). GS-9 Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-9 LPMHCs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised, including co-signatures where required, as they are not functioning at the full performance level. They are typically assigned to VHA areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Since they are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed LPMHC in the area who can provide supervision for practice. Under supervision, LPMHCs at this level provide professional mental health counseling services. GS-11 Assignments. This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs. At this level they are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling. LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm (Monday thru Friday) Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the Agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.