Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

This position is located within the (VHA), VA Augusta Health Care System Mental Health Service, in the Substance Use Recovery Center (SURC). The Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) practices independently at the advanced licensure level and provides professional counseling, diagnostic evaluations, treatment planning, and recovery-oriented interventions to Veterans experiencing substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Duties to include but not limited to: Independently provides specialized counseling services for Veterans with SUD, co-occurring mental health diagnoses, and complex psychosocial needs. Delivers recovery-focused interventions aimed at increasing motivation, enhancing coping skills, reducing use, preventing relapse, and supporting long-term recovery. Uses advanced clinical judgment to assess withdrawal risk, overdose risk, trauma exposure, psychosocial instability, legal issues, and other factors that impact recovery. Conducts detailed biopsychosocial assessments including substance use history, treatment experiences, strengths, barriers, and readiness for change. Provides diagnostic impressions within LPMHC professional scope, integrating co-occurring mental health and SUD considerations. Evaluates complex multiple causation (psychological, social, medical, environmental) to determine individualized treatment needs. Develops individualized treatment plans encompassing relapse-prevention strategies, recovery goals, risk-mitigation plans, counseling modalities, and interdisciplinary coordination. Determines appropriate use of VA and community resources, including detoxification services, residential SUD programs, psychosocial rehabilitation, MAT support, peer services, and sober-living environments. Provides consultation and recommendations to interdisciplinary team members, community partners, and other clinical providers regarding assessment findings and care strategies Provides individual, group, and family counseling using evidence-based modalities for SUD (MI, CBT-SUD, harm-reduction approaches, contingency management where appropriate, relapse-prevention curricula). Facilitates structured SUD groups, psychoeducation classes, early recovery skills groups, and therapeutic workshops. Encourages Veterans and families to explore concerns, evaluate consequences of substance use, consider alternatives, and develop plans for recovery. Coordinates referrals to community or VA resources such as halfway houses, shelters, residential treatment facilities, and vocational/educational programs. Participates in SURC program development, evaluation of treatment effectiveness, creation of clinical guidelines, and improvement of service delivery. Uses outcome measures, practice-based evidence, peer review, and case-conference participation to evaluate and improve clinical practice. Adjusts treatment plans based on ongoing assessment, clinical response, and changing Veteran needs. Educates Veterans and family/significant others on substance use, mental health conditions, relapse prevention strategies, coping skills, and recovery planning. Provides orientation and training to new LPMHCs, Social Workers, and interdisciplinary team members. Serves as a mentor to less-experienced counselors and provides clinical support to trainees, interns, and students. Educates interdisciplinary staff on psychosocial dynamics, SUD impact, recovery principles, and counseling approaches. Independently documents assessments, diagnostics, treatment plans, process notes, safety plans, case consultations, referrals, and follow-up care in electronic and paper formats according to VA and clinic standards. Ensures documentation reflects expert diagnosis, ethical counseling practices, and clear justification for treatment decisions. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm; subject to change based upon agency needs

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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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 will be required to serve a 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 the 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.