Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Senior LPMHC is part of the Hershel "Woody" Williams VAMC Outpatient Mental Health Clinic and serves as the Senior LPMHC in BHIP at the medical center and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program is comprised of multidisciplinary teams of health care professionals and administrative staff that provides comprehensive, accessible patient-centered mental health care to Veterans with complex mental health needs in partnership with the Veteran (and the Veteran's supportive others). These teams manage and coordinate mental health services consistent with care goals set by the Veteran. Functions and Scope of Assigned Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides leadership in case consultation by facilitating interdisciplinary team meetings to support complex clinical mental health care. Integrates best practices to inform treatment team recommendations. Incumbent will have diverse mental health and therapeutic experience and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to discuss and collaborate on new and complex cases for treatment recommendations. Demonstrates experience in coordinating complex systems of care for mental health case management services to include internal and external referrals, resources, education, advocacy, and supportive services. Incumbent will have a comprehensive knowledge of mental health services and community resources. Conduct thorough and accurate mental health assessments requiring advanced diagnostic skills and knowledge of various mental health screening tools. Incumbent will apply advanced clinical judgement in complex differential diagnoses, identifying underlying issues and providing consultation to Veterans and other healthcare providers regarding efficacious treatment options. Develops individualized treatment plans with measurable goals for Veterans with highly complex needs, utilizing evidence-based practices and tailoring intervention to each individual's care needs. Routinely evaluates the effectives of treatment plans and updates based on current evidence based care and outcome data. Administers tools and psychometric instruments for measurement-based care to measure and improve patient outcomes. Incumbent to interpret and apply their results to improve patient outcomes, as well as integrate into the treatment planning process. Delivers advanced level individual, group and family psychotherapy for highly complex and treatment resistant cases utilizing evidence based modalities and interventions such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR). Completes suicide risk evaluations utilizing assigned and shared templates in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) on all patients with suicidal ideation and on any patient whose record is flagged "High Risk for Suicide", or as clinically indicated. Incumbent will assess suicide risk factors, protective factors, warning signs, mental health status and make a clinical determination on lethality, severity, immediacy of risk along with appropriate treatment recommendations to mitigate risk. Collaboratively develops Suicide Safety Plans on patients identified as high risk for suicide or as clinically indicated with Veterans and family members by identifying potential triggers, internal coping strategies and protective factors. Integrates evidence-based safety planning interventions including the Veterans Crisis Line and other relevant emergency contact, resources. Provides mental health crisis intervention services to quickly and effectively respond to Veterans who are at high risk or in a mental health crisis. Incumbent will utilize de-escalation techniques and rapid assessment to coordinate an appropriate level of care, as well as postcrisis follow-up to ensure continuity and ongoing safety planning. Work Schedule: FT, M-F 8am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc only as per VA policy and Supervisor discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 581-260483-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN5HREDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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 will 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 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.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.