- Position Title
- Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSZ-11455900-22-CAS Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, May 11, 2022 to Tuesday, May 31, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor in VHA must meet the following requirements:
The following questions will address basic eligibility requirements for the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor position. Please select "Yes" or "No" to the following question(s).
1.
Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Do you meet this requirement?
2.
Candidates hold a master's or doctoral degree in:
Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to:
CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.
Do you meet these requirements?
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to:
- Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling
- Gerontology Counseling
- Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling.
CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.
Do you meet these requirements?
3.
Provide the following information regarding the academic institution from which you received your education.
Name of Institution
City and State
Level of Education (diploma, degree, etc.)
Month and Year conferred
Name of Institution
City and State
Level of Education (diploma, degree, etc.)
Month and Year conferred
CREDITABLE EXPERIENCE. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current mental health counseling practice. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice at the post- master's degree level, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional mental health counselor. Experience is only creditable if it is post- master's degree experience as a mental health counselor directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to LPMHC experience at the next lower grade level.
4.
Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0101 series at the GS-09 in VHA may hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Candidates may have this requirement waived for up to 3 years pending licensure.
Do you meet this requirement?
Do you meet this requirement?
5.
Provide the following information regarding your licensure.
Name on License
Issuing state or territory
Complete license number
Expiration date
Name on License
Issuing state or territory
Complete license number
Expiration date
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
6.
Do you possess less than one year of experience (post-master's degree) or a master's or doctoral level degree who are not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure.
Do you meet this requirement?
Do you meet this requirement?
7.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities GS-09. In addition, the candidate must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.
- Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
- Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span.
- Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
- Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively.
- Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth.
- Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
- Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds
8.
Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0101 series at a GS-11 in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Do you meet this requirement?
9.
Provide the following information regarding your licensure.
Name on License
Issuing state or territory
Complete license number
Expiration date
Name on License
Issuing state or territory
Complete license number
Expiration date
10.
Experience, Education, and Licensure GS-11: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have the following:
LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.
Do you meet the requirements listed above?
- At least one year of post-master's or post-doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience)
- Licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs
LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.
Do you meet the requirements listed above?
11.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities GS-11. In addition, the candidate must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
- Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
- Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation.
- Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.
- Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.
- Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
- Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.
- Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. Can you demonstrate these KSAs?
Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: Employer name and complete address; Job title; Duties (be as detailed as possible); Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week); and Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held. Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
Transcript Reminder - Due to the positive education requirement unofficial transcripts or an appropriate course listing must be submitted with your application. Applications will not be considered without appropriate transcripts.