Marriage and Family Therapist-Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs Counselor (Hiring Immediately)

Marriage and Family Therapist - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs Counselor The Veterans Health Administration was seeking a Marriage and Family Therapist for the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs at the Sheridan VA Health Care System in Sheridan, WY. This position provides evidence-based psychosocial and environmental interventions, clinical case management, assessment, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, aftercare planning, patient and family education, interdisciplinary collaboration, clinical documentation, and consultation for Veterans receiving residential mental health, substance use disorder, PTSD, or serious mental illness services. Agency: Veterans Health Administration Facility: Sheridan VA Health Care System Location: Sheridan, WY Vacancies: 1 Salary: $61,722 - $97,087 per year Pay Scale & Grade: GS-9 to GS-11 Promotion Potential: GS-11 Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Appointment Type: Permanent Telework: Yes; ad-hoc telework eligible Remote/Virtual: Not available Travel Required: Not required Relocation Expenses: Not reimbursed Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized PCS: Not authorized Drug Test: Not required Security Clearance: Not required Position Sensitivity/Risk: Non-sensitive / Low Risk Background Check: Credentialing and suitability/fitness required Financial Disclosure: Not required Federal Service: Excepted Service Union Representation: Yes Supervisory Status: No Series: 0182 Marriage and Family Therapist Functional Statement: 51238-A, 51239-A Announcement Number: CBSU-12975987-26-CC Control Number: 871527300 Key Responsibilities: Identify problems and needs from assessments and develop individual treatment plans. Provide professional input to the treatment team regarding the social aspects of each Veteran's situation. Assist Veterans and the treatment team in navigating issues within the residential treatment milieu. Provide case management during admission and through post-discharge follow-up. Conduct therapeutic counseling according to clinical guidelines. Handle crises regularly with minimal supervision. Serve as therapist or counselor for individuals and groups. Observe and document patient behavior and reaction patterns for use by the multidisciplinary treatment team and for follow-up planning. Develop and conduct lectures and educational presentations related to general mental health, substance use disorder, PTSD, or serious mental illness. Educate Veterans, families, and treatment team members on available options and collaborate on preferred treatment or referral plans. Develop, organize, and implement outpatient aftercare treatment for patients and collaterals. Develop and implement methods to motivate Veterans to attend aftercare or participate in outpatient programming. Transport Veterans using a government vehicle when needed to help them access resources or complete essential business. Collaborate with other service providers in reassessing Veteran needs. Educate Veterans and caregivers about available services and assist with appropriate referrals based on Veteran or surrogate preference. Serve as field instructor, preceptor, or mentor to interns, new or unlicensed clinicians, newly licensed clinicians, and peers as needed. Enter all Veteran and family contacts into the electronic record using approved formats and templates. Maintain positive working relationships with VA employees, volunteers, consumers, stakeholders, and outside community agencies. Attend staff meetings, team meetings, committee meetings, and other required meetings. Collaborate in performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures, program office requirements, and local policies. Serve as consultant to medical center staff and trainees regarding psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment. Offer consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment in specialty areas. Teach and mentor staff and students and provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications when appropriate. Basic Qualifications: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Non-citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Must hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education; or Must hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from an MFT program at a regionally accredited institution; or Must hold a master's or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health field that meets the current VA qualification standard for that profession. Comparable mental health degrees may include Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, or Psychiatry. Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted Marriage and Family Therapist license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a U.S. State, unless appointed under an approved GS-9 licensure exception. Applicants pending completion of educational, certification, or licensure requirements could be referred and tentatively selected but could not be hired until requirements were met. Must be subject to background/security investigation. Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959. Must complete all application requirements and online onboarding requirements. Must provide acceptable identification for employment eligibility verification. Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel. Must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Selected applicant will be required to serve a one-year or two-year trial period. Eligibility: This announcement was open only to current, permanent federal employees or former OAA students, interns, or fellows. Applicants who were not current federal employees or former OAA students, interns, or fellows were directed to apply under the public announcement CBSU-12975986-26-CC. The two-page resume requirement did not apply to this position. Veterans' preference did not apply for internal or other current permanent federal agency employees. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. This was an open continuous announcement with an initial applicant review cutoff date of June 11, 2026. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. GS-9 Qualification Requirements: Entry grade level for non-licensed MFTs or MFT graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed GS-9 MFTs must have completed the required education and be working toward completion of licensure prerequisites. Must demonstrate knowledge of human development across the lifespan, family systems theory, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice, and assessment tools. Must be able to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and family members. Must be able to formulate, implement, and re-evaluate treatment plans through continuous assessment. Must be able to provide counseling or psychotherapy under supervision to individuals, groups, couples, and families. Must understand relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting marriage and family therapy practice. Must be able to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, and track quality improvements. GS-11 Qualification Requirements: Full performance level. Must meet the basic requirements. Must have at least one year of post-master's experience in marriage and family therapy work. Must be licensed in a state at the independent practice level. A doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a comparable qualifying mental health degree may be substituted for the required one year of clinical experience. Must be able to independently assess psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and family members. Must be able to provide counseling or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples, and families. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans, families, colleagues, and other professionals. Must understand statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations, and VA policies affecting marriage and family therapy practice. Must be able to orient, train, and consult with new MFTs and provide clinical oversight to MFT graduate students or pre-licensure MFTs. Must be skilled in computer software applications for documentation, data management, clinical records, and quality improvement tracking. Preferred Experience: Extensive experience in individual and group therapies for PTSD and substance use disorder. Training in evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and other evidence-based protocols. Experience working within interdisciplinary teams, including medical providers, psychiatrists, nursing staff, and case managers. Proficiency in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care. Ability to provide episodic treatment. Certification in evidence-based psychotherapies. VA systems experience. Education: Master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a qualifying comparable mental health field is required. Education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be supported by a certificate of foreign equivalency if used to meet qualification requirements. Transcript was required if using education to qualify. Physical Requirements: Must be physically and mentally ab