Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Summary

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.

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Duties

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This position is located within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VISN 7, VA Augusta Health Care System , in the Mental Health Service . The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) serves as an independently licensed clinician embedded in the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program. The incumbent delivers brief, evidence-based assessments, interventions, and consultation services to Veterans seen in primary care. Using expertise in integrated behavioral health, collaborative care models, and population-based treatment , the LPMHC promotes early identification of mental health concerns, improves access to care, and enhances coordination between primary care and mental health services. The role supports same-day access, warm handoffs, rapid engagement , and seamless collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to address behavioral health needs in primary care settings.

Duties include, however, not limited to:

• Perform focused, functional biopsychosocial assessments for Veterans presenting with mental or behavioral health concerns in primary care.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions for conditions commonly seen in PCMHI, including depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, stress, insomnia, chronic disease management, and health behavior change.
• Utilize measurement-based care to inform assessment, monitor treatment progress, and support clinical decision-making.
• Conduct warm handoffs and offer same-day brief interventions as part of the integrated primary care model.
• Collaborate with Primary Care Providers, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members to support shared treatment planning and coordinated care.
• Provide real-time behavioral health consultation on mental health symptoms, risk factors, behavioral change strategies, motivational approaches, treatment options, and referrals.
• Participate in team huddles, case conferences, and collaborative problem-solving to enhance integrated care delivery.
• Facilitate timely referrals to specialty mental health services and offer brief follow-up or bridge care to ensure continuity.
• Coordinate care transitions , ensuring clear communication of essential clinical information across services.
• Conduct independent suicide risk assessments, violence risk evaluations, and safety planning .
• Provide crisis stabilization interventions and coordinate emergency response when clinically indicated.
• Complete timely, accurate documentation in accordance with VA, Joint Commission, and CARF requirements.
• Adhere to national PCMHI practice standards , clinical guidelines, and measurement-based care expectations.
• Participate in program development, quality improvement initiatives, and data monitoring supporting PCMHI operations.
• Support education and training for primary care and mental health staff on integrated behavioral health principles.
• Maintain professional competency through continuing education and ongoing training relevant to integrated care models.

Work Schedule : 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m.

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 60550F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Lakita Bush View email address on click.appcast.io , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 ( 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 examination.
• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements :

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education and Licensure

• Must have five years of post-licensure experience demonstrating advanced practice skills, sound clinical judgment, and progressive professional competency.
• Must hold a full, current, unrestricted LPMHC license that includes the authority to provide clinical supervision to trainees and/or unlicensed LPMHCs.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations : Must have one year of progressively complex professional LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Preferred Experience: Prefer experience working in interdisciplinary teams, brief evidence-based interventions, and brief/focused assessments.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Education

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: 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:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.