Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

DutiesThis position may be filled in any of the following Mental Health Programs. Description for BHIP: Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) : Seeking LICSW,LMFT,LPMHC (GS12) to join our Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Team at the Manchester VA Medical Center. As a BHIP Clinician, you provide general outpatient Mental Health services: individual, group, and couple therapy, with Veterans of all ages presenting with PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, and Substance Use. Utilization of Evidenced-Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) such as Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, CBT-for the Management of Chronic Pain, ACT for Depression, CBT-I, CBT-Depression, and CBT-Psychosis is essential to this position. Opportunities to receive VA sponsored EBP trainings are available. A compassionate, accepting approach and a commitment to close collaboration with team members is essential. The Clinician may also provide didactics to interns and residents. LICSW clinicians may also have the opportunity to provide supervision to SW students.Description for Tilton and Somersworth CBOC BHIP: Tilton and Somersworth Community -Based Outpatient Clinic- Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) : Seeking Staff LICSW,LMFT,LPMHC (GS12) to join our Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Team at our Tilton, NH, or Somersworth Community Based Outpatient Clinic. As a BHIP Clinician, you provide general outpatient Mental Health services: individual, group, and couple therapy, with Veterans of all ages presenting with PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, and Substance Use. Utilization of Evidenced-Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) such as Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, CBT-for the Management of Chronic Pain, ACT for Depression, CBT-I, CBT-Depression, and CBT-Psychosis is essential to this position. Opportunities to receive VA sponsored EBP trainings are available. A compassionate, accepting approach and a commitment to close collaboration with team members is essential. The Clinician may also provide didactics to interns and residents. LICSW clinicians may also have the opportunity to provide supervision to SW students.Description for SUD: Seeking LICSW,LMFT,LPMHC (GS12) to join a multidisciplinary SUD team which is fully integrated into overall MH outpatient services. Manchester VA is unique within the VA system for not having inpatient programing. Thus, we work closely with sister VA's and community partners to provide access to higher levels of care. The SUD therapist provides psychosocial assessment and therapy (individual, group, family) to Veterans presenting in all stages of change. Given the high proportion of Veterans with co-occurring disorders, therapists must have the skills and experience to treat a variety of complex presentations. Experience with Evidence Based Psychotherapies and a willingness to pursue training in additional EBP's is preferred. A compassionate, accepting approach and a commitment to close collaboration with team members is essential.Description for TAG Team: Triage Access Guidance Team: Seeking , w, LMFT, LPMHC (GS12) to join the TAG Team. The Clinician provides same-day crisis and crisis Mental Health Services at the Manchester VA Medical Center and Outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCS). The Clinician works closely with the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Team, Urgent Care, Mental Health Management Team, Program Managers, and staff regarding crisis assessment and interventions. Services provided include provision of mental health emergency and crisis assessments, provision of emergency and crisis consultation, and brief interventions to Veterans seen in Urgent Care or to other specialty clinics. Best practices, practice guidelines, and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions. Opportunities to receive VA sponsored EBP trainings are available. A compassionate, accepting approach and a commitment to close collaboration with team members is essential. The Clinician may also provide didactics to interns and residents. LICSW clinicians may also have the opportunity to provide supervision to SW students.Description for PCMHI: Primary Care Mental Health Integration: Seeking LICSW, LMFT, LPMHC, (GS12) to join the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) team -Women's Program at the Manchester VA Medical Center The PCMHI team provides co-located, collaborative, behavioral health consultation, assessment, and interventions in our Primary Care clinics, with this position providing primary coverage.to the Women's Health PAC Teams, as well as support to the PCMHI Team. The PCMHI team is interdisciplinary, and includes disciplines of Psychology, Social Work, LPMHC, LMFT, Psychiatry, Pharmacy, and Nursing. Requirements Conditions of EmploymentYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.This position is an NAGE Bargaining Unit position.Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.Must be proficient in written and spoken English.You may be required to serve a probationary period.Subject to background/security investigation.Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process and complete additional forms to proceed with employment process.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).Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications The incumbent for this position should have a background in health-psychology and integrated care, and should be able to conduct brief, problem-focused assessments for a variety of presenting concerns, including functional assessments of behavioral health problems related to medical conditions. Provision of brief, evidence-based behavioral interventions such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Problem Solving Therapy (PST), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and promoting health behavior change is also essential to this position. Opportunities to receive VA sponsored EBP trainings are available. A compassionate, accepting approach and a commitment to close collaboration with team members is essential. The incumbent will regularly provide consultation to Primary Care staff on a wide variety of patient behavioral health issues. The Clinician may also provide didactics to interns and residents. LICSW clinicians may also have the opportunity to provide supervision to SW students. The Clinician provides evaluation and psychotherapy intervention to Veterans in person and through the use of telehealth technology: VA Video Connect (VVC) and Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT).Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8am - 4:30pm.Compressed/Flexible:May be available at Supervisory discretion.Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.Functional Statement #: 608-F03191Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not AuthorizedFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required 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: . Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: 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).Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to LMHC positions in the GS-00185 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted LPMHC license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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: GS-12 Grade Requirements: Candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. GS-11 KSAs:

1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
3. 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.
4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. 5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.

1. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. In addition the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSA's listed below.

1. Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment.
2. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans.
3. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data.
4. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills.
5. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications.
6. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession.References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/101 PART II APPENDIX G43

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. This position is above full performance level.Physical Requirements: Services are conducted at the facility but, could require travel to CBOC locations, community partners, and other locations if necessary. The work is generally sedentary. Simple grasping and fine manipulation is required when using a keyboard to access a computer. The employee may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations at VA facility. Employee will use equipment and supplies appropriately and maintain a safe, orderly work area. Demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e. hand washing, universal precautions/isolation procedures, etc.) as required. The employee may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The employee must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The employee may be required to work an irregular tour and/or weekends as the need arises to perform duties as assigned. EducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 informationReceiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.Help Help 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. Review our benefitsEligibility 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.