Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor – Recruitment/Relocation Authorized

Summary

The LPMHC is assigned to the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) located in LaGrange, TX. The LPMHC’S primary duties involve initial biopsychosocial assessment treatment planning, and psychological treatment to Veterans with a wide range of co-occurring disorders, including but not limited to anxiety, PTSD, depression, substance use, and personality disorders.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Contributes to the gathering of biopsychosocial assessment information.
• Uses shared decision making with Veterans to develop a detailed treatment plan for Veterans serviced by BHIP.
• Provides recovery planning and psychological treatment to Veterans with a wide range of co-occurring disorders, including but not limited to anxiety, PTSD, depression, substance use, psychosis, and personality disorders.
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team providing a full range of psychological services (e.g., individual and group psychotherapy) and consultative services within an outpatient general mental health treatment setting.
• Provides evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy to Veterans with complex mental health problems.
• Treatment approaches utilized should be supported by psychological research regarding effectiveness for the conditions being treated.
• Treatment approaches may include but are not limited to: acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy.
• Administers, scores, documents, and discusses screening instruments to monitor treatment outcomes.
• Participates as a member of medical center hospital committees as directed.
• Serves as an advisor, consultant, and/or point of resource to staff within the medical center.
• Maintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are assigned to their patient panel.
• Actively participates in process redesign efforts aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment program and modifications to better serve the needs of the Veterans.
• Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check-out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes, completing encounters, and signing or co-signing notes).
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings as held by CTVHCS and MH&BM management.
• Regularly attends and participates in program level meetings including BHIP Huddles, BHIP Treatment Team meetings, and others as directed.
• Provides clinical instruction for LPMHC interns and trainees, as assigned and based on licensure status.
• Completes other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30am – 4:00pm, 8:00am – 4:30pm or 8:30am – 5:00pm Telework: 1-2 days per pay period (Telework approved based on management discretion) Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 000000; Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual: Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time, part time or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service.
• Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual: Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksites & physically relocate to a different geographic area Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Accreditation Information: The master’s or doctoral degree must be fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CACREP website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification
• Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans’ Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 “Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference” with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans’ Preference.