Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor – Substance Use Disorder Program

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.

Duties

Duties of this position are, but not limited to:

• Provides specialized individual, group and family evidence-based psychotherapy for substance use/co-occurring disorders within the Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (OSATP).
• Services are provided at the Coralville VA Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, main hospital as well as CBOC and outreach locations.
• Performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness.
• Incumbent incorporates 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.
• Independently complete thorough biopsychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
• Must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran’s maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable.
• Documents the ASAM patient placement criteria in order to determine appropriate level of substance abuse treatment for the client.
• Incumbent works with Veterans to develop treatment plans based on the Veteran’s needs.
• Administers psychological instruments including but not limited to Audit/DAST, Brief Addiction Monitor, BDI-II, BAI, PCL in order to measure progress and effectiveness of treatment as well as monitor and improve treatment based on the individual client’s current needs.
• Incumbent has the ability to administer Breath Alcohol tests as well as submit orders and administer Urine Drug Screen testing based on requirements of the program the Veteran is participating in (Example: Matrix Intensive Outpatient Program).
• Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans in the mental health clinic and/or their families.
• Independently works with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Provides crisis counseling to veterans and their families who present with acute problems and needs including suicidal or homicidal ideations.
• Incumbent has the ability to screen for such crises and implement appropriate protocol and treatment.
• Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
• Performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness.
• Incumbent incorporates 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.
• Incumbent is able to provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with depression, anxiety and addiction disorders as well as other serious disorders.
• Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of clinical practice and services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services.
• Incumbent is able to demonstrate the ability to design changes based on empirical findings.
• Offers consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective mental health counselor skills.
• Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement a variety of treatment modalities.
• Collaborates and consults with other interdisciplinary treatment teams and programs to promote and enhance the care of patients as well as develop treatment plans and goals for clients.
• Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in a special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure of specialty certifications.
• The incumbent may supervise and participate in the training of Interns, volunteers, and students; participates as required and requested in orientation, training and staff development programs.
• Individual maintains essential licensures and certificates for their continued provision of clinical care.
• Completes clinical documentation according to OSATP and medical center standards.
• Documentation is clinically appropriate and thorough, and demonstrates the components of treatment considered the standard of care.
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 000000 EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Contact VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov,, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current permanent VA employees of the facility, All other permanent VA employees, Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies, All other applicants based on Veterans’ Preference.

Note: Veterans’ Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal Agencies. 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 Transcript 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 **Highly Recommend** Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document – KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Resume/CV exceeding two-pages
• 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.
• Veterans’ preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.