Job at a glance
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides ambulatory care services to mentally ill and/or substance abusing Veterans and their significant others. Veterans receiving services may have concurrent psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, medical conditions, and multiple psychosocial stressors. Thus, the biopsychosocial status of many of the mental health patients may be severely compromised.
Major duties: The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides a full range of clinical services to Veterans with mental health and substance use disorders in an outpatient behavioral health setting. Major duties include: Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, mental health evaluations, and substance use assessments to determine treatment needs, level of care, and program eligibility.
Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans using a recovery-oriented, Veteran-centered approach. Provide individual, group, and family counseling services utilizing evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Deliver crisis intervention, risk assessment, stabilization services, and timely clinical responses to Veterans experiencing acute psychological distress. Monitor treatment progress through ongoing reassessment, documentation, and evaluation of therapeutic outcomes.
Serve as a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) when assigned, ensuring coordination and integration of services across interdisciplinary treatment teams. Collaborate with providers and staff from Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Specialty Clinics, Nursing, Social Work, Rehabilitation Services, Chaplain Service, and other disciplines to ensure comprehensive patient care. Prepare diagnostic summaries and clinical documentation that support treatment planning, continuity of care, and compliance with accreditation and documentation standards.
Coordinate case management activities, including referrals, follow-up services, discharge planning, and linkage to community resources. Assess patient needs related to housing, food security, transportation, benefits, and other psychosocial concerns and facilitate appropriate referrals. Educate Veterans and family members regarding treatment options, available resources, VA benefits, and community support services.
Facilitate psychoeducational, process-oriented, and structured therapeutic groups for Veterans with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning meetings and communicate clinical findings to relevant healthcare providers. Conduct discharge assessments and develop aftercare plans to ensure continuity of treatment and recovery support.
Support quality improvement initiatives, program evaluation activities, policy development, and performance improvement efforts within Behavioral Health programs. Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based practices, emerging treatment modalities, and developments in behavioral health care. Perform community outreach activities to increase access to behavioral health services for Veterans and their families, including underserved populations.
Utilize electronic health record systems and other health information technologies to maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical records. Protect patient confidentiality and ensure compliance with applicable privacy, information security, and regulatory requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (subject to change based on the needs of the facility.) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 01722F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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. 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/.