The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) is assigned to the Alexandria Community Based Outpatient Clinic-Mental Health Service Line of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System. The LPMHC provides comprehensive psychotherapy and care coordination services to Veterans for issues related to mental health and behavioral issues, substance use disorders, and other complex and diverse psychosocial problems. Basic Requirements: (a) United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. (b) English Language Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. (c) Education Requirement: 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). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. (d) Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor positions in the GS-0101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-11 (Full Performance Level): (a) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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. 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. 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). Preferred Experience: Training and experience in providing evidence-based mental health therapy to adults Experience engaging with an interdisciplinary treatment team Experience completing Mental Health Biopsychosocial and/or Diagnostic Assessments Experience providing case management References: VA Handbook 5005/106, Part II, Appendix G43 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying under 15 pounds. The work is primarily sedentary and non-strenuous and is carried out within the confines of the office/workspace provided. ["Clinical mental health functions include the following tasks: Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans and collateral contacts. Establish Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnoses. Creating comprehensive, recovery-focused behavioral health and mental health treatment plans with Veterans and in coordination with other disciplines. Completing suicide/homicide risk assessments and safety plans, as required. Providing clinically efficacious, evidence-based therapeutic services to include individual, couples, family and group psychotherapy/counseling services for Veterans. Interview Veterans and their families to develop/complete biopsychosocial assessments utilizing knowledge of human development and behavior and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. Establishing and maintaining therapeutic alliances with Veterans and their families. Analyzing complex psychological problems. Coordinating with internal and external and ancillary mental health professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and that appropriate and necessary treatment is provided/offered to Veterans. Developing and providing psychoeducational groups. Utilizing assessment and documentation processes for integrated models of care, including determining the appropriate level of care for Veterans not in specialty mental health treatment. Educating and train other professionals and students in effective treatment modalities. Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions, treatment approaches, and treatment planning. Establishing/maintaining expertise on VA services and benefits, and community resources. Establishing/maintaining effective relationships with various Veteran agencies and coordinate care with appropriate community services. Collaborating effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Completing on-call duties, as assigned. Maintaining data and statistical compilations to comply withCARF, Joint Commission, VA and health care system policy and procedures Providing comprehensive Mental Health Treatment Coordination (MHTC) services within a team of interdisciplinary providers Providing advocacy to overcome potential barriers to access care/services and when it is in the best interests of the Veteran. Educate and empower the Veteran/family to advocate on his/her own behalf Identifying service gaps and collaborate with others in the MHSL to encourage development or modification of services to meet the needs of Veterans. Providing health care education and/or referral to qualified health care educators to Veterans and their families. Providing education and assist in the completion of Advance Directives; Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation release of information forms; and Guardianship documentation as requested Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines. Possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Attending and participating in all required clinical and administrative meetings. Collaborating in performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures asre quired by the VA for specific population/program Conducting practice in accordance with the VA and discipline specific ethical requirements. Practicing within the limits of current licensure or certification. Provide orientation, supervision and/or mentoring to new LPMHCs. Providing case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will be able to appropriately utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Assessing for signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. The incumbent will report suspicion of abuse, neglect and exploitation when indicated according to VA policy Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. The incumbent may be detailed to other areas of need in the MHSL to meet the needs of the health care system, will be determined by the direct supervisor and/or the MH Integrated Care Community Director and typically will not exceed 25% of the total hours per week Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 0800-1630 evenings and weekends maybe required\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]