Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Summary The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Mental Health Counselor for the Substance Abuse Treatment Program. This vacancy will be filled by a Social Worker, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, or Staff Psychologist. A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. This position provides 51% or more direct patient care and is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program. Responsibilities The incumbent provides evidence based psychotherapy to clients diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders as well as co-occurring disorders including PTSD, anxiety and mood disorders and maintains a consistent clinical caseload within the outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP). SATP provides services at the main hospital in Fargo, as well as telemedicine services to community-based outpatient clinics and home clinical video telehealth. The primary duty station for this position is at the Fargo VA. Duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent maintains a full-time designated clinical caseload. Provides specialized individual, group and family evidence-based services, and psychotherapy for substance use/co-occurring disorders within the outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SA TP). Services include substance abuse consultations, mental health intakes, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and case management to clients with high intensity needs for the purpose of developing and directing the treatment plan. Services are provided at the Fargo VA hospital. 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 completes thorough mental health assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's substance abuse and mental health treatment to attain the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable. Incumbent works with Veterans, the veterans support network, and the treatment team to develop treatment plans based on the Veteran's needs. Has a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Consistently translates knowledge base to information/therapeutic approaches for effective care of patients. Works to consistently meet the patient's needs, and if personally unable, refers the patient to an appropriate resource to meet their individual needs. Independently implements a variety of treatment modalities. Provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with depression, anxiety and substance use disorders as well as other serious disorders within approved clinical privileges and scope of practice. Independently works with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Incumbent provides crisis counseling to veterans and their families who present with acute problems and needs including suicidal or homicidal ideations. Assesses for emergency needs including intoxication and withdrawal and will refer those with urgent need to the appropriate physician. Incumbent has the ability to screen for such crises and implement appropriate protocol and treatment. Use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronicand traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. 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. This position provides 51% or more direct patient care and is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP: Authorized Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. 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. 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 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). 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 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. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC 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. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j. 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-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b., and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up. 2. Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices. 3. Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span. 4. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 5. Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal . click apply for full job details