Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Join to apply for the Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor role at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the application.

Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided pay range: $88,621.00/yr – $/yr (base pay).

• Basic Requirements:
  The basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C.
• 7402(b)(11)
• To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must be a citizen of the United States (non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – Section A – paragraph 3.g.)
• Education:
  
  Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, or a related field accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include Addiction Counseling, Community Counseling, Gerontology Counseling, Marital–Couple– and Family Counseling.
  
  Note:
  
  Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs 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 must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
• English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English according to VA Handbook 5005.
• Grade Determinations:
  Senior LPMHC – GS‑12. Candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post‑licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, and must be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• Assignments:
  Provide treatment to patients with complex needs, deliver clinical consultation, provide clinical supervision, develop training curriculum, model ethical and professional behaviors, collaborate with stakeholders, and serve as subject matter expert.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Advanced knowledge of theories and modalities for complex mental illness, capability to incorporate complex causation in differential diagnosis, ability to prioritize services, advanced specialized interventions, coordination of services, system change design, consultation, teaching and mentoring, written and oral communication, preferred experience of at least 2 years providing evidence‑based psychotherapy.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• Physical Requirements:
  
  See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments and diagnostic evaluations utilizing advanced clinical skills.
• Develop differential diagnoses and individualized treatment plans based on evidence‑based practices.
• Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy sessions using modalities such as CBT, DBT, EMDR.
• Offer specialized therapeutic interventions tailored to veterans with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
• Manage complex cases involving multiple service needs.
• Coordinate care with other providers and community resources, ensuring continuity of care and reconciliation during transitions.
• Contribute to development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health programs and services.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives to…