Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (BHIP MH Treatment Coordinator) ED
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Smyrna, GA, United States
Summary
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). BHIP is a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals that provides comprehensive, accessible, veteran‑centered mental health care. The MH Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, treating, and coordinating the treatment of Veterans within BHIP and the Mental Health Service Line.
Qualifications
Health Profession Trainees pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be selected tentatively but cannot be hired until all requirements are met. Applicants pending licensure may be offered a 3‑year exception at the GS‑9 level to complete pre‑license requirements.
Basic Requirements
United States Citizenship – non‑citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy.
English Language Proficiency – basic written and spoken English is required for direct patient‑care positions.
Education – Master’s or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 fields include Addiction Counseling, Community Counseling, Gerontology Counseling, Marital‑Couple‑and‑Family Counseling.
Licensure – must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as an LPMHC (diagnosis and treatment). Applicants pending licensure may be selected (GS‑09 only) and given up to a three‑year appointment.
Grandfathering Provision – may qualify if covered per the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (applicable to current VHA employees who meet criteria).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, continuum of care, evaluation, and follow‑up; knowledge of DSM‑5; basic knowledge of counseling practice with emphasis on human development, cognitive–affective–behavioral or systemic interventions; ability to use individual, group, or family counseling interventions; ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team; basic competency with clinical documentation software including telehealth; understanding of relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations; effective communication skills.
For GS‑11 level – at least one year of post‑master’s or post‑doctoral mental health counseling experience, and additional advanced competencies such as crisis intervention, complex case management, advanced counseling process, subject‑matter consultation, and development of psychotherapeutic groups.
Preferred experience – VA or DOD work in community settings incorporating outcome measures, evidence‑based psychotherapies for individuals, groups, couples, and families, case management in complex settings, outpatient general mental health clinics.
Duties
First application cutoff date is 02/08/2026.
Serve as a member of all BHIP teams within the clinic.
Assess, diagnose, treat, and coordinate veteran treatment within BHIP and the MH Service Line.
Provide services through telehealth across multiple sites of care within the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System.
Participate on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and national levels, and collaborate with BHIP supervisors and MHSL leadership to address process issues.
Provide a full range of psycho‑diagnostic services, including individual, group, and family psychotherapy, advanced psychosocial interventions, and case management for Veterans with diverse DSM diagnoses.
Assist with clinical program management under program managers’ direction.
Coordinate administrative and programmatic resources for various clinical programs.
Support care coordination, conduct care‑needs assessments, and facilitate transition of care hand‑offs via electronic health records.
Serve as representative for Psychology Service on administrative committees or work groups.
Provide subject‑matter consultation and technical assistance to colleagues, trainees, and students.
Possibly mentor staff and students in specialty practice areas.
Develop clinical knowledge and innovate psychosocial assessment or intervention models.
Assist in drafting policies, procedures, and practice guidelines for specialty populations or treatment programs.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8 AM‑4:30 PM. The position is onsite; telework may be offered on an ad‑hoc basis if necessary.
Functional Statement #: GS‑9 (53954F) – GS‑11 (53955F). Relocation/Recruitment incentives: None. Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized.
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The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). BHIP is a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals that provides comprehensive, accessible, veteran‑centered mental health care. The MH Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, treating, and coordinating the treatment of Veterans within BHIP and the Mental Health Service Line.
Qualifications
Health Profession Trainees pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be selected tentatively but cannot be hired until all requirements are met. Applicants pending licensure may be offered a 3‑year exception at the GS‑9 level to complete pre‑license requirements.
Basic Requirements
United States Citizenship – non‑citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy.
English Language Proficiency – basic written and spoken English is required for direct patient‑care positions.
Education – Master’s or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 fields include Addiction Counseling, Community Counseling, Gerontology Counseling, Marital‑Couple‑and‑Family Counseling.
Licensure – must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as an LPMHC (diagnosis and treatment). Applicants pending licensure may be selected (GS‑09 only) and given up to a three‑year appointment.
Grandfathering Provision – may qualify if covered per the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (applicable to current VHA employees who meet criteria).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, continuum of care, evaluation, and follow‑up; knowledge of DSM‑5; basic knowledge of counseling practice with emphasis on human development, cognitive–affective–behavioral or systemic interventions; ability to use individual, group, or family counseling interventions; ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team; basic competency with clinical documentation software including telehealth; understanding of relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations; effective communication skills.
For GS‑11 level – at least one year of post‑master’s or post‑doctoral mental health counseling experience, and additional advanced competencies such as crisis intervention, complex case management, advanced counseling process, subject‑matter consultation, and development of psychotherapeutic groups.
Preferred experience – VA or DOD work in community settings incorporating outcome measures, evidence‑based psychotherapies for individuals, groups, couples, and families, case management in complex settings, outpatient general mental health clinics.
Duties
First application cutoff date is 02/08/2026.
Serve as a member of all BHIP teams within the clinic.
Assess, diagnose, treat, and coordinate veteran treatment within BHIP and the MH Service Line.
Provide services through telehealth across multiple sites of care within the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System.
Participate on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and national levels, and collaborate with BHIP supervisors and MHSL leadership to address process issues.
Provide a full range of psycho‑diagnostic services, including individual, group, and family psychotherapy, advanced psychosocial interventions, and case management for Veterans with diverse DSM diagnoses.
Assist with clinical program management under program managers’ direction.
Coordinate administrative and programmatic resources for various clinical programs.
Support care coordination, conduct care‑needs assessments, and facilitate transition of care hand‑offs via electronic health records.
Serve as representative for Psychology Service on administrative committees or work groups.
Provide subject‑matter consultation and technical assistance to colleagues, trainees, and students.
Possibly mentor staff and students in specialty practice areas.
Develop clinical knowledge and innovate psychosocial assessment or intervention models.
Assist in drafting policies, procedures, and practice guidelines for specialty populations or treatment programs.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8 AM‑4:30 PM. The position is onsite; telework may be offered on an ad‑hoc basis if necessary.
Functional Statement #: GS‑9 (53954F) – GS‑11 (53955F). Relocation/Recruitment incentives: None. Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized.
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