Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Readjustment Counselor)

About This Role

This position is for a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor who will serve as an RCS Vet Center Readjustment Counselor. The role involves providing counseling services, outreach, referral, and follow-up care coordination to eligible individuals, couples, and family members as part of a small multi-disciplinary team. This role contributes proactively to internal coordination of care and collaborative planning and problem-solving among staff.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with eligible individuals to establish a therapeutic relationship for completing all required readjustment counseling intake procedures, including assessing risk for self-harm and psychosocial functioning
• Develop and periodically update an individualized readjustment counseling service plan that reflects a course of therapeutic and psychosocial interventions, including identifying achievable goals and measurable outcomes
• Implement the individualized counseling plan through an appropriate course of individual, group, couple, and/or family readjustment counseling
• Maintain an effective therapeutic relationship with eligible clients, fully guided by professional ethics throughout the course of readjustment counseling
• Apply risk assessment procedures during the initial assessment and periodically throughout the planned course of readjustment counseling as required and appropriate
• Work with individuals identified from intermediate to high risk to develop a safety plan that identifies precipitating life stressors and safety procedures
• Provide crisis case management services, including coordinating services with the individual's family members
• Establish and maintain a network of community care relationships, internal and external to VA, to coordinate access to readjustment counseling through community referrals to the Vet Center
• Ensure eligible individuals and/or family members receive the full spectrum of services to support the veteran's readjustment that are outside the scope of readjustment counseling
• Maintain a general knowledge and understanding of the military experience and available VA benefits and services such as VA health care and VBA service-connected benefits
• Maintain active coordination with Vet Center outreach workers to ensure seamless referral to Vet Center services for those engaged in the community at outreach events that may require follow-up readjustment counseling
• Actively participate in Vet Center staff meetings designed to promote team building and staff development through conjoint planning and problem-solving, staff discussion of problematic cases, coaching, and mentoring new hires
• Document all clinical interactions with eligible individuals and episodes of care coordination on their behalf as required by RCS policy
• Provide consultation services to other staff, including other community partners
• Other duties as assigned

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
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment
• 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
• Serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which fitness will be evaluated
• 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)
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment

Nice to have:

• For GS-9 entry level: less than one year of post-master's degree experience or master's/doctoral level graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level
• For GS-9 entry level: Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up
• For GS-9 entry level: 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
• For GS-9 entry level: 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
• For GS-9 entry level: Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills
• For GS-9 entry level: Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively
• For GS-9 entry level: Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth
• For GS-9 entry level: Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA
• For GS-9 entry level: Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling
• For GS-9 entry level: Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds
• For GS-11 full performance level: 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
• For GS-11 full performance level: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation
• For GS-11 full performance level: Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship
• For GS-11 full performance level: 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

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility (up to $200,000, one to five years, determined by VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office)
• Comprehensive benefits package as a federal employee
• Service credit for earning annual (vacation) leave, based on prior work experience or military service experience

Important Details

• Work schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Travel required: 25% or less
• Appointment type: Permanent
• Application deadline: 25 June 2026, 11:59 PM (ET)

Application Process

• Complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section
• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account
• Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package
• Provide a complete Application Package including Resume and Transcript
• Download the standard Clinical Resume Document from https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx and upload it into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field
• Additional documents that may be required include: Cover Letter, DD-214/Statement of Service, Disability Letter (VA), License, Additional CV/Resume, Performance Appraisal, Professional Certification, SF-15, SF-50/Notification of Personnel Action
• Eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire
• Provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.)
• If currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days, submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service, and dates of impending separation
• Disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form

About the Company

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package designed to make your federal career very rewarding. The Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate.