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Posted: March 24, 2026 (2 days ago)

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Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$89,508 - $116,362

per year

Closes

March 31, 2026More VA jobs →

GS-12 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $74,441 - $96,770

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-11. Advanced degree + significant experience.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves providing advanced mental health counseling and therapy to veterans with complex needs, including diagnosis, treatment planning, and supervising junior staff in a VA hospital setting.

It suits experienced licensed counselors who enjoy working with diverse patient groups, mentoring others, and contributing to program improvements.

Ideal candidates are compassionate professionals with strong clinical skills and a passion for veteran care.

Key Requirements

  • U.S. citizenship (or qualified non-citizen per VA policy)
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English
  • Master's or doctoral degree in mental health counseling or related field from a CACREP-accredited program
  • Full, current, and unrestricted license as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC)
  • At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 level, plus five years of post-licensed experience
  • Advanced skills in diagnosing and treating complex mental illnesses, including individual, group, and family therapy
  • Ability to supervise trainees, mentor staff, and coordinate specialized psychosocial services

Full Job Description

The Oklahoma City Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for one (1) Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor within Mental Health located in Oklahoma City, OK.

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. English Language Proficiency.

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.

Licensure - Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade.

The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-12 Experience, Education, and Licensure.

In addition to the basic requirements, 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, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness.

Ability to incorporate 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.

Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment.

Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs.

This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans.

Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data.

Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills.

Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications.

Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Major Duties:

List the major duties and responsibilities of the position. Clinical Responsibilities: Diagnoses mental disorders.

Treats Veterans with complex needs including multiple mental health diagnoses, and numerous psychosocial issues, using independent judgment, using a variety of modalities, including: individual, family and group counseling, triage/crisis management, and other interventions such as community-based interventions.

Advanced psychotherapy is provided as needed.

Conducts initial intakes/biopsychosocial assessments and treatment planning in accordance with Joint Commission/VA requirements and service/clinic-level SOP.

Practices measurement-based care using the Collect, Share, Act model, in accordance with Joint Commission/VA requirements and service/clinic-level SOP.

Consults with OKC VA Health Care System staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.

Consults with referring provider/team and other OKC VA HCS mental health staff, as necessary, on a wide variety of patient care issues.

Participates in regularly scheduled Program/Clinic team meeting(s).

Evaluates and makes disposition of patients to treatment programs in the OKC VA Health Care System, as well as referral to community programs and vocational placement.

Serves as a consultant to other staff in evaluating and assisting Veterans with complex vocational problems. Places consults for Veterans when clinically indicated.

Ensures documentation is completed timely in accordance with the facility medical bylaws. Ensures coding is in accordance with the OMHSP MH Coding Guidelines.

Places RTCs in accordance with VHA directives and scheduling guidelines to ensure accurate patient appointment scheduling.

Obtains PMDB training in accordance with workplace setting per the annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment.

Develops behavioral health related training curriculum and often conduct trainings for clinical staff. Provides clinical consultation to less experienced staff.

Provides clinical supervision to unlicensed LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees. May serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline.

May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Assists with other activities as assigned by OKC VA Health Care System Management.

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday Telework: Ad-Hoc Functional Statement #: 58307-A

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/24/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/25/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSU-12918970-26-TJB