COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST (PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR)

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is home of the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, Army Engineer School, and U.S. Army Military Police School.  Fort Leonard Wood trains and educates nearly 90 thousand troops a year.  Surprisingly, the Fort also trains Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and international students from allied nations. With more than 22,000 military members and their families, Ft Leonard Wood provides us with a diverse and well skilled population.  

Fort Leonard Wood, situated in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, is a sportsman’s paradise with some of the most beautiful scenery, hosting many large lakes, rivers, streams, and forests ideal for fishing and hunting. Fort Leonard Wood covers more than 61,000 acres located in Pulaski County with a population of nearly 52,607.  Bordering the installation to the north are the towns of Waynesville and St. Robert, with an estimated combined population of 9,170.  The installation is situated between St Louis and Springfield, Missouri 1 ½ to 2 hours respectively. Also 30 minutes equidistant between Rolla and Lebanon along I-44.  It is also a great place to raise a family along with a low cost of living. 

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Serves as a professional counselor in support of patients with a behavioral health diagnosis. The incumbent handles cases that present multiple issues, and the need for more complex and long-term treatment. Requires advanced knowledge of the principles, concepts, procedures, and practices associated with behavioral health disorders and treatment. The work also requires advanced knowledge, skill, and ability to interview patients, analyze psychosocial data, develop clinical treatment plans, and provide consultation and training.

MAJOR DUTIES
1. Identification and Assessment (30%)

Uses a broad range of professional knowledge of advanced concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relevant to behavioral health programs in order to conduct comprehensive behavioral health treatment of patients.
Conducts evaluations of Active Duty Service Members (ADSM), family members, retirees, and eligible Federal civilian employees referred for consultation from the individual, family members, commanding officers, supervisors, agents of the courts, and medical personnel; counsels patients on primary and secondary illnesses; integrates information in clear and concise manner in order to formulate accurate diagnostic impressions consistent with established criteria and Joint Commission standards; makes clinical assessments to inform treatment decision-making; advises commanders, supervisors, and referring providers as to patient's status, treatment needs, and prognosis where appropriate and in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), relevant DoD, DHA, and Service regulations, and professional standards and ethics of the American Counseling Association. Applies complex behavioral health principles to conduct comprehensive behavioral health evaluations. Assesses primary and secondary problems to include behavioral health diagnosing. Applies regulatory guidance to meet program requirements. Collaborates with management/command officials to identify behavioral health issues. Collects data to evaluate treatment outcomes. Uses professional instruments to make assessments and evaluations. Counsels complex cases. Meets quality control goals and milestones.

2. Treatment and Rehabilitation (30%)

Holds primary case management responsibility for patients, using professional knowledge of the knowledge of behavioral health programs and treatment concepts, principles, procedures, and practices and applies this knowledge to difficult and complex case assignments; develops new methods, approaches, or procedures to meet changing program requirements and patient needs; integrates findings and formulates clinical impressions to establish mental health diagnosis using guidelines such as the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the
American Psychiatric Association; prepares written findings and diagnoses in a detailed, clear, and concise manner; demonstrates knowledge and ability to make clinical assessments; prepares treatment plans that incorporate psychological theory and counseling techniques, and goals needed to restore patients to their normal work and social environment; provides strategic interventions, motivational interviewing techniques and crisis counseling for patients and families. Develops and implements comprehensive treatment plans. Conducts ongoing review of patient progress; evaluates and modifies treatment plans to meet changing needs. Uses specialized treatment techniques for amelioration of the patient’s behavioral health disorder. Provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Provides prevention counseling. Provides crisis intervention counseling. Applies motivational interviewing strategies. Serves as consultant to managers/supervisors, commanders, medical personnel, and the extended installation community concerning behavioral health programs and treatment. Develops therapeutic relationship with patients whose behavioral health and emotional problems vary in degrees of resistance to treatment, and in ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

3. Case Management and Documentation (25%)

Holds primary case management responsibility for implementing complex treatment plans, arranging for required services with other providers and/or outside resources as needed. Case management complexity is intensified by the fact that many of the patients are resistant, uncooperative and have co-occurring (primary and secondary) diagnoses requiring close coordination with other resources (ex., health care professionals, legal services, workplace representatives, installation helping agencies, commanders). Documents case findings, diagnoses, and recommendations in a clear and concise manner. Applies professional knowledge of behavioral health programs and treatment concepts, principles, procedures, and practices to difficult and complex case assignments, developing new strategies and procedures as needed. Performs qualitative and quantitative analyses of pertinent data for evaluation of patient progress and for purposes of program evaluation. Uses word-processing and data management tools.
Documents case records consistent with clinical standards of care. Documents care in patients’ medical records using the appropriate subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) format. Screens records and personnel for security clearances and makes administrative recommendations. Conducts peer review of case records. Adheres to established formats. Maintains confidentiality of records. Collects data and submits reports in a timely manner.

4. Consultation, Training and Education (15%)

Develops and implements orientation, training, and outreach for patients, medical staff, commanders and key unit personnel, supervisors, and in the community. May also provide training and/or supervision for graduate students, medical students, interns, and other healthcare professionals, using professional knowledge of general concepts, principles, procedures, and practices related to behavioral health programs and treatment. Provides instruction in areas of expertise, to include interviewing, communications, decision-making, problem-solving, and behavioral dynamics. Consults with commanders and supervisory personnel to improve identification and referral procedures. Develops and implements formal and informal training plans. Establishes instructional design of classes. Develops training evaluation criteria. Modifies training plans to accommodate changing target population and situations. Conducts formal and informal trainings. Ensures that all requirements for licensure and certification are maintained.

PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

• Who May Apply: US Citizens
• Basic Requirement for Clinical Psychologist:
  
  Degree: Doctoral Degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology.
  
  In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
  
  Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing psychological evaluations, developing behavioral health treatment plans, and providing psychological counseling services. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).
  
  Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
  
  License: The Clinical Psychologist position requires a current, active, valid, unrestricted clinical license to practice Psychology independently, offered by a U.S. State, District of Columbia, commonwealth, territory or jurisdiction. (NOTE: You must provide a copy of your license with your application package.)