[AVAPL Members] Re: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

  • From: "Long, Stephen [Northport]" <Stephen.Long@xxxxxx>
  • To: "'members1@xxxxxxxxx'" <members1@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 16:30:02 -0400

Edgardo, you sound the way I feel at times like these.

It is very difficult to see so much of what one has worked for (developing 
skills, making what contributions you can, getting doctoral and postdoctoral 
training) over a professional career to have much of that devalued, denied, 
dismissed.

om: avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kirchberg, Thomas
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 11:49 AM
To: members1@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AVAPL Members] Re: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Thank you, Edgardo.  I value your viewpoint on all the issues you raise!

Tom

Thomas M. Kirchberg, Ph.D., ABPP
Chief Psychologist
Mental Health Service
VA Medical Center Memphis
901-523-8990 ext. 5320

From: avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Padin, Edgardo (VHACLE)
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 9:55 PM
To: members1@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AVAPL Members] Re: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

By interesting, I'm sure you mean discouraging.  After 20+ years in the VA, I 
continue to be astounded at how so many other professions continue to have 
sufficient advocacy to increase their grade levels commensurate with their 
responsibilities (case in point, Social Workers continue a juggernaut rise in 
grade with each new "position" created (most now seemingly needing GS-12 
grades) while psychologist have an almost insurmountable task getting approvals 
at the GS-14 level.  The data notwithstanding (that we have increased the 
number of GS-14 positions), the success of our Hybrid T38 and Professional 
Standards Boards have been underwhelming.

This is not to start an old argument about our glass ceiling as psychologists 
in the VA; but it is to say that this new initiative to bring in and somehow 
"Qualify" Master's Level Counselors is a lobbyist win by Master's Level 
Counselors and Counseling Programs to establish their niche in the VA.  And it 
will ultimately be to the detriment of Psychology.  A system of lower entry pay 
entry "counselors" who can rise to the GS-13 by taking on greater 
responsibility means fewer Psychologists will be needed as they become 
overseers of a cadre counselors doing more of the supposed "drone" work of 
fully manualized and technicalized therapy.  What a Brave New World.  Anyone 
who thinks this is not the case should look at the private sector and see how 
lower level "Assistants" are replacing part of the work (and the pay) of their 
more educated colleagues.

Let me clarify here that I have nothing against Master's Level Counselors, we 
have used them in Cleveland ever since I have been here.  I don't know who is 
trying to kid whom whey they say that this is a "new position" of Mental Health 
Counselor, but we have had GS101-11 Readjustment Counselors in the VA for well 
over thee decades. They have limitations, but have worked out well in the areas 
we have used them.  But what I do know is that not a single one has ever shown 
that they have some secret knowledge or facility or skill and foundational 
learning that is different from, greater than, or particularly more technical 
in nature that Psychologists.  Usually, they have less.  The only difference 
now is that some accreditation body (CACREP) can now be added as a profession 
lobbying body in the VA.  Personally, I am not amused.

So, maybe we as Psychologists are too educated, maybe manualized, evidence  
based protocols are making our "therapy" work too rote and straightforward for 
the amount of pay we are demanding, maybe what we do, with a good cookbook here 
and an evidence based therapy there, can be done by cheaper labor.  I'm not 
sure; but I will say that with this cannon shot of promoting our Master's Level 
colleagues, we will find out.  End of rant.

From: avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fischer, Pamela (OKL)
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 10:52 AM
To: members1@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AVAPL Members] Re: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

It is interesting to me that the LPC who is a program manager can be a GS 13 - 
the grade level that many psychologists who manage programs and have years of 
experience cannot move beyond.

Pamela C. Fischer, Ph.D.
Director, Primary Care Mental Health #111AC
Veterans Affairs Medical Center -OKC
921 N.E. 13th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: 405-456-3634
Fax:     405-456--5956
From: avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:avaplmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shorter, George Wiley
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2010 8:54 AM
To: members1@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AVAPL Members] Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Colleagues,

As many of you have been awaiting the Qualification Standards for Mental Health 
Counselors, we wanted to share these with you when we first received it.


George Shorter, Ph.D.
President, AVAPL


"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no 
matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive 
the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country."   
-George Washington





[cid:image001.jpg@01CB6626.E023E3F0]


Date:  9/29/10                                                  ID#: 2010-25

Policy Office:  Recruitment & Placement Policy Service (059)
Contact:  Kent A. Wellman (Kent.Wellman2@xxxxxx<mailto:Kent.Wellman2@xxxxxx>)
Policy Subject:  VA Handbook 5005, PT II, Chapter 2, Appendix G43, Licensed 
Professional Mental Health Counselor qualification standard.

Handbook Reference: 5005

The attached new VA qualification standard for Licensed Professional Mental 
Health Counselor, GS-101 has been signed.  Since this is a new occupation to VA 
there will NOT be an initial one-time boarding.  Additional implementation 
instructions and guidance will be forthcoming from the Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA).  The new Appendix G43 will be added to the electronic 
version of VA Handbook 5005, Pt II, located at 
http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/HRLibrary/Dir-Policy.htm

Questions regarding this Policy Update should be addressed to the Title 38 
Staffing Policy Section, mailto:staffingpolicy059/vaco@xxxxxxx

Status: Policy Process Step 4

Estimated date of release/implementation:  9/29/2010

This policy alert e-mail is part of a notification process that is intended to 
alert HR Specialists and other interested parties that a new policy or change 
to existing policy is required or being considered. If you have specific 
questions regarding this policy alert, please address them to the contact 
person named above. Policy update e-mails regarding this policy subject will be 
automatically generated according to the policy communication 
schedule/timeline. For more information about this policy alert or the policy 
communication schedule/timeline please go to 
http://vaww.va.gov/ohrm/<http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/>

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