[AVAPL Members] Re: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

  • From: "Padin, Edgardo (VHACLE)" <Edgardo.Padin@xxxxxx>
  • To: <members1@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 22:55:18 -0400

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

 

 

 

 


 

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

Policy Office:  Recruitment & Placement Policy Service (059)
Contact:  Kent A. Wellman (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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