Psychologist/Mental Health Therapist

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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 Requirement – Per VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – Section A – Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.chapter 73 or 74 – to serve in a direct patient‑care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

Education Requirement – (1) You must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) – the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) – or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed.

OR – (2) have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and – in addition – successfully completed a re‑specialization program meeting both of the following conditions: (Note: Applicants must provide transcripts documenting the completion of the re‑specialization program.

Internship Requirement – (a) You must have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR – (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement – provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern.

OR – (c) VHA facilities that offered full‑time‑one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement.

OR – (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

(NOTE: Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program.

If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript – the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.

Candidates must hold a full – current – and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State – Territory or Commonwealth of the United States – or the District of Columbia.

Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. Loss of Credential – (2) Once board certified – psychologist must maintain a full – valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation – which may result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations: Clinical Psychology GS‑13 Specialized experience: You must also have at least 2 additional years of experience – with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑12 level – as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post‑doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full – current and unrestricted license.

Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.

Knowledge of clinical research literature.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑13.

VA Careers – Psychologist: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional. Motivational Interviewing (ML) – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – Written Exposure Therapy (WET) – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Prolonged Exposure (PE) – Cognitive Behavioral therapy for Insomnia (CBT‑1) – etc.) VAMC and to community providers – concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients including objective and measurable goals.

Develops – implements – and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients – including prompt completion of clinical reminders.

VA Medical Center Medical Staff – with full clinical privileges.

Assists the PCT supervisor in the design – development – and implementation of clinical programs addressing the needs of Veterans with PTSD.

Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the PCT established by the Chief of Mental Health Service.

Assists the PCT supervisor in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data‑driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.

Facilitates liaisons with other medical center programs to effectively coordinate services to Veteran with PTSD.

Complies with national and local performance measures – including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.

Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the PCT Supervisor – Chief of Mental Health Service – Chief of Staff (or designee) and Medical Center Director.

Attends regular Psychology Section staff meetings – Mental Health Service staff meetings – Medical Staff meetings – and complies with Psychology Section peer review procedures.

Provides teaching on selected mental health topics for Mental Health Grand Rounds – staff meetings – or community organizations.

Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday – tour negotiable.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.

When setting pay – a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13‑26 days of annual leave – 13 days of sick leave – 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual – based on prior work experience or military service experience.

After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth – adoption – or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment – full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.

Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.