Staff Psychologist

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific individual eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval (award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period of one to five years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office after review of the EDRP application. The full‑time permanent Inpatient Psychologist is located in the TVH Mental Health Care Line Psychiatry Section.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Responsibilities (≈80% of time)
  • Diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychological and/or cognitive function assessments and neuropsychological screenings.
  • Treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, particularly PTSD and Substance Abuse, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders.
  • Provide a full range of psycho‑diagnostic services, including assessment and use of the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques.
  • Perform evaluations for psychodiagnosis, treatment planning, and functional evaluations for PTSD and Substance Abuse.
  • Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, consultation, rehabilitation, and psychoeducation.
  • Consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues; staff clinical psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.
• Academic/Teaching/Training (≈10% of time)
  • Provide training and clinical supervision to psychology trainees, psychology technicians, and unlicensed psychologists.
  • Be involved in the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee.
  • Provide leadership guidance and consultation to staff of assigned units.
  • Serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees, assisting in formulation of psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations for patients.
• Research/Program Evaluation (≈5% of time)
  • Create, monitor, and analyze program monitors and outcome measurements within assigned programs using data‑driven quality assurance processes.
  • Ensure timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system.
  • If applicable, plan and oversee completion of personal research programs designed to inform program planning and relevant treatment approaches.
  • Present outcome data and research results at VA and regional/national scientific or professional meetings, if applicable.
  • Assist in preparation of RFPs and grant proposals, as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (non‑citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g).
• English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.
• Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Exception: Non‑licensed applicants who otherwise meet eligibility may be given a temporary appointment as a “graduate psychologist” at GS‑11 or GS‑12 for up to two years, provided they practice only under supervision of a licensed psychologist; failure to obtain licensure during that period justifies termination.
• Education: Hold a doctoral degree in psychology from a program accredited by APA, PCSAS, or CPA at the time of completion, with the specialty area consistent with the assignment. Alternatives include:
  • A doctoral degree in any area of psychology plus successful completion of a re‑specialization program (including an approved internship) from an APA or CPA accredited doctoral program, with the retrained specialty consistent with the assignment; official transcript/certificate required.
  • A doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internships: Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program accredited by APA or CPA at the time of completion, consistent with the assignment. Alternatives include:
  • New VHA psychology internship programs in the process of APA accreditation, sanctioned by VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time of internship.
  • VHA facilities offering full‑time one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979).
  • Applicants who completed a non‑accredited internship may be eligible if currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty consistent with the assignment (maintenance of board certification required).
  • For doctoral degrees awarded 1951‑1978 with a psychological dissertation, the internship requirement may be met by equivalent one‑year supervised internship experience verified by the doctoral program if not on the transcript.
• Grade Determinations:
  • GS‑11 – Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): Experience – none beyond basic requirements.
  • GS‑12 – Staff Psychologist: Experience – at least one year as a professional psychologist equivalent to GS‑11; unlicensed psychologists practice under less intense supervision than at GS‑11.
  • GS‑13 – Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level): Experience – at least two years as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to GS‑12.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for all grades:
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
  • Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
  • Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
  • Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (for staff psychologists with specified research duties).
  • Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within an established research team, including participant relations, documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration.
• Additional KSAs for GS‑13:
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
  • Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and