Staff Psychologist

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Provides a full range of therapeutic services and interventions in the General Mental Health Clinic, including psychiatric assessments and individual, and group psychotherapy. Selects and provides the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care, including evidence-based care for substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
• Completes intakes and makes appropriate treatment recommendations based on these interviews.
• Contributes to clinical service activities (e.g., urgent care, police evaluations, compensation and pension evaluations), as requested.
• Attends GMH/BHIP treatment team meetings and serves as a consultant to other treatment providers including those in the specialty programs for veterans with SUD.
• Completes administrative functions, including report and progress note writing, and attending staff and organizational meetings.
• Keeps informed regarding treatment and outcome research development in the areas of substance use and mental health (including Affective and Anxiety Disorders), and assists in the implementation or modification of existing treatments based on developments in these areas of practice.
• Answers clinic consults, coordinates patient care, and assists with tracking clinic data.
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by local and national guidelines.
• Participates in recruitment activities for the psychology internship and fellowship training programs (e.g., application review, interviewing, and applicant selection).
• Serves as a consultant to other medical and mental health staff and trainees on issues related to addiction.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

The psychologist will be a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team located in the General Mental Health (GMH) Clinic. The psychologist will provide integrated services for veterans diagnosed with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and other psychiatric co-morbidities (including Affective and Anxiety Disorders) who are seeking care in the GMH Clinic and serve as the liaison between the GMH Clinic and SUD programs.

Qualifications

• 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. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Have 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.

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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).

Benefits

• 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).
• 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.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Schedule

Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Telework: Ad-Hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Benefits

• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
• 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.
• Parental Leave: 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.
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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)

Contact Information

Contact Hannah Neilson at hannah.neilson@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more