Psychologist

Job Description

Here is a detailed summary of the job posting:

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### About the Company

This job is with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), specifically within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), working at a Vet Center. The VA is a federal government entity dedicated to serving Veterans, active duty Service members, and their families.

The VA offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to provide a rewarding federal career. Key benefits include:

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): A student loan payment reimbursement program, potentially offering up to $200,000 over one to five years, subject to eligibility and approval.
• Competitive Salary and Regular Increases: Pay is determined competitively, with potential for a higher step rate based on qualifications or agency needs.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 37-50 days of paid time off annually (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays). Credit for prior work or military service can accelerate annual leave accrual.
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child Care Subsidy: Full-time employees earning below $144,000 in total family income may be eligible for a subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, with a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Includes a traditional federal pension (with 5 years vesting) and a federal 401K with up to 5% agency contributions.
• Insurance: Access to federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance programs, many of which can be carried into retirement.

The VA emphasizes a commitment to improving government efficiency, upholding the ideals of the American republic, the rule of law, and the United States Constitution. They also encourage applications from persons with disabilities.

### Job Description: Psychologist at a Vet Center

This position is for a Psychologist at a Vet Center, responsible for providing essential readjustment counseling services to eligible Veterans, active duty Service members, and their families. The role requires the ability to independently implement psychotherapeutic modalities to address a variety of military-related psychological and psychosocial problems.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Counseling Planning/Goal Setting:
• Design and implement effective treatment strategies.
• Develop and periodically update individualized readjustment counseling service plans.
• Ensure plans reflect a course of therapeutic and psychosocial interventions, inclusive of outcome measurements.
• Direct Counseling Service Provision:
• Implement individualized counseling plans.
• Provide appropriate individual, group, couple, and/or family readjustment counseling.
• Counseling location (in-person and/or virtual) will be based on client preference.
• Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention:
• Apply risk assessment procedures during initial assessments and periodically throughout the counseling process as needed.
• Care Coordination:
• Link clients with other community services, resources, and opportunities to maximize their independence, health, and well-being.
• Outreach:
• Maintain active coordination with Vet Center outreach specialists to ensure seamless referral to services for individuals encountered at community outreach events.
• Team Cohesion and Coordination:
• Actively participate in Vet Center staff meetings under the supervision of the Vet Center Director.
• Contribute to team building, staff development through conjoint planning, problem-solving, discussion of problematic cases, coaching/mentoring new staff, and addressing staff self-care.
• Documentation/Administrative Responsibilities/Consultation:
• Document all clinical interactions with eligible individuals and episodes of care coordination as required by RCS policy.
• Responsiveness to Other Duties as Assigned:
• Proactively address all other duties assigned and directed by the Vet Center Director.

Work Schedule:
The standard work schedule is 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required based on operational needs. This position is not available for telework or virtual work.

Qualifications:

• Basic Requirements:
• United States Citizenship is mandatory.
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English is required.
• Education:
• A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA, PCSAS, or CPA accredited graduate program. The specialty area (clinical, counseling, psychological clinical science, or clinical neuropsychology) must be consistent with the assignment.
• Alternatively, a doctoral degree in any area of psychology with a successful re-specialization program (including an approved internship) from an APA or CPA accredited doctoral program.
• For degrees awarded between 1951-1978, a doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation may qualify.
• An official transcript is required with the application.
• Internships:
• Successful completion of an APA or CPA accredited professional psychology internship training program consistent with the assignment.
• Specific provisions exist for new VHA programs applying for APA accreditation, pre-1979 VHA internships, or individuals board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology.
• Individuals with degrees from 1951-1978 may fulfill this requirement with a one-year supervised internship acceptable to their doctoral program.
• Licensure:
• Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Exception: Non-licensed applicants may be temporarily appointed as a “graduate psychologist” (GS-11 or GS-12) for up to two years, provided they practice under supervision. Failure to obtain licensure within this period will result in termination.

• Grade Determinations (GS-11, GS-12, GS-13):
• GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): No experience beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Development Level): At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-11, plus demonstrated knowledge of applying a wide range of psychological treatments/assessments, ability to design/implement effective strategies, incorporate new procedures, and conduct basic research tasks.
• GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level): At least two years of experience (with at least one year equivalent to GS-12), licensure is mandatory, plus demonstrated knowledge of applying professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations, ability to provide professional advice/consultation, and knowledge of clinical research literature.

• Preferred Experience:
• Working with combat veterans in providing family counseling services.
• Experience with veterans who were sexually traumatized/harassed in the military.
• Conducting psycho-social assessments and providing processing psychotherapy for trauma-related conditions.
• Implementing treatment plans for combat Veterans and their families.

Conditions of Employment:
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, subject to drug urinalysis, Selective Service registration (if applicable), English proficiency, a potential trial period, background/security investigation, online onboarding, REAL ID compliant identification by May 2025, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.