Psychologist (PCMHI)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37–50 days of annual paid time off

Paid parental leave

Child care subsidy

Federal retirement benefits

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a dedicated Staff Psychologist for the Phoenix Mental Health Service. This role involves providing a wide range of clinical services within outpatient primary-care settings, working closely with primary care teams.

Qualifications include a doctoral degree in psychology, the ability to apply various psychotherapeutic methods, and U.S. citizenship. The position comes with comprehensive benefits, flexible schedule options, and significant paid time off.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship requirement for appointment.
• Ability to communicate and consult in professional psychological settings.
• Experience in providing diverse psychological services.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based psychotherapies for mental health patients.
• Collaborate with healthcare teams to enhance patient care.
• Document and develop treatment plans for patients.

Skills

Proficient in spoken and written English

Ability to apply professional psychological treatments

Knowledge of clinical research literature

Ability to design effective treatment strategies

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Accredited internship

Job description

Summary

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

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Language: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Licensure: Applicants 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.
• Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B) not to exceed 2 years from date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Education: Applicant must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program 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.
• Specialty area refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills.
• Accreditation: APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations thereof. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology.
• Alternatively, applicants may have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and successfully complete a re-specialization program that includes an approved internship, meeting conditions that the program be completed in an APA or CPA accredited doctoral program and the specialty retrained must be consistent with the assignment.
• Alternatively, applicants may hold a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature, and must have completed an accredited internship (APA or CPA) or an equivalent supervised internship.
• If internship experience is not on the official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship was completed.
• Applicants may qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation, applicable only to current VHA employees who meet the criteria.
• Grade Determinations:
• GS-11: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-12: At least 1 year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11).
• GS-13: At least 2 years of professional psychologist experience, with at least one year equivalent to GS-12.
• Required KSAs for GS-12:
• 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—scholarship and research execution within a research team, including participant relations, documentation, data acquisition, and collaboration.
• Required 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 behavioral health.
• Knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Physical Requirements: The Staff Psychologist must be independently mobile throughout the medical center as needed; reading, documentation, and verbal communication with patients, colleagues, supervisors, and community partners are significant portions of the role. Standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting moderately heavy objects may be required.

Responsibilities

• The Phoenix Mental Health Service is seeking a qualified psychologist to join the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) team at the 32nd Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
• The incumbent will provide a wide range of clinical services and consultations as a member of the Mental Health Medical Staff.
• This position is integrated within outpatient primary‑care clinics—working collaboratively with primary‑care teams to ensure coordinated and comprehensive patient care.
• Major duties include— but are not limited to: providing evidence‑based psychotherapies such as cognitive‑behavioral therapy for depression (CBT‑D) and/or insomnia (CBT‑I), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Problem‑Solving Therapy (PST), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression (IPT).
• Provide consultation to PACT teams, professional staff within Phoenix VAMC, and community providers regarding the behavioral health care needs of Veterans.
• Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients.
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for health care as directed by the Medical Center and Section Management.
• Facilitates liaisons with other health‑care programs to effectively coordinate services.
• Assists the Psychology Section Chief in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs.
• Attends relevant Psychology Section‑Service and Mental Health & Behavioral Services Board meetings.

Benefits

• Work Schedule: Schedule will be discussed during interview.
• Compressed/Flexible: Available.
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized.
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate 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 off 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.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment—up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for 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, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance; federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care benefits can be carried into retirement.
• Telework: Not Available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Contact [e-mail] – the EDRP Coordinator for questions or assistance.