Staff Psychologist - Behavioral Health

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Doctoral-level Psychologist to provide clinical services and consultation within a VA medical center. The role emphasizes evidence-based treatment, training, and program evaluation.

Applicants must hold an APA/CPA-accredited doctoral degree with APA/CPA internship experience and licensure in psychology. The position requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and adherence to VA policies.

Qualifications

• Have a doctoral degree in psychology from an APA/PCSAS/CPA accredited program.
• The specialty area must match the assigned position.
• Complete an APA/CPA accredited internship or equivalent.
• Hold a full, current, unrestricted psychology license.
• Non-licensed applicants may be considered for temporary graduate psych roles.

Responsibilities

• Perform psychological assessments and clinical interviews.
• Provide evidence-based psychotherapies for mood, anxiety, and related disorders.
• Consult with medical center staff on patient care issues.
• Engage in teaching, training, and possible research activities.
• Complete clinical charting and documentation promptly.

Skills

Doctoral degree in psychology

APA/CPA/PCSAS accreditation

APA/CPA internship requirement

Licensed to practice psychology

English language proficiency

Education

APA/PCSAS/CPA accredited doctoral program

Approved internship training

Licensure as psychologist

Job description

Summary

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.

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

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) English Language Proficiency
• Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Education
• 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
• OR 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
• OR Have 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 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 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 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 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
• OR 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
• Licensure
• 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 the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
• Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - and collaboration
• GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) Experience
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with Evidence-Based and/or Evidence-Informed therapy
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13
• Physical Requirements: The position is primarily sedentary - with some bending - walking and stooping required.This position requires the ability to read printed material and distinguish colors - such as reading computer screens and the ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around work space safely and to appropriately make contact with patients and staff.

Duties

• VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Responsibilities (85% of time) Ability to diagnose mental health disorders by conducting psychological assessments to include clinical interviewing - objective and projective testing
• Ability to treat mental health disorders through a variety of evidence-based psychotherapies to include modalities of group and individual psychotherapy
• Performs evaluations for Veterans seeking services for mood and anxiety disorders
• Ability to treat mental health disorders through evidence-based psychotherapies to include group and individual psychotherapy modalities
• Veterans will present for treatment with a variety of mood - anxiety - and SMI disorders
• many with personality disorders or traits
• Demonstrates competency in at least one evidence-based psychotherapy such as Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure for treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - or Interpersonal Therapy for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• Staff psychologist may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• Academic/Teaching/Training: (5% of time) May hold faculty appointment at an affiliated university
• May provide training opportunities to various disciplines (PA students - Psychiatry Residents - Family Practice Residents - and Nursing Students)
• May be asked to participate in the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee
• May serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients (mostly in Behavioral Health)
• Research/Program Evaluation (5% of time) Assists in establishing program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the ACC - as appropriate
• If applicable - plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs - designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches
• Presents outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings
• Other Significant Responsibilities (5% of time) Will attend weekly MH & BSS meetings and other treatment team meetings as assigned up to 5% of the time
• May serve on ACC or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces
• May represent psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Relocation Incentive: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible