Staff Psychologist - Veterans Intensive PTSD (VIP) Program

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP Eligible

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a staff psychologist to join the Veterans Intensive PTSD program at VA Puget Sound Health Care System. The role emphasizes assessment, psychotherapy, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

The position requires a doctoral degree in psychology (APA/CPA) and licensure, with strong emphasis on evidence-based treatments and trauma-focused care for Veterans. Telework is not available; standard weekday hours apply.

Qualifications

• Arc supports a doctoral-level psychologist with APA/CPA accreditation requirements.
• Must possess licensure and meet VA qualification standards for psychologists.
• Experience with a range of therapeutic modalities and clinical assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive psychological assessment and diagnostic services.
• Deliver evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions as indicated.
• Offer consultation to health care providers to coordinate care.
• Develop and document treatment plans for a caseload of Veterans.

Skills

Evidence-based therapy

Assessment expertise

Clinical supervision

Trauma-focused care

Education

Doctoral degree (APA/CPA)

Tools

internship accreditation

Job description

Summary

Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. Must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Incentive Approved

Summary

Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. Must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Incentive Approved

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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
• 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
• There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist
• therefore - an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment
• Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA - there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology)
• 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
• NOTE: Must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship: 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
• NOTE: Once board certified - the employee is required to maintain board certification
• 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
• NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard
• 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
• 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
• 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: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience
• At least one 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 all of 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
• Staff Psychologist - GS-13 (Full Performance - Level) Experience
• At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of 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: Received training and certification in Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Familiarity with other modalities such as EMDR - CBT for Nightmares - Written Exposure Therapy - and Adaptive Disclosure is desirable
• Over three years of experience in trauma treatment - preferably with Veterans or military personnel
• Continued under Education

Duties

• The psychologist serves as a staff psychologist for the Veterans Intensive PTSD (VIP) program at the American Lake Division(s) of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System
• The psychologist's primary duties involve psychological assessment and diagnosis - psychotherapy and counseling - consultation - and clinical supervision
• Duties include but are not limited to: Provides comprehensive psychological assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology receiving care within the Veterans Intensive PTSD (VIP) program - including services for patients with complex psychopathology requiring advanced psycho-diagnostic skills
• Demonstrates expertise in using and contemporary interview and psychometric assessment methods for mental disorders and/or behavioral health conditions
• Provides education to patients and family members regarding mental disorders and best practices approaches to treatment
• Provides evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions as indicated and appropriate for the specific job setting and duties of the psychologist - which may include individual - family - and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation
• Provides consultation to health care providers about assessment findings and treatment plan for patients to ensure that care is coordinated - collaborative - and integrated within the Medical Center
• Develops - implements - and documents the mental health treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients - as indicated and appropriate for the specific job setting and duties of the psychologist
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized