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

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: 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
• (b) The specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• NOTE: The applicant 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.....OR..
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND 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
• 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: GS-13 Staff Psychologist (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
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package
• References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a clinical setting
• Walking - standing - light lifting - typing - carrying - and bending may be required.

Duties

• Clinical Psychologist The incumbent in this position has a primary responsibility for the provision of psychotherapy services through the Mental Health Clinic Behavioral Health Intervention Program (BHIP) at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center (HCC) - which is part of the in the Central Virginia VA Health Care System
• This is a telework eligible position
• The incumbent will be expected to provide psychological assessment services and evidence-based - evidence-informed - and promising psychotherapies consistent with provision of care guidelines for Veterans presenting with a broad spectrum of psychological problems and psychiatric symptoms
• Duties include providing diagnostic interviews - psychological assessments - psychoeducation - behavior planning - and individual - couples - family - and group psychotherapies for patients with wide variety of mental health disorders and co-occurring disorders - including PTSD and depression - particularly those with histories of military and non-military trauma
• Clinical Responsibilities (80% of the time)
• Conducts initial screening and intakes of Veterans referred for Mental Health Treatment - including PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
• Within the scope of privileges granted - incumbent provides a full range of comprehensive psychotherapeutic interventions - including crisis intervene on and outpatient individual - couples - family - and group psychotherapies for mood disorders - anxiety disorders - PTSD - substance misuse - and co-occurring disorders - with emphasis on time-limited evidence­-based and evidence-informed approaches
• Clinical services provided may include such evidence-based practices as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy - Seeking Safety - Motivational Interviewing - Cognitive Processing Therapy - Prolonged Exposure Therapy - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - and CBT for Depression - among others
• Leads three evidence-based or evidence-informed psycho therapy groups Develops specialized behavior plans as appropriate and consults with staff on how to implement them
• May provide services to the families of Veterans with psychological and substance use problems and co-occuring problems - including such services as psychoeducation - couples therapy - and family therapy to help the Veteran improve his/her functioning within their family system
• Develops safety plans for patients with suicidal and/or homicidal ideation/intent
• Administers - scores - interprets - and writes brief psychological evaluations utilizing brief assessments such as the BDI - BAI - PHQ 9 - and PCL 5
• The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status - formulate a diagnosis - and lay the foundation for the treatment plan
• Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system in a timely manner
• Incumbent will ensure productivity is maintained at the established level for the programs for which he/she is responsible
• Non-Clinical Duties (20% of the time) A
• Academic Teaching/Training May provide clinical supervision - including trainees seeking licensure in psychology May be involved in 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 patient
• B
• Admin/Program Evaluation Is involved in program evaluation activities Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team to which the incumbent is assigned
• Facilitates liaisons with other mental health and health care programs to effectively coordinate services
• Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm - M-F
• Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Monique HEAD (monique.head@va.gov) - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized