Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level)

Veterans Health Administration•White City, OR

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Addiction Therapist works within the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) treatment team to provide in-person psychotherapy services to Veterans with substance use and addiction problems. Services include individual, group, and family interventions using evidence-based practices, with particular emphasis on evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs). The therapist coordinates treatment planning and delivery of care to meet the needs of patients diagnosed with SUD and documents and measures treatment effectiveness and Veterans’ responses using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments. The position also includes administrative responsibilities such as scheduling Veterans, responding to phone calls and secure messages, attending meetings, complying with performance measures and electronic health record documentation procedures, and completing other collateral duties as assigned. Ongoing professional training is expected through workshops, intra-VA assignments, and distance learning. The employee may occasionally provide clinical coverage for an absent staff member as directed by a supervisor. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Bachelor’s degree in drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field from an accredited college or university.
Full, current, unrestricted state, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia license to practice in Alcohol and Drug Treatment.
Completion of either the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification or the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1 certification.
For GS-07 selection based on experience, at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade; alternatively, advanced entry placement may be based on an exemplary academic record as specified in the announcement.
For GS-09 qualification, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus the specified knowledge and abilities related to coexisting disorders, SUD assessment and care planning, and therapeutic relationships.
Ability to work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds using counseling skills.
Knowledge of coexisting medical or mental health disorders and their interrelationship with substance use disorders.
Skill in providing individual and group therapy, including specified SUD evidence-based therapies.
Ability to communicate and establish effective working relationships with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
Ability to identify patients in psychological distress and secure appropriate interventions.
Applicants must meet applicable education and certification or licensure requirements before hiring; education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution.
Selected applicants are subject to background/security investigation, pre-appointment drug testing, seasonal influenza vaccination requirements, onboarding requirements, and a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

For advanced entry placement at GS-07, an exemplary academic record, demonstrated by one of the GPA or class-standing criteria described in the announcement.
Experience equivalent to the next lower grade may qualify applicants for GS-07 or GS-09, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Provide in-person individual, group, and family psychotherapy to Veterans with substance use and addiction problems, using evidence-based practices.
Coordinate treatment planning and delivery of services for patients diagnosed with substance use disorders.
Provide direct clinical care and evidence-based psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise.
Document treatment and measure its effectiveness and Veterans’ responses using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments.
Assess substance use disorders and develop treatment, recovery, and continuing-care plans.
Identify Veterans in psychological distress and secure appropriate interventions within the scope of certification and VA policy.
Build and maintain effective therapeutic and working relationships with Veterans, families, multidisciplinary staff, and community resources, including making appropriate referrals.
Schedule Veterans and address related scheduling issues; return Veterans’ phone calls and secure messages.
Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screenings and clinical reminders.
Follow electronic health record documentation procedures and timeliness standards, including entering diagnostic and procedure codes and completing patient check-out procedures.
Attend organizational, administrative, and informational meetings.
Participate in ongoing professional training through workshops, intra-VA assignments, and distance learning.
Occasionally provide clinical coverage for an absent staff member as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
Perform other collateral duties as assigned.