Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level)

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) works as part of the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) treatment team, providing in-person psychotherapy to Veterans with substance use and addiction problems. Services include individual, group, and family interventions, with special emphasis on evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs). The therapist coordinates treatment planning and service delivery to meet patients’ needs and provides direct clinical care consistent with their training and expertise.

The role includes assessing SUDs; developing treatment, recovery, and continuing-care plans; documenting care; and measuring treatment effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments. The therapist identifies patients in psychological distress and secures appropriate interventions within the scope of certification and VA policy. The position also involves administrative work, ongoing professional development, occasional clinical coverage for absent staff, compliance with performance measures and EHRM documentation procedures, and participation in organizational meetings. The scheduled work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is not eligible for telework and is not virtual.

Requirements

• 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.
• One of the following credentials: IC&RC Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification, or NAADAC National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other backgrounds using counseling skills.
• Knowledge of counseling and therapy principles, concepts, and methods used to treat individuals with SUDs.
• Knowledge of appropriate documentation of substance use history and treatment.
• Ability to identify patients in psychological distress.
• Knowledge of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders and their relationship to SUDs.
• Ability to assess SUDs and develop treatment and continuing-care plans.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working or therapeutic relationships with multidisciplinary staff, Veterans, and their families.
• GS-05 entry-level placement requires licensure and less than one year of experience, with no experience beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-07 placement requires at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or qualifying advanced-entry education and an exemplary academic record.
• GS-09 placement requires one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated citizenship exception for recruiting qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Selected applicants for testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusing the test results in denial of employment.
• Must meet Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must complete application requirements listed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• For GS-07 advanced entry, a qualifying bachelor's degree with an exemplary academic record: GPA of at least 3.0 overall or in the specified final-year coursework, at least 3.5 in the major’s required courses, or placement in the upper third of the graduating class.
• Current VHA employees in the occupation may qualify under the VA Qualification Standard’s grandfathering provision.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-person individual, group, and family psychotherapy to RRTP Veterans with substance use and addiction problems, using evidence-based practices consistent with training and expertise.
• Coordinate SUD treatment planning and delivery of services to meet patients’ needs.
• Conduct assessments of substance use disorders and develop treatment, recovery, and continuing-care plans.
• Document evidence-based treatment and measure its effectiveness and Veterans’ responses using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments.
• Identify patients in psychological distress and secure appropriate interventions consistent with VA policy and the scope of certification.
• Develop and maintain effective therapeutic and working relationships with Veterans, their families, multidisciplinary staff, and community resources; make appropriate referrals.
• Schedule Veterans and address related issues, return phone calls and secure messages, and attend organizational meetings.
• Complete ongoing professional training through workshops, intra-VA assignments, and distance learning.
• Occasionally provide clinical coverage for an absent staff member when deemed necessary by the supervisor.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screenings and clinical reminders.
• Follow EHRM documentation procedures and timeliness standards, including appropriate patient checkout procedures and entry of diagnostic and procedure codes.
• Attend administrative and informational meetings held by behavioral health and RRTP leadership, the Chief of Staff, and the facility Director.
• Perform other collateral duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees earn annual leave based on years of federal service, and selected applicants may request prior work or military service credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level