Clinical Psychologist - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Joplin, MO

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist is assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team in General Mental Health services at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks. The team provides collaborative, recovery-oriented care to Veterans with a wide range of mental health symptoms, emphasizing evidence-based psychotherapy and measurement-based care. The psychologist provides clinical assessment, differential diagnosis, measurement-based monitoring, team-based treatment planning, and direct services in individual, group, couples/family, and telehealth formats. Services must follow applicable policies and VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines, with evidence-based treatments used whenever clinically indicated.

The psychologist works independently as a member of the Mental Health Service with full clinical privileges and is professionally responsible for clinical findings, treatment decisions, and documentation. The role includes collaboration and consultation with BHIP colleagues and other clinical and community providers. The full performance level is GS-13; appointments may be made at GS-11 through GS-13. The position is full-time, scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with hours subject to change based on service needs. Telework is available, but the position is not virtual. Eligible employees may apply for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA requirements and approval.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program in an eligible specialty area, or an accepted alternative qualification pathway described in the announcement.
• Completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the applicable accreditation or VHA criteria, unless an accepted exception applies.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, or eligibility under the specified grandfathering provision.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, along with the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, along with the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to apply psychological treatments or assessment methods, design and implement treatment strategies, incorporate new clinical procedures, and provide professional consultation, as applicable to the grade and duties.
• Must meet pre-employment screening and onboarding conditions, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must complete required application documentation and serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with evidence-based psychotherapies such as CBT-D, ACT, IPT, CBT-I, CBT-CP, or DBT.
• Experience providing behavioral health services to adults.
• Experience providing behavioral health services through telehealth.
• Experience working as a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary care team.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally sensitive clinical services for a wide range of mental disorders.
• Identify at-risk patients and conduct comprehensive risk assessments and safety planning.
• Complete psychodiagnostic assessments for assigned patients and provide assessments in a consulting role to other clinicians.
• Educate patients, family members, and significant others.
• Provide evidence-based psychotherapy, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
• Collaborate with Veterans and team members to develop and implement recovery-oriented treatment plans.
• Serve as a consultant, mentor, or in other appropriate roles on the BHIP team.
• Consult with professional staff in the BHIP team, CBOC, Mental Health Service, medical center, and community providers when appropriate.
• Develop, implement, and document individualized treatment plans for an assigned caseload.
• Meet national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of electronic medical record Clinical Reminders.
• Comply with clinical documentation and patient checkout procedures, including timeliness standards.
• Maintain current practice capability and meet licensure and credentialing requirements.
• Perform other clinically appropriate duties assigned by the Program Manager, Deputy ACOS for Mental Health, and/or ACOS for Mental Health.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program may provide up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility, application review, and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other program limits.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree