Clinical Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Reno, NV

5d

About The Position

The Clinical Psychologist serves in the ADTP, completing biopsychosocial assessments and diagnosing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental disorders, particularly among Veterans with complex or acute needs. The role involves close collaboration with Addiction Medicine, psychiatric, and inpatient providers when Veterans have medical co-morbidities related to withdrawal management. The psychologist applies complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice, and uses advanced crisis-management, de-escalation, and brief-assessment skills to identify complications related to substance use.

The incumbent provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapy, including individual, family, and group treatment, with care shaped by programmatic needs. As lead clinician, the psychologist serves a team providing assessment and interventions that may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD, Contingency Management, and Motivational Interviewing. The role also includes consultation and referral coordination, community outreach to complex Veterans with limited treatment engagement, and monitoring follow-up after inpatient discharge to support SAIL measures. The psychologist provides or refers patients and their families or significant others for health maintenance and disease-prevention counseling when appropriate, and takes professional responsibility for clinical findings, care decisions, and documentation while consulting peers and supervisors as appropriate.

The position's stated schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is available on an ad hoc basis under agency policy. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA eligibility requirements and application review; the potential award is up to $200,000 over one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from a qualifying APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program in a specialty consistent with the assignment; specified alternative doctoral-degree and re-specialization pathways may qualify.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the listed VHA, accreditation, board-certification, and historical-program exceptions.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except that qualifying non-licensed applicants may receive a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment for up to two years.
• At least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
• Knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• For an EDRP application, meet VHA policy eligibility requirements and submit the application within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.
• Meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, physical examination, influenza vaccination, onboarding, and required application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

• Complete biopsychosocial assessments and diagnose substance use disorders and co-occurring mental disorders, particularly for complex or acute Veterans.
• Collaborate closely with Addiction Medicine, psychiatric, and inpatient providers regarding medical co-morbidities related to withdrawal management.
• Incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnoses and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Use crisis management, de-escalation, and brief assessment to identify co-morbid complications related to substance use.
• Provide comprehensive, evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy based on programmatic needs.
• Serve as lead clinician to a team delivering assessment and psychotherapeutic interventions, including evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD, Contingency Management, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Identify patient problems requiring consultation with other medical center staff and make appropriate referrals.
• Ensure timely referrals to RRTP, outpatient mental health, specialty programs, and community resources as appropriate.
• Provide community outreach to complex Veterans who use crisis or emergency services and have minimal treatment engagement.
• Monitor follow-up services for Veterans discharged from inpatient units using dashboards and other tracking mechanisms to ensure SAIL measures are met.
• Provide or refer patients, families, and significant others for health-maintenance and disease-prevention counseling when appropriate.
• Take professional responsibility for clinical findings, patient-care decisions, and documentation; consult peers and supervisors as appropriate.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval, with an award amount up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to advance request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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