VMG Psycho-gastroenterology Social Worker (General GI)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Psycho-gastroenterology Social Worker provides specialized behavioral health assessment, counseling, and evidence-based interventions for patients with Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI), functional gastrointestinal disorders, chronic GI symptoms, and symptom hypervigilance. Interventions include gut-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (GI-CBT), gut-directed hypnotherapy, psychoeducation, and counseling intended to reduce symptom severity, improve quality of life, and support self-management. The role works closely with gastroenterologists, motility specialists, advanced practice providers, dietitians, and nursing staff to develop integrated care plans addressing behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and physiological factors contributing to GI symptoms. The social worker also serves as a clinical and educational resource on behavioral management of DGBI and participates in program development, quality improvement, and research activities supporting psychogastroenterology services.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited program.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Tennessee or eligibility for Tennessee licensure.
Eligibility for independent clinical practice/licensure.
Experience providing psychotherapy or counseling in a healthcare or outpatient setting.
Knowledge of psychogastroenterology principles and the relationship between behavioral health and gastrointestinal disorders.
Experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Strong patient counseling, assessment, and therapeutic intervention skills.
Experience working with patients experiencing anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, or chronic illness.
Ability to build rapport and establish therapeutic relationships with patients.
Formal training and experience in gut-directed CBT, gut-directed hypnotherapy, health psychology principles, behavioral treatment of chronic illness, motivational interviewing, and psychogastroenterology.
Experience treating IBS, DGBI, functional esophageal disorders, functional dyspepsia, functional constipation and diarrhea, rumination syndrome, and gastrointestinal symptom-related anxiety.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive behavioral and psychosocial assessments of patients with DGBI and related gastrointestinal conditions.
Deliver evidence-based gut-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (GI-CBT) for GI symptom management.
Provide gut-directed clinical hypnotherapy for patients with IBS, functional dyspepsia, functional esophageal disorders, and other DGBIs.
Assess and address symptom hypervigilance, visceral anxiety, illness-related catastrophizing, avoidance behaviors, and maladaptive coping patterns.
Provide individual counseling focused on coping skills, stress management, resilience, and adaptation to chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.
Develop individualized behavioral treatment plans integrated with patients’ medical management plans.
Educate patients about the brain-gut axis and the role of behavioral interventions in gastrointestinal symptom modulation.
Collaborate with gastroenterologists and multidisciplinary team members to identify candidates for behavioral GI interventions.
Monitor patient-reported outcomes and treatment response, adjusting interventions as needed to optimize outcomes.
Maintain documentation consistent with VUMC, regulatory, and professional standards.
Participate in program development, quality improvement initiatives, and research activities supporting psychogastroenterology services.
Serve as an educational resource for providers, trainees, and staff regarding behavioral treatments for DGBI.