Psychologist PhD

Saint Luke's Physician Group•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

Provide integrated psychological services across inpatient and outpatient settings within multidisciplinary heart, liver, and kidney transplant teams, supporting patients throughout the transplant continuum. Conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations for transplant candidates and living donors, using evidence-based assessment tools to evaluate mental health status, cognitive ability, readiness for surgery, and psychosocial risk factors. Deliver bedside psychotherapy to critically ill patients before and after transplant, addressing acute psychological distress, adjustment to medical trauma, and complex emotional responses to life-threatening illness. Develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate social determinants of health and target modifiable psychosocial risk factors to enhance surgical outcomes and long-term recovery. Provide outpatient psychotherapy for individuals managing chronic organ disease, transplant-related challenges, and co-occurring substance use disorders. Use evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Facilitate psychoeducational and therapeutic groups focused on stress reduction, wellness promotion, relapse prevention, and adaptive coping strategies for chronic illness and recovery. Collaborate with transplant surgeons, hepatologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, addiction specialists, social workers, and allied health professionals to provide coordinated, patient-centered care and advocate for psychological services within transplant protocols. As appropriate, supervise and mentor graduate-level psychology trainees, including externs, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, providing clinical oversight, ethical guidance, and research mentorship. Partner with multidisciplinary transplant providers to develop and implement clinical research initiatives aimed at improving psychosocial assessment, treatment engagement, adherence, and outcomes among transplant candidates and recipients.

Requirements

Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology.
Psychologist credential from the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.
Applicable experience: less than 1 year.

Responsibilities

Provide integrated psychological services in inpatient and outpatient settings for heart, liver, and kidney transplant teams.
Conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations of transplant candidates and living donors, assessing mental health, cognitive ability, surgical readiness, and psychosocial risk factors.
Provide bedside psychotherapy to critically ill pre- and post-transplant patients.
Develop individualized treatment plans that address social determinants of health and modifiable psychosocial risk factors.
Provide outpatient psychotherapy for people managing chronic organ disease, transplant-related challenges, and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Use evidence-based therapies, including CBT, ACT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing.
Facilitate psychoeducational and therapeutic groups focused on stress reduction, wellness, relapse prevention, and adaptive coping.
Collaborate with transplant and allied health professionals to coordinate patient-centered care and support integration of psychological services into transplant protocols.
As appropriate, supervise and mentor graduate-level psychology trainees, providing clinical oversight, ethical guidance, and research mentorship.
Partner with multidisciplinary transplant providers to develop and implement clinical research initiatives to improve psychosocial assessment, treatment engagement, adherence, and outcomes.