Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Marion, IN

15h

About The Position

The Psychologist provides comprehensive psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and evaluation for patients with complex personality, emotional adjustment, or mental health concerns. The role includes care for primary care patients with psychiatric diagnoses and psychological factors affecting physical health, using brief, solution-focused and evidence-based interventions. The position also involves clinical supervision and training, consultation with medical center staff, and possible program evaluation and research activities.

Clinical responsibilities account for 90% of the position; academic, teaching, and training activities account for 5%; research accounts for 3%; and other significant responsibilities account for 2%. The psychologist may serve on Medical Center, VISN, or national VA committees or task forces and perform other duties assigned by the Chief of Mental Health Service, supervisory psychologist, or designee.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework may be authorized by a supervisor under agency policy. This is not a virtual position. The position is at the GS-13 full-performance level. It may be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA eligibility requirements and application approval; an award may be up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, an eligible doctoral degree and qualifying accredited respecialization, or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment, subject to the stated VHA, pre-1979, and board-certification alternatives.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. At GS-11 and GS-12, qualifying nonlicensed applicants may be eligible for a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment for up to two years, subject to the stated conditions.
• 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 across patient populations.
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
• Knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, physical examination, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Psychologists must maintain required board certification when applicable; failure to maintain it may result in removal from the occupation.
• Complete the application requirements described in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing care for individuals with Severe Mental Illness.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and consultation for patients with complex personality, emotional adjustment, or mental health concerns.
• Conduct evaluations for psychodiagnosis, treatment planning, and functional assessment.
• Deliver individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy or marital counseling, consultation, rehabilitation, and psychoeducation.
• Consult with medical center staff regarding patient care issues.
• Provide psychological consultation to primary care providers and interventions for primary care patients with psychiatric diagnoses or psychological factors affecting physical health.
• Provide brief, solution-focused interventions, including cognitive and behavioral techniques, behavioral interventions, supportive therapy, and, when appropriate, insight-oriented therapy.
• Apply psychosocial rehabilitation techniques, recovery principles, and appropriate evidence-based treatments in patient care.
• Provide clinical supervision to psychology practicum students, predoctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows in assessment, consultation, treatment, and research.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and consultation to assigned unit staff; conduct seminars, case conferences, and other educational meetings.
• May develop and implement research hypotheses and designs, consult on staff research, and collaborate on interdisciplinary research.
• Keep current with research by attending professional conferences and reading professional publications; present findings or theories at professional conferences or in publications.
• May serve on Medical Center, VISN, or national VA committees or task forces at the Chief of Mental Health's request.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Chief of Mental Health Service, supervisory psychologist, or designee, consistent with ethical standards.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), if eligible and approved, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type and agency rules.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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