Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Tuscaloosa, AL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist works primarily in outpatient general mental health as part of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), providing psychodiagnostic assessments, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and other psychological services. The psychologist works with a multidisciplinary team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, licensed mental health professionals, nurses, psychology technicians, and other disciplines.

The role also provides same-day behavioral health consultation in Primary Care through the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) model. The psychologist conducts functional assessments and brief treatment for concerns commonly treated in primary care, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, chronic pain, substance use disorders, health behavior change, and adjustment disorders. Care is coordinated with primary care providers, nursing staff, social workers, pharmacists, care managers, and specialty mental health providers to support Veteran-centered treatment.

The position includes clinical assessment and treatment, interdisciplinary collaboration, suicide and violence risk assessment, crisis response, program development and quality improvement, and documentation in accordance with VA, Joint Commission, and CARF standards. The psychologist may also provide supervision, consultation, and training to psychology trainees, staff, or interdisciplinary team members as assigned.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Recruitment or relocation incentives are authorized; relocation assistance and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program in an eligible specialty area; specified alternatives include a qualifying re-specialization program or a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated accreditation or qualifying alternative requirements.
• A full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, unless eligible for the temporary graduate psychologist appointment exception.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to apply professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to varied patient populations and to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
• For specified research duties, ability to conduct clinical research activities; ability to perform basic scholarship and research execution tasks within an established research team.
• For GS-13, ability to provide professional advice and consultation in professional psychology and behavioral health, and knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Must pass the required background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Must complete required onboarding and application documentation and comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Selected applicants are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment and must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychological and diagnostic assessments for Veterans with complex mental health, substance use, and co-occurring medical conditions.
• Provide individual and group psychotherapy using evidence-based treatments, including CBT, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, trauma-informed care, and skills-based interventions.
• Develop, implement, and update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans and the interdisciplinary team.
• Provide psychoeducation and skills-building interventions to support recovery, emotional regulation, and functional improvement.
• Provide same-day behavioral health consultation and functional assessments in Primary Care through the PC-MHI model.
• Provide brief treatment for behavioral health concerns commonly treated in primary care, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, chronic pain, substance use disorders, health behavior change, and adjustment disorders.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, case conferences, and care coordination activities.
• Collaborate with psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists, rehabilitation staff, and other disciplines to integrate Veteran-centered care.
• Consult with team members regarding psychological factors, treatment approaches, and behavioral management strategies.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments, violence risk evaluations, and safety planning.
• Respond to acute clinical situations and provide crisis intervention in a residential care environment.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health services and programming models.
• Provide clinical supervision, consultation, or training to psychology trainees, staff, or interdisciplinary team members as assigned.
• Support staff development in evidence-based practices, recovery-oriented care, and behavioral health interventions.
• Complete timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with VA, Joint Commission, and CARF standards.
• Adhere to ethical standards, professional guidelines, and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• 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 eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive (sign-on bonus) is authorized.

What This Job Offers

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