Staff Psychologist (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration • Reno, NV

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist provides psychological services in the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) setting. The role includes screening patients for depression, excessive substance use, PTSD, cognitive limitations, and other psychological disorders; delivering brief, evidence-based interventions; monitoring patients and supporting adherence to care guidelines; and collaborating with primary care physicians on care decisions. Services may be delivered through telehealth based on service needs or veteran preference.

The psychologist diagnoses mental disorders, conducts psychological and brief neuropsychological assessments, provides brief treatment using varied modalities, and delivers rehabilitation-oriented interventions related to medical disorders and disabilities. Modalities may include individual, group, and family psychotherapy, biofeedback, hypnosis, and environmental interventions. The role also includes consultation with medical center staff and training psychology practicum students, interns, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees from other disciplines. The psychologist exercises independent judgment in providing clinical care, consultation, and education, while consulting with peers and supervisors as needed. The position reports administratively and clinically to the Supervisor, PCMHI, with the ACOS, Mental Health Service and Lead Psychologist serving as approving officials for professional standards and training responsibilities.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, or may be available on an ad hoc basis per agency policy. This is not a virtual position. Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, a doctoral degree in psychology plus qualifying accredited respecialization, or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the stated alternatives and exceptions.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; eligible non-licensed applicants may receive a temporary graduate psychologist appointment under supervision for up to two years.
• For GS-12 consideration, at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-13 consideration, 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 across patient populations and design and implement effective treatment strategies.
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
• For applicable research duties, ability to conduct research activities or perform research tasks within an established research team, including participant relations, documentation, data acquisition and maintenance, and collaboration.
• For GS-13 consideration, ability to provide professional advice and consultation in psychology and behavioral health, and knowledge of clinical research literature.
• May be required to serve a trial period, undergo a background/security investigation, complete online onboarding, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Applicants in testing-designated positions who are tentatively selected must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Acceptable identification is required for pre-employment requirements; effective May 7, 2025, non-REAL-ID-compliant driver's licenses or state identification cards cannot be used as acceptable employment identification.

Nice To Haves

• Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Prior federal or military service may be considered for annual leave accrual credit, if requested and approved before appointment.
• Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the stated grandfathering provision.

Responsibilities

• Screen primary care patients for depression, excessive substance use, PTSD, cognitive limitations, and other psychological disorders.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions for emotional and psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, problem drinking, and other addictive disorders.
• Use motivational interviewing to encourage patients to seek additional mental health services when needed and provide psychoeducation as appropriate.
• Monitor patients, provide education and support, promote adherence to guidelines, and provide timely, targeted information to primary care physicians to support collaborative care decisions.
• Provide telehealth services when required by service needs or preferred by the veteran.
• Diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychological and brief neuropsychological assessments.
• Provide brief treatment for mental disorders through individual, group, and family psychotherapy and other modalities, including biofeedback, hypnosis, and environmental interventions.
• Provide adjunctive rehabilitation-oriented interventions for medical disorders and disabilities.
• Consult with medical center staff on patient care issues.
• Train psychology practicum students, interns, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees from other disciplines.
• Exercise independent judgment in clinical care, consultation, and education, and consult with peers and supervisors as needed.
• Adhere to professional standards of psychology and fulfill responsibilities related to training psychology interns.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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