Staff Psychologist - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist works in a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) and provides psychological assessment and treatment to Veterans with a variety of mental disorders. The position includes risk assessment and referral, intake and diagnostic and psychosocial assessments, comprehensive treatment planning, and evidence-based psychotherapy in accordance with clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based practices. The psychologist reviews relevant medical records and prior assessments, consults with referring providers, uses measurement-based care to evaluate symptoms, functioning, and treatment response, and develops thorough treatment plans for Veterans engaging in mental health services.

The Staff Psychologist collaborates with Veterans, families, and an interdisciplinary treatment team, and coordinates with suicide prevention, behavioral health, inpatient, emergency, and specialty mental health programs to support transitions to appropriate care. The position also includes psycho-diagnostic evaluations, individual and group psychotherapy in the General Mental Health Clinic, consultation to medical center staff and trainees, and possible clinical supervision of trainees and other disciplines.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with possible evening or Saturday hours; the schedule may change based on facility needs. Compressed or flexible scheduling may be available. This is an office/clinic-based, non-virtual position. The vacancy has a grade range of GS-11 to GS-13, with GS-13 as the full performance level.

Applicants must meet VA education, internship, and licensure requirements. A doctoral degree in psychology and an eligible professional psychology internship are generally required, along with a full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license; limited exceptions for temporary graduate psychologist appointments are described in the posting. Grade-level experience requirements vary: GS-11 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements, GS-12 requires at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, and GS-13 requires at least two years of experience, including one year equivalent to GS-12, along with a current unrestricted license and demonstrated competencies.

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, or an alternative qualifying doctoral education pathway described in the posting.
• Successful completion of an eligible professional psychology internship, or an applicable alternative pathway described in the posting.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except that qualifying non-licensed applicants may be considered for a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment of up to two years.
• GS-12: At least one full year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• GS-13: At least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12; qualifying experience must be post-doctoral and directly related to the duties, and applicants must provide hours worked per week and an unexpired license.
• GS-12 and GS-13 applicants must demonstrate the grade-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities described in the posting, including relevant psychological treatment and assessment expertise; GS-13 additionally requires the ability to provide professional advice and consultation and knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Applicants must meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, required drug testing for testing-designated positions, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application and onboarding documentation and serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing evidence-based psychotherapies, including CBT, ACT, DBT, IPT, Motivational Interviewing, Problem Solving Therapy, and CAMS.
• Experience working in an outpatient BHIP team-based care setting using the Collaborative Chronic Care Model.
• Experience adapting technology and computer-assisted programs to deliver treatments and improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychological assessments.
• Provide risk assessment and referral, intake, diagnostic and psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and evidence-based psychotherapy.
• Review medical records and previous biopsychosocial assessments, consult with referring providers as needed, and use measurement-based care to assess symptoms, functioning, and treatment response.
• Develop thorough treatment plans for Veterans who engage in mental health services.
• Coordinate with Suicide Prevention Coordinators and behavioral health, inpatient, emergency, and specialty mental health programs to support seamless transitions to appropriate services.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.
• Participate as a member of a BHIP treatment team and collaborate with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary team members on treatment plans and patient care issues.
• Provide psycho-diagnostic services and evaluations for Veterans with a variety of psychological disorders.
• Provide individual and group psychotherapy in the General Mental Health Clinic.
• May provide clinical supervision to trainees and other disciplines, including psychology trainees seeking licensure, while receiving supervision as applicable.
• Consult with medical center staff and trainees regarding patients’ psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to 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 based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Possible childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families meeting the stated income and eligibility conditions.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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