This night-shift post on the cardiac ward pairs patient care with mentoring new nurses. The psychologist will serve as a therapist on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team, diagnosing and treating mental disorders through individual, family, and group psychotherapy, utilizing Evidence Based Treatments. The role involves conducting assessments for a wide variety of patient conditions and diagnoses, ensuring care accommodates diverse needs, and providing psychoeducation to patients and family members.
Responsibilities
Serve as a therapist on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team
Diagnose mental disorders
Conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments
Treat mental disorders through individual, family, and group psychotherapy, utilizing Evidence Based Treatments
Perform formal and informal assessments for a wide variety of patient conditions and diagnoses, including mental illness, substance abuse and general emotional and cognitive functioning
Ensure the assessment and care provided accommodate to the cognitive, emotional, chronological maturation, and diversity needs of the person served
Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence-based models of care in the outpatient mental health setting
Conduct assessments appropriate to individual patients with attention to the implications of test results for a veteran's every-day, real-world function and successful treatment/management of health problems with an emphasis on behavioral health factors associated with improved quality of life
Provide psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention
Work with assigned Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team to support optimum clinical care
Consult and coordinate care with community providers following HIPPA practices to support psychosocial recovery of the person served
Support activities of the Psychology Training Program and participate in relevant educational seminars
Participate in improvement of clinical supervision skills with emphasis on Evidence Based Practice models
Assume responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation
Participate in psychology peer review
May serve as faculty at local or other system-wide education and training conferences
Serve on committees or workgroups, as assigned
May serve as the clinical supervisor for unlicensed psychologists or psychology trainees
Requirements
United States Citizenship
Doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed, with a specialty area consistent with the assignment (excluding school psychology)
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OR Doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
OR Doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
Successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
OR New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern
OR VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement
OR Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed (maintenance of board certification is required)
OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program (statement from doctoral program required if not on transcript)
Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia (temporary appointment as "graduate psychologist" at GS-11 or GS-12 possible for non-licensed applicants for up to two years, requiring supervision and subsequent licensure)
Proficiency in written and spoken English
Subject to background/security investigation
Completion of an online onboarding process
Acceptable form(s) of identification to complete pre-employment requirements (REAL ID compliant driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards required effective May 7, 2025)
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program
Completion of all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section
Willingness to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period
GS-11 Staff Psychologist:
No experience beyond basic requirements
GS-12 Staff Psychologist:
At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (for staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration
GS-13 Staff Psychologist:
At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
Knowledge of clinical research literature
Preferred Experience:
Experience working with adults in a mental health setting
Experience providing psychotherapy or therapy in an outpatient mental health setting
Benefits
Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility (up to $200,000 over one to five years, determined by VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office)
Regular salary increases
37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays)
Credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment
Childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to a monthly maximum of $416.66 (for full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 after 60 days of employment)
Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting)
Federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance (many programs can be carried into retirement)
Important Details
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Appointment type: Permanent
Promotion potential: 13
Travel Required: Not required
Security clearance: Other
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Application deadline: 26 October 2026, 11:59 PM (ET)
Application Process
Provide a complete Application Package including a long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) and transcript
Submit additional documents if applicable to eligibility and/or qualifications (e.g., SF-50's, Cover Letter, DD-214/ Statement of Service, Disability Letter (VA), License, Other (1), PCS Orders, Professional Certification, Separation Notice (RIF), SF-15, SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action)
Complete the full questionnaire
Submit documentation specified in the Required Documents section
Ensure responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date
Check application status by logging into USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications
Physical Requirements
Physical demands of the work are generally minor, requiring sitting, standing, and walking
Emotional demands can be stressful due to working with a high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families; a high level of self-awareness is essential
Work is primarily sedentary
May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity
Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer
About the Company
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate; gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
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