Marriage and Family Therapist

About This Role

Marriage and Family Therapists provide substance use disorder services to veterans in an outpatient setting, with some services potentially extended to residential rehabilitation patients. This role involves conducting assessments, participating in treatment planning, providing counseling, and offering consultation and education to veterans and their families.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members
• Conduct intake substance use disorder assessments for patients to determine appropriate VA program needs
• Actively participate in the treatment planning process with other disciplines
• Participate in transition/discharge planning with other disciplines and ensure timely and appropriate execution of transition plans
• Provide individual, family, and group counseling, focused on substance use disorder treatment
• Provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits
• Act as a consultant to other team/staff members
• Provide consultation/education to students of all disciplines on clinical practice and VA policy and procedure
• Provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care
• Provide a full range of social services within commonly accepted standards of their profession, including case work, individual, family, and group counseling, discharge planning, case management, and other services as appropriate
• Assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death
• Document therapy interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate transfer of patients internally within the VA system and with other external agents
• Participate in providing evening services to accommodate patient care needs, one night per week

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement
• Serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated
• Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, OR
• Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from an MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR
• Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State
• MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j
• Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met

Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-9 (Entry Level)

• Completion of the required education and working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure (for non-licensed MFTs or MFTs not yet licensed at the independent practice level)
• Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan, interventions based on research and family systems theory and therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice and assessment tools
• Ability to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members
• Knowledge to formulate, implement, and re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue, and interactional patterns within the client system
• Ability to provide counseling and, or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples and families in a manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system
• Basic knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy
• Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and track quality improvements

Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

• Minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure in a State at the independent practice level, OR
• A doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) may be substituted for the required one year of marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting
• Must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level
• Skill to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members
• Ability to provide counseling and, or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples and families that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing the client system
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans and their families, colleagues, and other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical and legal issues and concerns
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations and VA policies affecting the practice of marriage and family therapy, including the ability to assist Veterans and their families in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality
• Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs
• Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility (up to $200,000 over one to five years)
• Comprehensive benefits package as a federal employee
• Potential for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service

Important Details

• Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, with one evening per week from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm
• Application deadline: 26 October 2026, 11:59 PM (ET)

Application Process

• Complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section
• Create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account
• Select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire
• Submit your application package

About the Company

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of its Medical Centers, empowering people to take charge of their health and well-being. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Required Documents

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Transcript
• Cover Letter (accepted, may be required)
• DD-214/ Statement of Service (accepted, may be required)
• Disability Letter (VA) (accepted, may be required)
• License (accepted, may be required)
• Responses to Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (recommended)
• Professional Certification (accepted, may be required)
• SF-15 (accepted, may be required)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action (accepted, may be required)

Veterans' Preference

• Eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire
• Provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service
• If currently serving on active duty and expecting release/discharge within 120 days, submit documentation related to active duty service
• Disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees

Pre-employment Checks

• Pre-employment reference checks are performed as an assessment method
• Pre-employment examination or evaluation may be required as part of the pre-employment process
• Background check type: Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

Additional Information

• Position may be filled as a Social Worker/Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor/Marriage and Family Therapist
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status
• VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution
• Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• It is a requirement that all HCP receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons
• Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted
• HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service
• HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties
• VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities
• HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities
• HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students
• HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities

Next Steps

• Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email
• After receiving application packages and the vacancy announcement closes, applications will be reviewed to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met
• After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email
• Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview
• All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made
• You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications
• Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center