ASHHRA Career Center

The Staff psychologist offers treatment in the SUD Outpatient Program in the form of individual therapy, group therapy, couple and family therapy, and psychological assessment, and provides consultation to other members of the team. A Recruitment Incentive may be authorized to highly qualified candidates. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). The Special Salary Rates for Psychologists applies to this position. 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. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: (1) Have a 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. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology) OR (2) Have a 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: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] [OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND Internships (a) Have 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 (b) 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 (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR (d) 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. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) [OR (e) 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. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.] Licensure. Hold a 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. (1) Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. Grade Determinations: GS-11 (Entry) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS 12 (Developmental) - Experience. At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. AND must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. 2. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. 3. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. 4. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 5. 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 (Full Performance) - At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition to the experience above must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. 2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 APPENDIX G18 ["The Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Program provides a wide range of SUD and co-occurring disorder services that are facilitated by an interdisciplinary team. Program includes an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), a variety of outpatient groups addressing harm reduction, relapse prevention, general wellness, and co-occurring disorders along with individual therapy emphasizing evidence-based treatments including Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD, and additional EBPs for co-occurring disorders. Mental Health Service in San Antonio is a large yet tight-knit group of caring and collegial professionals. Our service is diverse and inclusive in terms of both our staff and the Veterans we serve, across a wide range of identities; we invite interest from members of underrepresented groups and those continually striving for greater cultural competence. We are focused on supporting our staff to enable them to provide excellent care to Veterans. As such, we are looking for energetic, committed, and diligent providers who will enhance our team. Duties and responsibilities as described at the GS-13 grade include but are not limited to: Provides a full range of diagnostic and evaluation services in the areas of general psychological evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems and suicide assessment; includes the use of psychological testing for patients in areas of special interest/expertise. Performs psychological evaluations for individuals with mental health and medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning recommendations. These evaluations employ a comprehensive diagnostic interview, review of available records, collateral contact when available, as well as personality and cognitive tests when indicated. Provides a full range of psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, with special emphasis on brief and evidence-based interventions when indicated and appropriate to the clinical setting. Provides consultation services and serves as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for or development of psychological services. May be asked to assist in the selection, training, and supervision of staff at lower grades within assigned program area, Psychology Service, or STVHCS. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in STVHCS in order to effectively coordinate services. May coordinate programming within the various mental health programs with managers of other programs in mental health as well as with discipline supervisors of affected staff assigned to these programs. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Provides consultation and training in the identification and management of common mental and behavioral health disorders when indicated. May be asked to serve as a clinical supervisor to psychology pre-doctoral interns, post-doctoral fellows, and doctoral level practicum students in psychology and other disciplines. May be asked to prepare and teach seminars/workshops for STVHCS trainees/staff on topics within interest/competency areas. Preferred Experience: GS-12 Experience/training in a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Experience/training in the implement effective treatment strategies. Experience/training in 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. Preferred Experience: GS-13 Experience/training in professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Experience/training in consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday from 0730am-1600pm CST Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Recruitment Incentive: Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized, see details in 'Education section' Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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