This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.
Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Major duties include but not limited to: GS-13 Staff Psychologist: Clinical Assessment & Treatment Conducts comprehensive psychological and diagnostic assessments for Veterans with complex mental health, substance use, and cooccurring medical conditions. Provides individual and group psychotherapy utilizing evidence-based treatments (e.g., CBT, MI, relapse prevention, trauma-informed care, skills-based interventions).
Develops, implements, and updates individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans in collaboration with Veterans and the interdisciplinary team. Provides psychoeducation and skill-building interventions to support recovery, emotional regulation, functional improvement. Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Program Integration Participates actively in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, case conferences, and care coordination activities.
Collaborates with psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists, rehabilitation staff, and other disciplines integrating Veteran-centered care. Provides consultation to team members regarding psychological factors, treatment approaches, and behavioral management strategies. Risk Assessment & Crisis Management Independently conduct suicide risk assessments, violence risk evaluations, and safety planning.
Responds to acute clinical situations and provides crisis intervention in a residential care environment. Program Development & Quality Improvement Contributes to program development, implementation, and evaluation of MH services, including structured and flexible programming models. Teaching, Training, & Supervision Provides clinical supervision, consultation, or training to psychology trainees, staff, or interdisciplinary team members as assigned.
Supports staff development in evidence-based practices, recovery-oriented care, and behavioral health interventions. Documentation & Compliance Completes timely, accurate clinical documentation in accordance with VA, Joint Commission, and CARF standards. Ensures adherence to ethical standards, professional guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
GS-12:Clinical Assessment & Treatment Conducts psychological assessments and diagnostic evaluations for Veterans with complex clinical presentations, with appropriate supervisory consultation as needed. Provides individual and group psychotherapy utilizing evidence-based treatments. Develops, implements, and updates individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans in collaboration with Veterans and the interdisciplinary team.
Provides psychoeducation and skill-building interventions to support recovery and functional improvement. GS-11:Clinical Assessment & Treatment Conducts psychological assessments and diagnostic evaluations with supervisory guidance. Provides individual and group psychotherapy using evidence-based and recovery-oriented approaches. Assists in developing, implementing, and updating individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Program Integration Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, and care coordination activities. Collaborates with psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists, and rehabilitation staff to support integrated care. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm CST. May change based on agency need.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized (may be paid to a Highly Qualified candidate) Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 99253, 99255, 99256
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level): (b) Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area.
Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level): (c) Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area.
Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance Level): (c) Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development.
Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.
Christen.Watson@va.gov · 404-321-6111 X124038
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $87559 – $162235/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-28.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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