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. 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. Learn more The Mental Health Service of the VA North Texas Health Care System values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs. Mental Health Service leaders are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations. We believe that increased self-awareness and appreciation for other viewpoints and cultures makes our service stronger and strengthens our ability to provide the highest quality of mental health care. 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. English language proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education: To be qualified for a GS-0180 Psychologist: Have 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, OR 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. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND Internship Requirement - You must 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 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. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification). 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. 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. Licensure: Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the US, or the District of Columbia. 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 (a)(1)(D) 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-13 (Full Performance, Level)Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.GS 12 equivalent experience includes: 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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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 Preferred Experience: Full, unrestricted license for the practice of Psychology from a US State or Territory Experience treating a Veteran population Training in Evidence Based Psychotherapies relevant to the management of Chronic Pain (e.g. CBT-Chronic Pain, ACT Chronic Pain, Mindfulness/MBSR) Experience providing mental health care in a virtual/telemental health modality Experience using psychological assessment instruments to assist with diagnostic assessment Experience providing crisis intervention and case management services References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II APPENDIX G18. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0180. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13. -- QUALIFICATION STANDARDS CONTINUED IN THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TAB -- ["A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To serve as a Staff Psychologist for the VA North Texas Health Care System with an emphasis on providing behavioral health services for Veterans with Chronic Pain. While primary office location for the position is the Garland, Texas CBOC, the psychologist will be expected to travel to the main campus in Dallas or other locations in the VA North Texas Health Care system to provide consultation, complete evaluations, and/or conduct psychological interventions as needed. While the majority of services are expected to occur face to face, there will be some service provision by clinical tele-health. The employee conducts a variety of outpatient services, including psychological assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, and couples / family therapy and consults with other disciplines as needed and appropriate. The incumbent may also be involved in the supervision of mental health trainees.\nFunctions/Duties:\n- Knowledgeable and applies a wide range of professional psychological theories and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.\n- Provides training and consultation to VA staff on the provision of behavioral health interventions for Veterans with chronic pain.\n- Knowledgeable and able to effectively present complex, technical mental health information about co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD, mood disorders, substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, etc., to Veterans, family members, and in some cases other staff who may have limited knowledge of the subject matter.\n- Knowledgeable of current research literature and has received training in evidence-based treatments relevant to the position (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy for Depression, Motivational Interviewing, and Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy). The incumbent uses their knowledge of advanced professional theories and techniques to provide a high level of service to a wide range of Veterans in the Mental Health Service, including: Time-limited individual and couples/family therapy, process and time-limited group therapy, behavioral interventions, and psychoeducation in individual and group format.\n- Responds to patient crisis situations in a timely manner with the goal of assisting the patient to maintain a positive and effective relationship with the staff, family and other patients. Patient and staff safety will take priority in any crisis.\n- Administers and interprets a variety of psychological assessment tools. Psychological interviews, testing, and assessment skills are utilized for a variety of patient conditions. The Psychologist is aware of complicating factors such as substance abuse/dependence, medical/neurological conditions, personality, and other psychological functioning factors, including the co-morbidity of substance abuse and psychiatric conditions.\n- Expects to engage in all team related activities, including attendance of weekly Clinic meetings, monthly Psychology staff meetings, and main overall compliance with Psychology peer review procedures. As with all Staff Psychologist positions in Mental Health, the incumbent may be called upon to serve on ad hoc workgroups or committees within the service to address problems and concerns of the service.\n- Consults with medical center staff regarding various patient care issues. As such it is necessary that the incumbent communicate and interact well with other disciplines and treatment providers.\n- Actively participates in the MH team's performance improvement project(s) aimed at evaluating inefficiencies within the clinic and developing strategies to remedy such issues.\n- Uses a variety of computer software programs to complete job tasks.\n- The incumbent may become involved in the Psychology Training Program with active participation in ongoing supervision and didactics. The incumbent may teach educational seminars for pre-doctoral psychology interns and for postdoctoral psychology fellows as applicable. Incumbent serves as a consultant to other medical center staff, assisting in their formulation of psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients.\n- Assists the clinical and medical directors in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8: 00 am - 4:30 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual.\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]