Psychologist - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

The incumbent in this position has a primary responsibility for the provision of psychotherapy services through the Mental Health Clinic Behavioral Health Intervention Program (BHIP) at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center (FxHCC), located in Fredericksburg, Virginia which is part of the in the Central Virginia VA Health Care System.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until October 28, 2026. Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. If selected at entry level, duties will be under supervision until fully licensed. Major duties include, but not limited to: CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES (90%) 1) Conducts initial screening and intakes of Veterans referred for Mental Health Treatment, including PTSD and Substance Use Disorders. 2) Within the scope of privileges granted, incumbent provides a full range of comprehensive psychotherapeutic interventions, including crisis intervention and outpatient individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance misuse, and co-occurring disorders, with an emphasis on time-limited evidence- based and evidence-informed approaches. Clinical services provided may include such evidence-based practices as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and CBT for Depression, among others. 3) Leads three evidence-based or evidence-informed psychotherapy groups. 4) Devotes at least 0.2 FTE time to providing evidence-based treatments to Veterans. 5) Develops specialized behavior plans as appropriate and consults with staff on how to implement them. 6) May provide services to the families of Veterans with psychological and substance use problems and co-occurring problems, including such services as psychoeducation, couples therapy, and family therapy, to help the Veteran improve his/her functioning within their family system. 7) Administers, scores, interprets, and writes brief psychological evaluations utilizing brief assessments such as the BDI, BAI, PHQ 9, and PCL 5. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status, formulate a diagnosis, and lay the foundation for the treatment plan. 8) Develops safety plans for patients with suicidal and/or homicidal ideation and intent. 9) Works effectively with treatment teams to develop coherent treatment services and strategies for patients, including the development of treatment and behavior plans that include measurable treatment goals. 10) Communicates and coordinates treatment with other members of the treatment team, including psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses, recreation therapists, occupational therapists, etc. Performs other duties as assigned. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday -Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Position(s) listed under this Open Continuous Announcement (OCA) MAY be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Learn more. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Ms. Monique Head, monique.head@va.gov, 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: Ad-Hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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/.