Videos

• Provides a full range of diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to the interdisciplinary Whole Health Pain Management team setting, especially in the areas of health psychology, evaluation of mental health/behavioral problems, and suicide risk assessment
• Conducts behavioral health assessments for organ transplantation, spinal cord stimulators, bariatric surgery evaluations, etc. and prepares relevant reports pertinent to these matters
• Facilitates patient and family education appropriate to the setting and the specific presenting issues
• Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy
• Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• Provides consultation services to support team decision-making, building on physician and healthcare team interventions and improving team-patient working relationships
• Provides assessment and treatment planning regarding clinical issues involving pain and pain management
• Provides a full range of psychological interventions consistent with special emphasis on Behavioral Medicine. Must be able to offer Evidence-Based interventions found to be effective for Pain Management such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness Meditation, e.g. Mindfulness Based Stress Reductions (MBSR)
• Short-term individual, family and/or group intervention for management of chronic pain, adaptation to disability, support of medical interventions and/or medical and psychiatric co-morbidities interacting with pain management
• Uses tele-health and face-to-face contacts to consult with clinical staff and provide direct services to patients of the Health Care Centers and/or Community Based Outpatient Clinic regarding assessment and treatment of chronic pain management, opioid management for chronic pain, and substance abuse concerns
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team in the development and implementation of patient-centered, value driven clinical pain care services which are inclusive of complementary and integrative modalities and consistent with the Whole Health model of care
• Consults with allied health care providers within Primary Care and acts as liaison to specialty programs outside Primary Care regarding pain management issues, including conjoint visits with medical providers, where indicated
• Serves on Medical Center, Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as endorsed by supervisors, especially as a facility pain champion
• Participates in support of Whole Health Initiative and Primary Care administrative and performance improvement activities, e.g., by taking on assigned projects and serving on committees
• Participates as a non-voting member of the medical staff, in accord with medical staff by-laws
• Completes required clinical and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accord with governing regulations
• May provide oversight for psychology doctoral interns, practicum students and post-doctoral fellows in accord with training program policies and accrediting agency requirements
• Provides staff and student didactic training and consultation as requested in content areas of scholarly and/or clinical expertise
• Participates fully in educational development through staff and section meetings
• May participate in clinical or basic science research with endorsement of supervisor

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified applicant
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• Education: 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
• 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
• OR
• (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND
• (4) 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;
• (c) 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
• (d) Have 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) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature, fulfilling 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
• Licensure: Must holda 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
• 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 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
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j

Preferred Experience: Knowledge of clinical/counseling psychology and specific knowledge of the practices of behavioral medicine/health psychology and mental health care in the specialty medical setting. Prior interdisciplinary experience working in chronic pain management.

Grade Determination:
GS-13: Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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.

Licensure:GS-13 - Must currently possess a full, current, and unrestricted license at the doctoral level.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.