Staff Psychologist (Primary Care Mental Health Integration)

Quick Facts

• Role: Staff Psychologist (Primary Care Mental Health Integration)

• Focus: Integrated behavioral health in Primary Care

Description

Provide brief individual and group therapy, behavioral health assessments, and consultation within primary care to support mood and medical-related conditions and patient-centered care. Conduct comprehensive diagnostic/evaluation services (including suicide assessments and psychological testing, with supervision if not licensed) and deliver a full range of psychological interventions emphasizing brief, evidence-based methods suitable for primary care. Contribute to program development, provider team support, and—when applicable—academic/teaching, supervision, research, and outcome measurement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct diagnostic evaluations and psychological assessments for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning

• Provide brief, evidence-based psychological interventions appropriate for primary care

• Offer consultation to primary care providers to improve decision-making and the PCP–patient relationship

• Provide patient and family education tailored to primary care needs

• Support keeping patients within primary care when clinically appropriate

• Assist with training/supervision of lower-grade staff (as applicable)

• Provide consultation/training to primary care staff on common mental/behavioral health conditions

• May supervise psychology trainees (as applicable)

• May prepare/teach seminars or workshops (as applicable)

• May participate on the Psychology Training Committee (if licensed)

• May conduct approved research and assist with program evaluation/data-driven quality improvement

• Follow VA clinical documentation standards (CPRS) and attend required meetings

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• English proficiency (written and spoken)

• Background/security investigation

• Completion of doctoral education in psychology and an approved internship program

• Full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology licensure (or temporary “graduate psychologist” appointment with supervision)

• Selective Service registration for eligible males

• Meet additional VA employment conditions (onboarding, identification requirements, etc.)

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases

• Paid time off: 37–50 days annual paid time off per year (including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)

• Parental leave (after 12 months of employment): up to 12 weeks paid

• Child care subsidy (after 60 days; income-based eligibility)

• Retirement: federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K (up to 5% contributions)

• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care options

• Telework: ad-hoc only (per agency policy)

EDRP (Education Debt Reduction Program)

Eligible applicants may receive loan repayment reimbursement if they meet individual EDRP eligibility requirements and submit the application within four months of appointment; the award amount and eligibility period are determined after complete review.