Mental Health Therapist

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.
• Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.
• Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
• 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: Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level)
(a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one
year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.


(b) 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.
(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.

References: VA Handbook 5005-103, Part II, Appendix G18

The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook and Directive 5019.