Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A REMOTE/TELEWORK POSITION The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is hiring a Psychologist to serve on the PTSD clinical team at the Battle Creek, MI location. This position is aligned within Psychology Service and reports directly to the PTSD Program Manager. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/EDRP.pdf This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be reviewed bi-weekly and qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as a treatment provider conducting assessment interviews, composing psychosocial assessment reports, formulating diagnostic impressions, developing treatment plans, providing psychotherapy to patients through individual and group sessions, making referrals for aftercare and placement, and documenting services provided and the course of treatment of patients. This includes obtaining psychosocial history, performing diagnostic assessments using specialized assessments. Performs professional work describing human behavior, determining the reasons for that behavior and predicting/modifying the behavior. Administers/scores or evaluates psychodiagnostic tests. Administers and interprets psychological/psychodiagnostic group/individual tests and composes reports of testing results. Through testing and clinical interviews and observation, assesses intelligence, behavior and personality variables. Assists in differential diagnosis. Serves as an authoritative source of information in the use and interpretation of tests to differentiate the basis for patients' symptomatology. Is capable of supervising others in the use of psychological tests. Provides expert consultation to others with regard to test administration and evaluation. Gathers objective psychodiagnostic information. Conducts interviews, uses rating scales, questionnaires or other measurement devices or observes the patient to assess emotional, functional or psychological condition. Has an expert professional mastery of the assessment tools available to effectively diagnose abnormalities or variations thereof in the specialized area of psychology. Provides a practical environment for assessment in the specialization. Plans Effective Treatment. Based on data gathered during the assessment, plans an appropriate clinical treatment for individual patients. This includes preparation and implementation of treatment plans (using the designated treatment planning software) developed in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. Conceptualizes, develops and presents detailed treatment plans for a full range of psychological services for a specialized unit or an entire location. Patients' ages and varying environmental factors are extremely diverse. Administers Treatment. Plans and conducts group and individual psychotherapy, effectively utilizing one or more of the following therapeutic techniques: cognitive-behavioral, Evidence Based Psychotherapeutic approaches, behavior modification, supportive, analytic, eclectic, biofeedback, hypnosis, meditation, couples or family therapy, treatment of sexual dysfunction, etc. Promotes, supervises or provides individual and group psychotherapy. Conducts psychotherapy in difficult, multifaceted cases. As an expert in the specialized area, serves as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team providing the full range of psychotherapy for a widely diverse patient base. This includes delivery of evidence-based interventions for PTSD. Evaluates/Adjusts treatment, as necessary. Continually monitors patient's progress using Measurement Based Care principles. Determines when reassessment is appropriate and adjusts treatment plan accordingly. Maintains current knowledge of psychotherapeutic techniques by reviewing and/or participating in research and/or attending relevant continuing education. Independently exercises authoritative judgment in the adjustment of treatment plans. Serves as expert psychological resource for the multidisciplinary team or devises programs that employ psychological techniques to ensure a therapeutic environment. Serves as a member of planning committees for evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment program and modifying it to better serve the needs of the patients, when called upon to do so. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements 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. 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). 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 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. Qualifications 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 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. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, A
