Marriage and Family Therapist

Job Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. To be eligible, you must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Responsibilities

• This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 02/01/2024. Additional applications will be referred as needed.
• Applications expire after 90 days. Please update application thru USAJobs if you wish to be reconsidered.
• Position is in the Family Therapy program and will be filled as Psychologist, Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, or Senior Social Worker.
• The Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP).
• The BHIP consists of multi-disciplinary teams of mental health professionals which provide comprehensive, accessible, Veteran-centered mental health care.
• The incumbent provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services which requires advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment.
• This includes individual, group, couples, and/or family psychotherapy as well as advanced level psychosocial and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with a range of DSM diagnoses, including substance abuse/dependence, family issues, and poly-traumatic injuries.
• The incumbent has knowledge of current professional marriage and family practices.
• Experience must have required use of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with current professional marriage and family practice working with couples, families, individuals, and /or groups utilizing family systems theory/therapy as well as the ability to diagnose and treat mental health disorders.
• The incumbent may be responsible for the clinical supervision of MFT's for licensing purposes only provided they have an AAMFT approved supervisor credential.
• The incumbent may on occasion be asked to serve as representative for the BHIP Outpatient program, EPVA BH Service, or VISN administrative committees or work groups as assigned.
• The incumbent should have the ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective practice skills.
• In addition, there may be opportunities to teach and mentor staff and trainees in the specialty area of practice.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:00 a

m - 4:30 pm

Telework

Ad-hoc

Available Virtual

This is not a virtual/remote position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentive

Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized

Contact, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Financial Disclosure Report

Not required

Preferred Experience

• Experience practicing working with behavioral health populations
• Experience in working with interdisciplinary teams
• Experience working with Veterans/Family
• Experience in Mental Health Diagnosis
• Experience in Evidenced Based Treatment (EBT) with couples and families

Physical Requirements

The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.

Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site.

Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2024.

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:

Candidates must meet one of the following:

• (1) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE,
• (2) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR,
• (3) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.

Licensure:

Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State.

Exception:

The Secretary, or his/her designee, may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of State prerequisites for licensure examinations for a period not to exceed three years from the date of employment on the condition that MFTs appointed on this basis provide care only under the supervision of a fully licensed MFT with an AAMFT approved license.

Physical Requirements:

The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.

Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site.

Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.English Language Proficiency:

MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-9 (Entry Level)

The entry level grade is used for non-licensed MFTs or for MFTs (master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice (Journey) level.

Unlicensed MFTs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3b above, and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure.

In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) in subparagraph (b) below.

Demonstrated KSAs

In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan, interventions based on research and family systems theory and therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice and assessment tools.
• Ability to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
• Knowledge to formulate, implement, and re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue, and interactional patterns within the client system.
• Ability to provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy.
• Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and track quality improvements.

Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure in a State at the independent practice level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.

OR, In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) may be substituted for the required one year of marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting.

AND the candidate must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and they must demonstrate the following KSA.

Demonstrated KSAs

In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Skill to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
• Ability to provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing the client system.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans and their families, colleagues, and other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical and legal issues and concerns.
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations and VA policies affecting the practice of marriage and family therapy.
• Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs.
• Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements.

References

VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G44 Marriage and Family Therapist Qualification Standard dated April 18, 2018.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

If your school was accredited by COAMFTE (or a regionally accredited institution) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the COAMFTE (or a regionally accredited institution) website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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.

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:

Additional Information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation)

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Failure to Obtain License.

In all cases, unlicensed MFTs must actively pursue meeting State prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment.

At the time of appointment, the Human Resource Officer will provide the unlicensed MFT with the written requirements for licensure, the date by which the license must be obtained, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline.

Failure to obtain a license by the prescribed date will result in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series and may result in termination of employment.

Loss of Licensure.

Once licensed, MFTs must maintain a full, current and unrestricted license to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series and may result in termination of employment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.Pursuant to VHA Directive, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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