Marriage and Family Therapist (Advanced)

Summary

The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist provides screenings and a full range of psychological assessments for diagnosis and treatment planning - evidence-based group and individual psychotherapy - treatment plans - case management - and other clinical services. The incumbent may also serve as a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for Veterans on the clinical team.

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
• 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-0182 series in VHA must hold a full - current - and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State
• 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
• 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: GS-12: Education - Experience and Licensure
• Candidate must have successfully completed evidence based training in family therapy and must have graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the AMFTRE
• Candidate must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy including one-year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• This experience must demonstrate the use of an evidence based family therapy model while exhibiting progressive professional competency and expertise
• Assignments requiring responsibility for providing clinical supervision must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals - families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy
• Ability to provide crisis intervention which includes assessment - safety planning and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment utilizing family systems theory/therapy
• Ability to provide family systems therapy - which seeks to address Veterans and their family members on an individual level and deals with interpersonal interactions
• Ability to provide unlicensed MFT staff/trainees with systemic clinical supervision towards licensure from a family systems theory/therapy perspective
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve lifting - walking - standing - use of both eyes - ability to distinguish basic colors and shades - hearing aid (permitted)
• The environmental factors of this position involve being able to work outside and/or inside - to work with others - and to work alone.
  
  

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Provides psychodiagnostic assessment and diagnoses mental disorders - particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients many of whom have psychiatric and medical problems
• Provides education to patients - family members - and significant others
• Provides comprehensive evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions - including individual - family - and group psychotherapy - including by telemental health
• May provide clinical supervision to LMFT or counseling trainees in areas related to behavioral health and social services provision to attain goals and objectives of recovery programs
• Provides consultation to professional staff within VA San Diego Healthcare System and to community providers - concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients
• Develops - implements - and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients - including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• Interviews Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation - presenting problems and their causes - and the impact of such problems on the veteran's functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychiatric assessment
• Reviews all data - subjective and objective - and makes a clinical assessment - identifying needs and strengths
• Facilitates liaisons with other medical center programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health - Chief of Psychology - Section Chief(s) - and other meetings as assigned to participate
• May provide clinical supervision and instruction for MFT/counseling trainees
• Work Schedule: 0700 - 1730 (tour is flexible between timeframe) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.