Marriage and Family Therapist (Advanced)

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. Program Approval, 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 The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Program Coordinator for whom this functional statement applies is assigned to the Behavioral Health (BH) Service Line at the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital (Truman VA) and provides services at the Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The Truman VA is a level 1C Medical Center, which provides both outpatient medical and mental health services at the main facility and at each of the eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Duties may include : Performs comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for Veterans and family members with complex physical and behavioral disorders to determine the nature of the presenting problem, biological, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral factors related to the presenting problem, and the impact of the presenting problem on the Veteran's physical, social, emotional, recreational, and occupational functioning. Uses advanced clinical training to select, utilize, and interpret appropriate outcome measures. Integrates all subjective and objective data into a comprehensive assessment that informs treatment planning. Based on the psychosocial assessment and using advanced practice expertise, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans and their families, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients and their families, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. The incumbent formulates a mutually agreed upon treatment plan, which includes measurable goals, objectives, and treatment methods based upon the psychological assessment. The treatment plan is used to direct a course of treatment, is individualized to include patient / family preferences, and reflects a multidisciplinary approach to care (as clinically indicated). The plan is updated annually or more frequently if there is a change in the patient / family's condition or needs. Utilizes appropriate therapeutic techniques or combinations of techniques to provide Evidence-Based and Recovery-Oriented treatment to Veterans and their families with complex mental health needs within outpatient and inpatient settings. The incumbent provides the full range of therapeutic interventions, including psychoeducation, individual / marriage and family psychotherapy, and group psychotherapy to patients, family members, and significant others, as clinically indicated. Coordinates assessment and screening of patients for specific mental health programs, including PTSD Clinical Team, Addictions Treatment Programming, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), and Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP), and provides referrals to internal and external therapeutic resources, as clinically indicated. Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of the Marriage and Family Clinical Program, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Incumbent designs and implements changes based on empirical findings. Outcome tools used may include, but are not limited to patient self-report, standardized inventories, fiscal measures, and SAIL / performance measure data. Serves as an integral member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program to provide accessible, integrated, biopsychosocial health care services to patients at the Truman VA. Serves as the consultant and coordinator for Marriage and Family Clinical Program at the Truman VA, to include working closely with the PTSD Clinical Team, Addictions Treatment Programming, Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP), and the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (PRRC). Manages the daily operations of the LMFT Clinical Program, including the development and implementation of policies and procedures of the program, monitoring performance measures related to program and preparing reports for the facility, VISN, and / or national use, developing and tracking ongoing program evaluation, implementing data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the LMFT Clinical Program. Facilitating consultation procedures with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate and improve Veteran services. Conducts staff development trainings for Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Psychologists, Social Workers to improve availability and access to competent Marriage and Family services. Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 8 : 00am - 4 : 30pm Telework : Not Available. May be discussed during interview process Virtual : This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # : 000000 Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized EDRP Authorized : Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN15EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Requirements 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. 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 (). 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 1 or 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following : Marriage and Family Therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), OR Marriage and Family Therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR 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 - Must hold full, current, and unrestricted Marriage and Family Therapy license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a state. Grandfather Provision - An MFT employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4 / 18 / 2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting all qualification requirements. Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-12 MFT (Advanced) Experience Requirements : In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-12 you must possess have you successfully completed evidence-based training in family therapy and graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Board (AMFTRB) examination and have at least 5 years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy (with at least 1 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 that demonstrates the following professional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements : See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Education 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. You can verify your education here : 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) Leave : 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.