USA Staffing

Position Title: Marriage Family Therapist (Counselor)
Agency: Veterans Health Administration
Announcement Number: CBFF-11609630-22-SLS Opens in new window
Open Period: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 to Wednesday, September 21, 2022

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

VHA Health Professional Trainee (HPT) refers to individuals (1) appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements and (2) receiving VHA Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). If you are a past, current, or upcoming VHA HPT, please answer 'Yes' to the following question. (To be considered, HPT Eligible Supporting documentation [e.g., SF-50 indicating the trainee position, WOC agreement letter, or HPSP acceptance letter] must be submitted with your application.)

2. Are you a current/past/upcoming VHA Health Professions Trainee (HPT) Graduate?

An HPT may be VA-paid, Without Compensation (WOC), or a participant of the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program that has been appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experience to satisfy program or degree requirements.

To verify your standing as a current/past/upcoming HPT graduate, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), the FL-294 (or a WOC appointment letter).

A. Yes

B. No

1. Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?

If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.

A. Yes, I am considered a political appointee as described under 5 U.S.C. sections 5312 through 5316.

B. Yes, I am considered a Non-career Senior Executive Service (SES), Limited Term SES, Limited Emergency SES Executive Branch employee.

C. Yes, I am considered a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or appointee who served in a political capacity under agency-specific authority in the Executive Branch.

D. Yes, I am considered a political appointee in the Executive Branch (as described in a., b. or c above) in a covered position in an agency having an interchange agreement with OPM, which allows movement from the agency's system to the competitive civil service.

E. None of the above. I am not considered a current or recent (last 5 years) political appointee as described above in items a, b, c, or d.

Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held

Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Thank you for your interest in the Marriage & Family Therapist position with the Readjustment Counseling Service. Select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

1. 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. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English to perform the duties of this position.

Are you proficient in basic written and spoken English?

A. Yes

B. No

2. Education Requirement: Candidates must meet one of the following:
Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE),
Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR,
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.
Please select the appropriate answer based on your level of education that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. NOTE: Please submit a copy of your transcript with your application package.

A. I have a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

B. I have a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution.

C. I have 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.

D. VHA Sponsored HPT Consideration: I am a past, current, upcoming VHA Health Professional Trainee (HPT) graduate who has successfully completed or is expected to successfully completed an affiliate sponsored or VA sponsored training program and on track for meeting the requirement at the time of appointment. I understand that I must provide a proof of HPT to be considered.

E. I do not have the education described above.

3. Please provide the following information regarding your education: Name of College/University and location; Program/Major and Degree Earned; Date Conferred. NOTE: Please submit a copy of your transcript with your application.

4. Licensure: Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State.

AAMFT Approved Supervisor Requirement: AAMFT issues a national credential to allow MFTs to provide clinical supervision. MFTs must take specific course work and meet specific standards to become an AAMFT approved supervisor. AAMFT Approved Supervisor and AAMFT Supervisor Candidates may clinically supervise trainees or unlicensed MFTs.

Do you meet this licensure requirement?

A. Yes, I have a full, current and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State AND I am an AAMFT Approved Supervisor or AAMFT Supervisor Candidate (you must upload proof of AAMFT Supervisor or AAFMT Supervisor Candidate designation)

B. VHA Sponsored HPT Consideration: I am a past, current, upcoming VHA Health Professional Trainee (HPT) graduate who has successfully completed or is expected to successfully completed an affiliate sponsored or VA sponsored training program and on track for meeting the requirement at the time of appointment. I understand that I must provide a proof of HPT to be considered.

C. No, I do not possess the licensure for this position as described above.

5. Please provide information regarding Licensure: State and Date Licensure was issued, License Number, and Expiration Date; and include AAMFT Approved Supervisor or Candidate credential. (please ensure you upload a copy of applicable license/credential).

6. Experience and Education: To be eligible for consideration at the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must meet all requirements as well as 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 below. OR,
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.

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. This includes the ability to assist Veterans and their families in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality.
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.

Do you meet this requirement?

A. Yes, I meet the experience, education and KSA's requirement described above.

C. I do not meet the requirement above.

CV/RESUME REMINDER- Your CV should include the following: Education (Location, Year of graduation); License (State, License #, issue date, or pending status); Graduate Education (Location, year Month & Year start/end date (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); Work experience (Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status. Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your CV. TRANSCRIPT REMINDER - If you are basing your qualifications on education or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

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