Marriage Family Therapist - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Programs

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until June 30, 2026, or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be March 23, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Education. Candidates must meet one of the following: Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage & 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, & 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, & unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage & family therapy in a State. Exception: VHA, 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. This exception only applies at the entry grade level (GS-9). For grades at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. English Language Proficiency. MFTs must be proficient in spoken & written English. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MFT on the effective date of this qualification standard (4/18/2018) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it must meet one of the provisions listed in the qualification standard. Grade Determinations. Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education & Licensure. 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 level. Unlicensed MFTs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in above, & are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience, education, & licensure for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan, interventions based on research & family systems theory & therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice & assessment tools. Ability to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members. Knowledge to formulate, implement, & re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences & current events surrounding the origins & maintenance of the presenting issue, & interactional patterns within the client system. Ability to provide counseling &, or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples and families in a manner that facilitates change through restructuring & reorganizing of the client system. Basic knowledge & understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, & regulations affecting professional practice of marriage & family