Should I consider a masters level position at the VA while finishing my doctorate?

[jgclown]

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I am done with my APA internship and hopefully will be completing my dissertation in the next 6-8 months. My employer (where I did my internship) is fiscally in trouble and I would not be surprised that in the next couple months closes. My goal after completing my doctorate is to work at the VA and I was considering a VA post-doc but also considered hopefully being directly hired as a new graduate.

Any opinions since I may become unemployed in the very near future to pursuing employment at the masters level (I am licensed in CA and AK as an MFT) while completing my dissertation. I assume I would enter at the GS-9 level but what would the mobility be in after a year of employment after I have completed my PsyD?

 

[erg923]

Does the VA hire MFTs? I jave never seen one here. The beneficiaries of VA services are individual veterans. Spouses are only covered in certain circumscribed situations (CHAMP VA program) . The VA is individual and group therapy almost entirely.

And I don't really see what would be appealing about a job applicant who will want to leave the position 9 months after I hire them?

 

[WisNeuro]

Does the VA hire MFTs? I jave never seen one here. The beneficiaries of VA services are individual veterans. Spouses are only covered in certain circumscribed situations (CHAMP VA program) . The VA is individual and group therapy almost entirely.

And I don't really see what would be appealing about a job applicant who will want to leave the position 9 months after I hire them?

Yes, we had several in Houston and some in Minneapolis. They are limited in terms of their highest GS level though.

 

[erg923]

Yes, we had several in Houston and some in Minneapolis. They are limited in terms of their highest GS level though.

Do they do individual work?

 

[WisNeuro]

From what I saw, predominantly couples therapy.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

We provide couples therapy at my VA clinic as well, although it's conducted primarily by a couple psychologists (our VA "hub" is very psychologist-oriented); we haven't yet hired any MFTs of which I'm aware.

To the OP: I'd say a postdoc would be ideal, as it would allow you to begin accumulating supervision hours once your dissertation's complete. However, that'd also be a sticking point--as your degree requirements aren't yet complete, you're not likely to qualify for a VA postdoc.

I honestly don't know what the mobility would look like when attempting to move from a masters-level position to either a postdoc or psychologist position. It's typically the case that it's easier to move around within the VA once you're in than it is to get into the VA initially, but I've not yet seen/heard of a case where there's a transition between practice type (i.e., from MFT to psychologist). I'd think it would still hold true, but keep in mind that this doesn't mean you'd necessarily be able to find a job at the VA at which you'd be working.

Overall, it doesn't sound like a bad idea, at least on the surface. I'm trying to think if there's anything about it that might come back to bite you later somehow, but nothing's immediately springing to mind.

 

[WisNeuro]

I honestly don't know what the mobility would look like when attempting to move from a masters-level position to either a postdoc or psychologist position. It's typically the case that it's easier to move around within the VA once you're in than it is to get into the VA initially, but I've not yet seen/heard of a case where there's a transition between practice type (i.e., from MFT to psychologist). I'd think it would still hold true, but keep in mind that this doesn't mean you'd necessarily be able to find a job at the VA at which you'd be working.
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Yeah, for the move to take place, they would have to re-apply for a completely different position. If a job title is written up as say, a GS-9, it can't suddenly become a GS-12 when they get their degree finished. Also, I can imagine leadership not being thrilled with having to backfill a position nine months after they hired someone, so you could be burning a bridge there, depending on how that is handled. This is why I always stress to students about getting as much of that dissertation done even before internship. If that thing drags on, it severely limits options at postdoc and beyond, holding things back.