Advance Your Clinical Career: Clinical Psychologist at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Are you a dedicated mental health professional looking to serve those who protect our nation? The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is currently hiring a Clinical Psychologist to join the medical team at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. This position offers a unique blend of high-level clinical practice and the opportunity to support the mission-critical needs of the U.S. military.
Job Responsibilities
As a Clinical Psychologist, your daily contributions will directly influence the well-being of the military community. Key responsibilities include:
- Therapeutic Intervention: Providing individual and group psychotherapy using evidence-based modalities, including cognitive-mental therapy and brief, problem-focused interventions.
- Clinical Assessment: Evaluating acute mental health conditions and conducting expert-level bio-psychosocial evaluations.
- Treatment Planning: Developing and executing structured treatment plans to support patient recovery and resilience.
- Collaboration: Partnering with various providers across the Military Treatment Facility to establish cooperative care agreements.
- Education: Leading trainings and briefings to educate clinic staff on the latest principles of behavioral health.
Requirements
To be considered for this role, candidates must demonstrate both academic excellence and professional licensure. Key requirements include:
- Education: A Doctoral Degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in clinical psychology.
- Experience: One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level or higher, focusing on counseling, evaluation, and treatment planning.
- Licensure: An active, valid, and unrestricted clinical license to practice independently, issued by a U.S. state or jurisdiction.
- Clearance: Ability to pass a drug test and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Salary Range | $108,019 - $140,426 per year |
| Location | Portsmouth, Virginia |
| Security Clearance | Secret |
| Closing Date | August 27, 2026 |
Salary and Benefits
This position offers a highly competitive salary range reflecting the expertise required for the role. In addition to base pay and locality adjustments, successful candidates may be eligible for recruitment or relocation incentives. Benefits include standard federal retirement options, comprehensive healthcare coverage, and potential opportunities for student loan repayment.
Application Tips
- Respect the Limits: Your resume must be two pages or less. Over-length resumes will not be considered.
- Documentation is Key: Ensure your clinical license and doctoral transcripts are clearly attached.
- Detail Your Work: For every past role, include the employer name, title, dates of employment, and hours worked per week to demonstrate your eligibility.
- Be Specific: Use clear language to describe how your experience meets the criteria of a GS-13 psychologist role.
Working as a Clinical Psychologist at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is more than just a job; it is a commitment to the mental health of our military community. With a generous salary, excellent benefits, and the prestige of a DHA role, this is an ideal step for a qualified psychologist looking to make a difference. Apply by August 27, 2026, to ensure your application is processed.
Why This Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health) Job Matters
Advance your career in clinical psychology while serving those who serve our nation at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health) Job Overview
The Defense Health Agency is seeking dedicated Clinical Psychologists to join our professional team at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. This role, operating under Direct Hire Authority, focuses on providing high-quality mental health services, including psychological counseling, diagnostic assessments, and behavioral health treatment planning. You will play a vital role in supporting the readiness and well-being of military personnel and their families within an integrated, world-class healthcare system.
Requirements for Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health)
- U.S. Citizenship.
- Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in clinical psychology.
- One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level or equivalent.
- Current, active, valid, and unrestricted clinical license to practice psychology independently.
- Completion of a pre-employment certification statement for Selective Service registration (if applicable).
- Must pass a drug test and maintain a Secret security clearance.
- Submission of a resume (two-page limit) and required supporting documentation by the closing date.
Preferred Qualifications for Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health)
- Proven track record in individual and group psychological counseling.
- Expertise in performing comprehensive bio-psychosocial evaluations.
- Strong ability to develop and implement effective behavioral health treatment plans.
- Experience in providing psychoeducational training to multidisciplinary clinic staff.
Federal Benefits & Perks
- ✓Competitive federal salary with locality pay.
- ✓Potential for recruitment or relocation incentives.
- ✓Student Loan Repayment programs (where authorized).
- ✓Advanced leave accrual and in-hire incentives.
- ✓Access to comprehensive federal health and retirement benefits.
- ✓Professional development within a major military treatment facility.
💡 How to Apply Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health) Job & Insider Tips
Application Steps for Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health) Job
- Create or log into your USAJOBS account.
- Prepare a resume that specifically addresses the required specialized experience (limit: 2 pages).
- Gather your doctoral transcripts and a copy of your current, unrestricted clinical psychology license.
- Complete the online questionnaire via the provided application link.
- Review your application package to ensure all required documentation is attached.
- Submit your application before 11:59 PM EST on August 27, 2026.
💡 General Tips
- Strictly adhere to the two-page resume limit; documents exceeding this will be disqualified.
- Use clear, plain language in your resume and avoid industry acronyms that may not be widely understood.
- Ensure your license is clearly visible and attached as a specific document.
- Double-check that your resume explicitly states hours worked per week for all previous positions.
- Monitor your email for status updates after the application window closes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute my education for the required experience?
No. For this specific position, you must meet the qualification requirements using professional experience alone; no educational substitutions are permitted.
What is the security clearance level for this position?
This role requires a Secret security clearance and carries a Noncritical-Sensitive/Moderate Risk designation.
Are relocation incentives available?
Relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates, though the payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized.
Job from Military Treatment Facilities Under Dha
The Defense Health Agency is an integrated healthcare provider that serves more than 9.5 million service members, retirees, and their families. As a strategic partner to the Department of Defense, the DHA ensures that world-class medical, dental, and pharmacy programs are available anywhere in the world. Joining the team at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth places you at the heart of military medical readiness.