Our goal in providing mental health care at VA is to empower Veterans to take charge of their well-being and pursue fuller lives. VA psychologists are a major part of that effort, and you can play a critical role in getting Veterans the full range of services they need.
We support this mission by ensuring that our mental health professionals have the newest technologies, facilities, and training at their fingertips. When you work at VA, you become a core member of our interdisciplinary care team structure, collaborating with primary care providers and other mental health professionals to create the right course of treatment for Veterans.
Psychology at VA
Psychologists like you play a key role in helping Veterans reclaim their lives. After transitioning from military service, many Veterans face challenges adjusting to civilian life. Many of those same Veterans also face more than physical ailments, and for them, the care of a committed and compassionate psychologist can make all the difference.
From counseling to emergency services, our psychologists do what it takes to help Veterans reclaim their mental and emotional freedom. By working for VA, you can provide clinical care, mentor and be mentored, become a principal investigator, provide training, and even move into executive roles.
VA psychologists can take on a leadership role or work in management, research, academia, and training. They also can create system-wide change by consulting on policies and procedures. At VA, you have the opportunity to practice in several specialized areas, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries and serious mental illness.
Whatever role you choose, you can do so knowing that you do work that matters each and every day, embracing the mission of serving Veterans from all angles. Our core values—integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence—are epitomized in the work of our psychologists and serve as the foundation for the way we interact with our Veterans.
Unbeatable education support
With the support of an annual scholarship program to assist budding mental health professionals—including psychologists—VA is committing even more resources to supporting the mental health of our Veterans.
The Vet Center Scholarship Program has been established to assist individuals pursuing graduate degrees in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling. This program offers funding for up to 2 years of graduate studies in these fields.
Once you’ve earned your degrees, you’ll have a VA career ready and waiting for you. In exchange for your scholarship, you’ll work full-time at 1 of 300 Vet Centers across the country.
“In 300 communities across the country, Vet Centers provide Veterans, service members and their families with quick and easy access to the mental health care they need and deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “These scholarships help VA ensure all Veterans and service members—including those in historically underserved areas—have access to Vet Centers with highly-qualified, trained, and compassionate staff.”
The Vet Center Scholarship Program is just one of several avenues we offer psychologists and mental health professionals. As VA is the largest provider of psychology training in the nation, we fund 260 fellowship positions and internships at 106 locations each year.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to continue your education to better serve your patients, you’ll find the support you’re looking for at VA.
Work at VA
Our team is always ready to assist Veterans when it comes to mental health. As a VA psychologist, you’ll be a key player in determining how we make a difference in those lives.
- EXPLORE a career in psychology at VA.
- IDENTIFY a training opportunity near you.
- LEARN about the benefits we offer.
- SEARCH for an open position near you.
