Clinical Psychologist - AL & GA

The rewards of serving your country as a Sailor are great, but so can be the stresses of being away from family, managing challenging work and dealing with the pressures unique to military service. Thats why the Navy needs caring and capable Clinical Psychologists like you who can provide Sailors with the support and guidance they need to maintain positive mental health and be their best selves. Whether youre counseling Sailors families on Naval bases or providing therapy to SEAL Team members who face impossible situations on a regular basis, your carefully honed skills are a critical asset to keep the Navy performing at its best.

As a Clinical Psychologist and Officer in Americas Navy, you will provide clinical care to service members and their families. You will encounter a wide array of clinical conditions, including those unique to the military environment. In addition to providing clinical care to address the full spectrum of mental health concerns, Navy Clinical Psychologists provide support to the Navy and Marine Corps by :

• Conducting therapy and providing clinical care to service members in deployed settings
• Administering and interpreting assessments and evaluations
• Conducting seminars to help service members, including upper leadership, maintain positive mental health
• Participating in military training exercises that enhance our ability to reach service members in a wide variety of settings
• Providing training and mentorship to new generations of psychologists
• Serving in leadership and policy positions aimed at sustaining mental health within the military
• Presenting at professional conferences

In your role providing therapy and clinical care to service members, you may gain experience in the following mental health specialties :

Navy Clinical Psychologists serve all over the world, from both U.S. coasts, to overseas locations such as Spain, Japan, Italy or Guam. You may find yourself working at one of our major Medical Centers located in San Diego, CA, Portsmouth VA, and Bethesda, MD. You could also be assigned to a smaller hospital or clinic at other locations around the globe. Navy Clinical Psychologists serve aboard aircraft carriers, alongside SEAL Teams, with Marine Corps Units and at the Naval Academy.

Navy Clinical Psychologists must either be licensed psychologists or must enter the Navy through one of our advanced training programs listed below.

Upon entering the Navy and before beginning any advanced training, you must attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here you will learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette.

Advanced Training Programs

Psychologists may partake in advanced training as a means to enter the Navy or to further education. Available programs include :

Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.

Post-Service Opportunities

Its also important to note that specialized training received and work experience gained in the course of service can lead to valuable credentialing and occupational opportunities in related fields.

Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous financial assistance and continuing education programs. Opportunities for further education within this platform include :

Through the Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), you may be eligible to receive financial assistance to pay down the cost of your graduate education.

Practicing Professionals

There are advanced education opportunities available to Navy Clinical Psychologists :

Offers have many variables. To get details and find out which offer would benefit you most, request a medical recruiter contact you.

A degree from a four-year college or university is a minimum educational requirement to become a Commissioned Officer. You must also attend Officer Training. There may be exceptions to the degree requirements based on extensive service experience.

To qualify for employment consideration as a Clinical Psychologist in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements :

Internship Qualifications

Direct Accession Qualifications

Preferred Internship Qualifications

Preferred Direct Accession Qualifications

General qualifications may vary depending upon whether youre currently serving, whether youve served before or whether youve never served before.

Serving part-time as a Navy Reserve Officer, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling, Clinical Psychologists in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes. This gives you the flexibility to expand your profession in the Navy without compromising your civilian practice at home.

For annual training, Clinical Psychologists may serve anywhere in the world, whether at sea, in hospitals stateside, or on bases in countries around the world.

Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Navy Reserve Sailors.

Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) or the equivalent.

Clinical Psychologists in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Before receiving the ongoing professional training that comes with this job, initial training requirements must first be met.

For current or former Navy Officers (NAVET) : Prior experience satisfies the initial leadership training requirement so you will not need to go through Officer Training again.

Officers who previously held a commission in another United States Military Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Health Service, or United States Coast Guard are exempt from attending ODS or LDO / CWO Academy.