Rationale: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively reduces symptoms across a range of psychiatric conditions (Butler et al., 2006; Wykes et al., 2008); however, its benefit to functioning remains less well understood. Work functioning has received little empirical attention in the CBT domain. Despite research evidence suggesting that maladaptive thoughts about oneself and expectations about the ability to work interfere with work success (e.g., Hoffman et al., 2000; Kukla, Bonfils & Salyers, 2015; Kukla, McGuire, & Salyers, 2015), no CBT programs have been developed specifically targeting vocational themes with the goal of improving competitive work outcomes. Further, a recent paper outlined needed avenues of future study in the SE domain; Drake and Bond (2011) state that cognitive strategies may be a fruitful area to develop to help "nonresponder" consumers with mental illness who struggle with vocational dysfunction despite high quality vocational assistance. The goal of the current project is to address this gap and the serious problem of unemployment in Veterans with mental illness by pilot testing the CBT for work success program (CBTw) and assessing key employment outcomes before and after the intervention, and six months after conclusion of the intervention.