Has anyone used a Vet Center for mental health? What was your experience like?

Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:35:58 -0400

I am trying to decide if I can trust going to a Vet Center.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2024 1:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:56:32 -0400

I have used a Vet Center for mental health. My experience was/is top notch. My therapist is a retired Army Reserve Psychologist.

And, the best part, is that while they do work tandem with the VA, the medical records the Vet Center keeps on you can't be accessed by anyone unless you allow or is court ordered.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2024 1:58 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:58:44 -0400

Additionally, the nearest Vet Center to me is a 1 hour drive.....my therapist made it a point to come to me in my town for my appointments. My therapist personally drove 2 hours for my 1 hour appointments

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jul 2 at 2024 2:40 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 14:40:21 -0400

Each vet center is very individual as are the therapists that work there. Give it a try

Response by SGT Tiffanie G. made Jul 2 at 2024 6:09 PM

SGT Tiffanie G. — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:09:24 -0400

Personally, I have not had the best experiences with MH through the Vet centers (or outside the Vet centers, so it's not just there). But that is my experience with my situation. My hubby has had good experiences both times he has used them. So, you won't know until you try, and see how it works for you. Starting with an open mind is a good help.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2024 12:17 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:17:20 -0400

used a Vet Center first because I didn't trust the V.A... very satisfied.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Jul 3 at 2024 12:31 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 12:31:19 -0400

I used a VA counselor. She was good, but she wasn't good for me. I just need a counselor who is going to listen to me, ask follow-up questions, slap me in the back the head and tell me I'm a little fucked up, and we'll talk next month. I was going through a rough time and a fellow vet got me in contact with a PTSD counselor out of state who was also a vet. I liked her better than the VA one.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jul 4 at 2024 6:56 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 06:56:10 -0400

I tried it, was not for me, it’s something you should try for yourself you can drop out anytime

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jul 6 at 2024 7:03 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 07:03:48 -0400

I tried using it but had to stop because if I talk about it I black out I don’t remember what I said so it scares me so I stopped going but to a degree it does help.good luck.

Response by SP5 John Hien made Jul 10 at 2024 6:58 PM

SP5 John Hien — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 18:58:50 -0400

Of course you can trust a Vet Center. If it wasn't for the Vet Center in Milwaukee, I would not have the disability benefit I have today. I encourage you to go to the nearest Vet Center. You’ll find the people there are compassionate and caring.

Response by SGT Ronald Shelton made Jul 10 at 2024 7:31 PM

SGT Ronald Shelton — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:31:08 -0400

I have been to mental health at Fayetteville VAMC. Problem became the social workers are nearing retirement and no longer want to work. The best social workers I have found are at Salem VA. They are very professional and care deeply about us and our health.

Response by SPC Donna Partain made Jul 11 at 2024 1:30 PM

SPC Donna Partain — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:30:44 -0400

It was horrible! Every 3-5 months I would have to re-explain and relive trauma for the new doctor because no one would bother to read their notes (or they may have just taken crappy notes). I tolerated them for the medication (I took Lithium for a few years after going thru a list of other medications: Depacote, Neurontin, and many others). When they decided to take away a medication that i had been using for 3 years (and the ony medication to date that has ever actually helped me), I stopped going to them. The service that I got was consistantly sub-par. I need help but I will not be going back to the VA mental Helath dpeartment for it because they just make a bad situation worse! IDK if we can be outsourced to a civilian professional that is capable of keeping up instead of asking what the problem is ever few months, then I highly recomend going to them and asking to be outsourced. Check with Trycare an other va patient options to be outsourced. Also, go to your VA patient advocate, they may be able to help. I've always had good results with them when I have a VA related problem.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jul 12 at 2024 6:56 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:56:23 -0400

FYI Be very careful that’s all I can tell you, if u can try to find a private group of veterans.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Jul 13 at 2024 11:53 AM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 11:53:35 -0400

My very FIRST Experience With The VA Was Due To What I KNEW Was A Wrong Diagnose
By A Civilian Psychiatrist, And "WHY" I Went To The VA ~ To Be PROPERLY Diagnosed, But Wasn't.
I Was NOT Diagnosed At All, But WAS Given The WRONG Medication For YEARS. Which CAUSED A Mental Health Condition ~ I Was NUTS ~ Suicidal , Had To Stop Driving, And Disabled Due To Their Multiple Error And Uncaring Attitude. YUP ~ Thanks For THAT Benefit.
Bottom Line...Taken Off ALL Mental Health Medications ~ ~ PROBLEM SOLVED.
MY Only Problem IS Our North Las Vegas VA Medical Center... I Never Had Any Manner Of A Mental Health Condition; Certainly NOT The One I Was Given The WRONG Medication To Treat... OOPS!.

Response by SrA Cecelia Eareckson made Jul 13 at 2024 7:35 PM

SrA Cecelia Eareckson — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 19:35:27 -0400

Mine was twenty to fifteen years ago, but it's the VA. Unlikely to have changed. You need to know two things, and they are heavily linked. One, the staff is social workers, no PhD or MD's. Two, social workers' evaluations are NOT admissable for P&C.
My social worker told me to write up my PTSD event, and dig deep. I did as I was told by a supposed professional. Iwent in with some mental unease, but I had.a full time job with benefits, a car, a nice apartment, and decent credit. I wound up homeless, destitute, and got zero help. Right before I was evicted, the b*tch called up to ask if I wanted a basket of cheer for the holidays
Now, you know why I am such a crusty old gal.

Response by MSgt Alfred Gronroos made Jul 25 at 2024 11:23 PM

MSgt Alfred Gronroos — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:23:27 -0400

I have used Vet Centers since 1989. Three centers and have found excellent therapists. And the groups are extremely helpful as you find out you are not alone. e all are very much the same but have kept it all internal. Amazing what relief I found finding out I am the same. My first realization came when a vet who spoke a lot said he has a loaded gun at night and patrols his house. This was about 1995 and in a quiet northern county. I realized I did the same and how wasteful of energy it was. Vet centers have been very helpful. Very thankful they are available and free of cost.

Response by SPC Donna Partain made Jul 29 at 2024 4:22 PM

SPC Donna Partain — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:22:17 -0400

I have trusted the New Orleans VA since 2008 and it has provided and still provides some of the best care that I've ever had. Remember that VA is a FEDERAL medical facility, not a state facility. The policies and procedures operate on very different levels (for one example: the federal gov't does not recognize medical marijuana as THC is still legal federally. Also federal doctors transfer periodically, unlike a civilian dr that is permanently affixed), but once I figured out the SOP it was much easier for me to navigate. I have a very dedicated medical team becuase I email my doctors regularly theough the MYHEALTHEVET portal and they usually just mail any medications to me that I request through the site. All veterans need to create a MYHEALTHEVET page then go to your local facility and ask them to up it to premium-it's all free and the premium level will allow them to message back and forth as well as order medication refills, see test results, and much more. Although I have access to civilian insurance, I will not trade great VA medical care for average civilian medical care. Don't listen to what idiots have said about the VA-they have no idea how it works, what the federal policies are, and most likely they have never even been to a VA medical facility! Whether VA or civilian-the best hospitals in the world can get a bad doctore-and the worst ones can get a good doctor. When I hear someone complain about the VA I ask them when they went-and to date they either never have or they just went once and never bothered to learn how the VA medical works-THEN I TELL THEM QUICKLY TO STFU since they have no idea!