Combat Veterans’ Groups at the VetCenter. Do they really help?

2019-07-17T18:35:36-04:00

It seems, at least in my area; all the OIF Veterans are either busy, forgetful, or just plane not interested in group. Is this the case with you or am I alone on this one?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 17 at 2019 6:52 PM

2019-07-17T18:52:15-04:00

I noticed I have a better rapport with older veterans than the younger ones. Often the younger veterans don't even want to make eye contact.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2019 6:53 PM

2019-07-17T18:53:49-04:00

I think it can be helpful, but as with many things, it depends on the energy and commitment of the members.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 17 at 2019 11:15 PM

2019-07-17T23:15:32-04:00

4 conflict Vet- VA shrink started a Vet group, we met for a year every month. It was a big help for most. After that I joined a Vet to Vet Peer group. It has helped a lot.

Response by SSgt James Brown made Jul 18 at 2019 12:17 PM

2019-07-18T12:17:55-04:00

If you're struggling with PTSD, TBI, anxiety or depression please know that treatment works and Emory Healthcare Veterans Program is here to help, at no cost. Emory Healthcare Veterans Program starts a group of up to six post 9/11 Veterans every Monday. call [login to see] or visit http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/veterans to learn more.

veterans

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jul 18 at 2019 10:19 PM

2019-07-18T22:19:55-04:00

As a clinical psychologist and professor, group therapy can be quite potent as an intervention when conducted over time by a skilled clinician. It recapitulates the primary psychosocial unit: the squad. In our local VAC it is underutilized in favor of lots of psychotropic meds.
Rich

Response by 1SG Thomas Jasak made Jul 19 at 2019 4:53 PM

2019-07-19T16:53:27-04:00

I am lucky because the group that I go to at the Augusta, GA Vet Center every Monday morning is very helpful and everyone in the group is committed to it and making everyone feel safe and try to help each other out.

Response by PO2 Roger Parks made May 13 at 2020 6:33 PM

2020-05-13T18:33:25-04:00

It was suggested that I might like the VN Vet group that meets once a week. I have been attending for 4 months. We have gotten a comradeship that is helpful. I look forward to attending.

Response by SPC Jerry Zeranick made May 13 at 2020 6:53 PM

2020-05-13T18:53:43-04:00

Maybe it’s just me and my frustration with the VA, or maybe I just didn’t give it a chance, but I only stayed for a couple sessions and left. I don’t think they really gave everyone enough time to say what was on your mind and what they were really feeling. When you’re dealing with that many men, maybe it’s not possible to give them the time they need. I hope someday they find a better way

Response by Sgt Tim Hudak made May 13 at 2020 7:38 PM

2020-05-13T19:38:42-04:00

I work for the VA, but I've been to several VetCenters both professionally and personally. You get out what you put in. All of the VetCenter team members I've interacted with truly care and went above and beyond. I would completely recommend trying them out. Find a location near you by using https://www.va.gov/find-locations/ or call 1-800-WAR-VETS.

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Response by SSG Camile Alexander made May 13 at 2020 7:50 PM

2020-05-13T19:50:06-04:00

It varies. Sometimes 75 percent of the group shows up and sometimes less than 25 percent shows. Never have I seen 100 percent at one time. Most work and is able to attend sometimes and some of those attendance may not be for the length of the meeting. I would say you are not alone. The bottom line is the group is there if they need help and the group stay informed through our group text.

Response by LTC Scott Sossaman made May 13 at 2020 11:43 PM

2020-05-13T23:43:13-04:00

VetCenter's were started for Vietnam Veterans by Vietnam Veterans. I attend a group that is mostly Vietnam Veterans, but there are quite a few OIF/OEF guys. OIF/OEF guys don't talk as much as the rest of us do (I'm DS/DS, OIF, OEF). I think many of them are busy with life as they are younger and find it hard to take the time. Motivation is also a key factor. If they want help, they got to step up and get it!

Response by CPL Frank Dominguez made May 14 at 2020 1:36 AM

2020-05-14T01:36:20-04:00

I never went to any groups at Vet Center but i did do like a year of one on one meetings with a counselor at the Vet Center. It was for PTSD treatment and in the process she also prepared my claim from all her data she collected during our sessions. She was awesome!! Just something to consider!

Response by CW3 Rich Ziemba made May 14 at 2020 9:39 AM

2020-05-14T09:39:17-04:00

Our group in Pensacola VA clinic is very helpful. We have 30+ Viet Nam veterans that participate at least on a part time basis. It is good to realize that we still have our fellow warriors that care about the welfare of veterans. John Gunther is the VA moderator and does a fantastic job of getting us to understand what triggers are concerns.

Response by CPT Murray Sallenbach made May 14 at 2020 11:28 AM

2020-05-14T11:28:30-04:00

I meet with or virtually meet with 25-30 combat veterans weekly, mostly Vietnam War veterans. This has been very helpful for me and provides an association with kindred souls that I tend to have a lot in common with.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 14 at 2020 1:00 PM

2020-05-14T13:00:52-04:00

I did quite a bit of extensive group therapy on active duty. Here are my thoughts:
- It's good to see familiar faces.
- It encourages cross fertilization of ideas.
- It is a safe environment.

Response by Sgt Richard T. Prinzing made May 14 at 2020 9:03 PM

2020-05-14T21:03:32-04:00

I didn't know anything about them.

Richard T. Prinzing of Rockford, IL
U.S.A.F. Medic 1960 - 1965

Response by CPT Bobby Fields made May 29 at 2020 11:46 AM

2020-05-29T11:46:13-04:00

Went to the Prescott Vet Center '05-'07', worked at the Prescott Vet Center '09-'12, now I'm a Social Worker preparing to go back to work for the Northern Arizona VA in Transition Care Management. Really interesting comments on here, but some common threads that I definitely find to be true as both a combat veteran and counselor are:
1) Younger generations, regardless of their conflict, aren't quite ready to talk about their experiences. My OEF/OIF generation wasn't/isn't any more or less ready than my Dad's Vietnam generation was ready because of where we are in life when we separate from service: young, busy, distracted, raising a family, etc. That changes as we age and gain a little perspective, plus the time/flexibility to start taking care of ourselves. At some point, the opportunity to seek support becomes a bit more clear.
2) When we try to access mental health and counseling services, we can be soured early on by a bad experience, whether it is with a peer in a group setting, or with a provider who we don't mesh with. I had a bad experience with an Army provider (civilian psychologist) after deployment and that prevented me from seeking help for many months before I was convinced by family members (one a Vietnam veteran) to get help.
3) We trust our military/veteran buddies, so when one of them says, "the VA sucks", or maybe "shrinks are a waste of time", we tend to take that at face value rather than find out for ourselves. If we already had reservations or suspected that counseling/treatment wouldn't help, this now serves as confirmation bias and we go, "See, I knew it!".
4) We view everything through our experience. If we served in a certain MOS, combat zone, etc. then we tend to not necessarily lend as much credibility to those who didn't serve as many tours as we did, get blown up, lose as many buddies, etc. However, we almost always hold great reverence for the combat generations that came before us. My Dad served in Vietnam, and I have no bigger hero in life, not just because of what he endured in country, but because of how hard he fights in life and what his entire generation did for us in creating Vet Centers, pushing critical legislation to improve the VA, etc. I still have no problem saying that I often don't feel worthy when compared to him and so many others who served that I hold dear. I hope I am always humble enough to reflect on that.

So yes, it can help tremendously to participate in a group, as it can help to get individual therapy. And it is rarely "one and done" for counseling. We may need to get counseling for many months, even years, and we may need to reengage later in life if we are triggered, retraumatized, etc. We may seek the help through formal channels such as active duty providers or the VA/Vet Centers, or we might simply find a pursuit that provides clarity of mind and the opportunity to process our past experiences. Life evolves, and if we are willing to put in the same grinding effort to taking care of ourselves as we were to take care of our troops and our buddies while in uniform, we can only benefit from that grind.

Response by SGT Daniel Petitt made Mar 23 at 2022 2:03 PM

2022-03-23T14:03:28-04:00

I’ve been going twice a week for 15 years & I look forward to them. When you listen to other vets you find out you’re not alone & might not be crazy after all .

Response by SPC Victoria Coe made Mar 23 at 2022 2:52 PM

2022-03-23T14:52:35-04:00

The Vet Center I went to didn't even have a combat veterans group, we were just lumped in together. Tbh, many who went there were not trying to get better, just more of attention seekers, constantly one-upping each other. I am sure each place has a different environment and atmosphere. I just happen to have moved to a state with no military base other than National Guard units.

Response by SPC Larry Brink made Jun 20 at 2023 2:29 PM

2023-06-20T14:29:29-04:00

I went to the vet center in sioux falls South Dakota. Probably around 1985. The guy running the group shot up his home and then killed himself. We all scattered as we found out about the incident as we gathered for a weekly group. I said to myself, that place is a magnet for guys in worse shape them me. I've never gone back.