Posted on Feb 15, 2016
How can you find out if a mental health provider is able to evaluate you for PTSD?
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RP Members what providers have you used - share with other RP Members if you feel comfortable sharing.
Many providers specialize in assessing and treating people who have experienced trauma. Providers who specialize in trauma will likely have expertise in evaluating PTSD. Some providers may specialize in working with certain kinds of trauma survivors.
Many providers specialize in assessing and treating people who have experienced trauma. Providers who specialize in trauma will likely have expertise in evaluating PTSD. Some providers may specialize in working with certain kinds of trauma survivors.
PTSD
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Mental Health
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What Would You Do
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 22
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My primary M.D. referred me to my psychologist. The first one just wanted to hear war stories and gave me a CD that he made with his voice and bells. The second asked me if I was drafted or volunteered, as soon as she said that I walked out. Going thru several I met one that just wanted to know who I am. About my family, what I like to do. I felt very comfortable with this doc and he is the one who has helped the most. He is a Kaiser Permanente provider that was military and VA. I feel that you must clique with your provider, if not move to the next.
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CSM Charles Hayden
Feeling that you are relating and connecting with a mental health provider is the GOAL.
Those licensed, marriage, family, health people are ok for starters,but they are for the easy stuff.
Those licensed, marriage, family, health people are ok for starters,but they are for the easy stuff.
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Interesting thing is if a health care professional cannot provide the service to acceptable State standards, they are required by law to refer you to one who can. It's a constraint on their basic license. PTSD isn't a military only thing but the shopping list of causes and some symptoms are. Therefore, I'd recommend sources that are either VA or DoD/VA endorsed in hopes of not getting any snake oil into the equation. You're not expected to know and administer the drill VA did on providers that meet their standard.
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I suggest that civilian providers are more open to treating PTSD because of acceptance trauma for fatal car accidents, fatal storms, and the rest. The VA is much more stringent about what markers qualify for a PTSD diagnosis. Also, I have found that the VA is overstressed with patient load.
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
I agree to a point- I was evaluated by a civilian psychologist who was working with the VA. The questions she asked, the answers I gave, aren't even close to what went in the report. If you go to a civilian, I STRONGLY advise going to someone with no affiliation with the VA. It's bad enough having to relive the trauma itself, then to have someone "downplay" and minimize it was deplorable. I felt like I was being assaulted all over again (and felt as helpless). It seemed like she was "in cahoots" with the VA to minimize my rating. js
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
Lynda Key - not necessarily-a lot of friends of mine had their ratings downgraded after going to civilian psychologists that were recommended by the VA. We fought for our country, you would think that we wouldn't have to fight WITH our country for our benefits-js
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Lynda Key
GySgt Melissa Gravila - not necessarily recommended by the VA, but having similar military experience.
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