Who would you seek first for treatment of PTSD or related problems, Family Life Chaplain or other health care provider? Why?

2014-03-30T22:17:39-04:00

Family Life Chaplains have advanced degrees in counseling and psychotherapy. Many even practice Eye Movement Desensitaon and Reprocessing (EMDR), and have the higest level of confidentiality.

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 11:02 PM

2014-03-30T23:02:54-04:00

Sir, if a soldier is an atheist, agnostic, or just leans towards a secular world view; it would be reasonable for him to initially seek another health care provider. I frankly wouldn't care who he prefers to see. I just want him to get better in the way that's best for him.

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jun 24 at 2014 7:47 PM

2014-06-24T19:47:28-04:00

CH (MAJ) Waldrop:

When I was a WO1 I will share with you, I did not care about credentials, my entire basis on who I spoke to was can I trust you!

I came in the Military at 1984, and I will share with you Soldiers do not trust, and that is for good reason.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 7 at 2014 7:27 AM

2014-08-07T07:27:31-04:00

Sir, an interesting question. I personally feel that the most important thing is that the individual seek professional help from a qualified provider. Period. You provided two qualified sources of assistance and personally I would be comfortable and confident with either but it is a very personal decision for the individual.
If a service member asked me where to go, I would be confident providing both resources to the individual and allow them to choose whichever they were more comfortable with.
Having said that, there is another issue that we must consider. If this individual is nearing separation and wanting to file a claim for disability with the VA for PTSD, there is a requirement for a clinical diagnosis. While they can obtain this diagnosis from the VA, it would be more beneficial if the individual had the diagnosis earlier with a history of treatment as well. While I wholeheartedly agree that a Family Life Chaplain could be of great help in treatment and coping techniques I am not confident that they are qualified to diagnose a mental health condition (or, more specifically, that their diagnosis would be accepted by the VA). Also, the records, being confidential, would be more difficult to obtain to be used in evidence in support of a claim.
Again, obtaining treatment, as soon as possible is the first priority; but the possibility of a claim with the VA should be given consideration at some point along their journey of coping and hopefully healing.
Thank you for providing the community with a very important source of assistance for our service members!