Soldiers struggle to find therapists

[journalist3072]

Source: AP via Yahoo News

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Soldiers returning from war are finding it more difficult to get mental health treatment because military insurance is cutting payments to therapists, on top of already low reimbursement rates and a tangle of red tape.

Wait lists now extend for months to see a military doctor and it can takes weeks to find a private therapist willing to take on members of the military. The challenge appears great in rural areas, where many National Guard and Reserve troops and their families live.

To avoid the hassles of Tricare, the military health insurance program, one frustrated therapist opted to provide an hour of therapy time a week to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for free. Barbara Romberg, a clinical psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area, has started a group that encourages other therapists to do the same.

"They're not going to pay me much in terms of my regular rate anyway," Romberg said. "So I'm actually feeling positive that I've given, rather than feeling frustrated for what I'm going through to get payment."





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070610/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/soldiers_finding_a_therapist

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I love how our government supports its troops, don't you? (feel free to insert sarcasim here)

[prayin4rain]

1. I feel so terrible for them. :( n/t

[partylessinOhio]

2. * and the Repugs don't put money where their mouths are.

They want to run the war (except for Halliburton and KBR) on the cheap!

Iraq veterans have joined the Katrina victims
and America's neediest citizens in the
stand and wait forever lines.

:thumbsdown: to * and his rich friends who demand tax cuts that hurt Americans.

[InkAddict]

7. Be careful choosing a therapist.

Some seem as mixed up as their clients...

Long ago, I had one that commisserated long and hard about the nastiness of going out in the field to "play soldier"; seems it took so much time away from the civilian practice (or the doggies?) Guess what? That one ended up drooling about seeing Camp Delta/America at Gitmo and the terror rush of living with the troops in Iraq. The best way to relieve stress must, of course, have been to follow orders! But that's o-kay since it was someone else's idea, right?

Oh, BTW, the taxpayers paid for this one's edumacation not to mention boots, vest, and helmet and likely a hefty pension on returing for good to civilian life.

This one also testified before a state committee about the horrors of slow-paying civilian insurance providers. After a "timely pay" regulation was put into place, the *-$^%@ told me my insurance would no longer be accepted at the civilian practice - but I could pay the rate and even had a little credit.

The same crazy headbanger testified long ago to a Senate Committee about the most AWFUL things our government did to her DADDY and the health problems that resulted and were inherited(?) as a result of this AWFUL secret exposure.

What a two-faced, snake-tongued, reptilian human that's obviously into supporting a private pocketbook and not the troops or civilian "whiners." Probably well on the way to writing a bestseller and accepting lecture stipends. :grr: A real-time national security ambulence chaser!

[SpiralHawk]

10. republicons HATE our troops and especially our veterans

They cut services and trash talk any vet who will not Assume the Position for Commander AWOL, Dickie "Five Military Deferments" Cheney and the republicon chickenhawk war profiteers

[prayin4rain]

3. I just wanted to add though............

My therapists rate is $125 and through United Healthcare they get $55 from them and $15 from me. So he ends up with $70. So I think this is standard for the therapists.

I feel bad for the soldiers though. Therapy should be provided for them, hell MANDATORY, they should not have to try and figure out how to get it for themselves.

[juno jones]

5. Yeah, the therapists have to charge that much

to repay their furshlugginer student loans, what gives? :sarcasm:

Univeral babay, covering medical, dental and psychological, only way outta this.

[Breeze54]

4. Need Transition Help? Free Resources for OEF/OIF Troops

Need Transition Help? Free Resources for OEF/OIF Troops

Sunday, January 07, 2007

http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2007/01/need-transition-help-free-resources.html

The battle to overcome the stigma attached to seeking help for post-combat mental health issues
can be a difficult challenge for many returning troops.

Troops may feel that they will appear weak if they come forward; some may have confidentiality
worries about using VA or DoD resources (understandable after last year's data breaches);
others fear an end to their military career if someone finds out they're having problems.
Again, understandable.

In addition to the many PTSD resources already available to them, professional mental health
cooperatives are springing up across the country, giving returning troops private counseling
alternatives. Communities in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay area, Boston and
the greater New England area, Colorado, and Portland have confidential pro bono (free!)
transition programs for their local returning OEF/OIF vets.

In addition, Operation Comfort offers a state-by-state listing of individual health
professionals offering complimentary care to returning veterans.

National mental health associations can also point you to other local resources you may not know about.

http://www.operationcomfort.com/therapists.php

Click on 'Article Link' below tags for available programs...

This is what community involvement and real patriotism looks like. I hope we continue to see
more and more of these types of programs spring up nationwide. If you know of one in your local
community not listed here, please email me and I'll be happy to add it.

Pro-bono counseling resources for OEF/OIF veterans:

Colorado Psychological Association
The Support Our Family in Arms (SOFA) program provides a statewide network of credentialed
volunteer mental health providers offering complimentary counseling services to OEF/OIF
National Guard and Reserve veterans and their families. Phone [phone] for more information.

Deep Streams
Offers San Francisco Bay-area OEF/OIF veterans and their families a complimentary multi-disciplinary
program that integrates psychological, meditative and expressive arts approaches to healing from war.

ONE Freedom Inc.
Providing ground-breaking education and training models that are community-driven, transferable
and sustainable. Complimentary reintegration resources for returning veterans.

Operation Comfort http://www.operationcomfort.com/therapists.php
A nationwide network of 450 mental health providers and agencies providing services,
free of charge, to veterans and family members who have a loved one serving in the Middle East.
Visit their website or phone [phone] (1-866-NEAR TO U) to find a counselor near you.

Return to Honor
Complimentary transition training workshops from Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, Pa.,
aimed at helping returning veterans and their families return to peaceful life following service.

The Returning Veterans Project NW
Offers free and confidential counseling to Portland-area veterans and their families
of past and current Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.
Phone [phone] or email [e-mail] for more information.

The Soldiers Project
Free, confidential psychological counseling for southern California OEF/OIF vets and their families.
Visit their website, phone [phone] or email [e-mail] for more information.

Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists (SOFAR)
Complimentary psychotherapy and psycho-educational services for New England-area families of
Reservists and National Guard members stationed in or returning from Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

Veteran Love
Assisting wounded and disabled service men and women with their post-war transition,
this nonprofit has established a monthly “emergency assistance” fund granting financial
help to selected veterans or military family members. See their website for details.
Their online chat board is a great resource.

American Love and Appreciation Fund
930 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Veterans Study Program
OEF/OIF veterans: access to a free reintegration counseling program and study fittingly
called the Veterans Study Program at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(VAMC) in the Bronx, New York.

[annabanana]

6. Thanks for posting this Breeze. . . important stuff. . . n/t

[babylonsister]

8. Can you imagine the gagglefuck when all the troops get home?

If this problem is not addressed now, it will mushroom to staggering proportions. Support the troops-I'm SO sick of that expression, because it's not happening.:-(

[Bosso 63]

9. Does anyone know if their using group therapy?

I think I remember that after WWII they started using group therapy because of a shortage of mental health professionals, and found that it was actually more effective than individual therapy.

[classysassy]

11. Support the troops( lip service only)

when will the military wake up and realize they are being duped.?