Getting Help From Va

[Guest Louanna]

Can someone please elaborate how exactly do i go about with the va to get a therapist or some sort of help? i got honorably last year. and i want to come to terms with everything, but not sure how i go about doing this. please help me!

[Guest sarah f]

Welcome to Laura's Louanna. I wish I could help you with the VA question but I really don't know. Hopefully one of our other members that served can help you with your question. I am glad you found the site and hope to see more of your posts. Thank You for serving our country.

Love,

Sarah F

[Guest Donna Jean]

Louanna, Hon....

Welcome to the Playground!

Let me get you a plate of Sally's cookied (fresh baked) and a cup of hot coco!

Sit over here and make yourself comfy..

Now, Dear. I'm a vet also and let me tell you from the very start..the VA is not standardized...every one seems to follow it's own guidelines.

I think that the first thing that you need to do is get online and Google is your friend...you'll have better luck with a VA that is in a population center as compared to a rural setting.

Then, phone and ask about therapists and what is available to you...there is no standard procedure, so many calls may be needed....

But, work your way through ....you may find that there is no Gender therapists available on their system and you may need to ask if a regular therapist will take you on...don't worry, their letter will suffice for HRT, too!

So do some calling and get back to us....OK?

Since you have one post and you need 5 to use that Personal Messenger, I'd suggest you post some more and then we can talk privately if you so desire.

Love & HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest Louanna]

yea i've been looking everywhere for few questions on va. i found the tavausa.org website to be helpful to a extent. i understand most of the policies and standards of care. etc... it's just how to exactly go about asking for the therapy. like do i ask for a gender therapist or just a regular 1 and talk through he/she ? i hope you see were im coming from?

[Guest Donna Jean]

yea i've been looking everywhere for few questions on va. i found the tavausa.org website to be helpful to a extent. i understand most of the policies and standards of care. etc... it's just how to exactly go about asking for the therapy. like do i ask for a gender therapist or just a regular 1 and talk through he/she ? i hope you see were im coming from?

I'm sorry, Honey.....

I went through a therapist outside of the VA.....

But, I'd have to think that if it were me, I'd ask for a gender trained therapist right off....

I'll do some reasearch on this an re-post later.....OK?

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest Gina9223]

Louanna,

Currently, servicemembers leaving the military with an honorable discharge retain Tricare medical coverage for 2 years post discharge. Please verify prior to attempting to use. Go to the Tricare website and ask there.

If you got out only a year ago, you should still be under Tricare for one more year. Its not saying much, but you should be able to use the perscription coveage to great advantage. You should really check that out.

To find out your local VA hospital’s services you can contact its patient advocate or the local Transgender support group and ask them.

[Guest Louanna]

i don't get tricare because basically i got injured and honorably discharged.. basically army thru me few grand or whatever and no medical care... but va is supposed to cover it. <probally should of mentioned this before>

[Guest Gina9223]

Ok, I’ve been trading emails with someone in TAVA about VA stuff.

Right now, there are both current regulations and newer ones coming out that do cover treatment for Transgender vets. This covers psychological treatment and HRT.

So, if you do have VA benifits you should be ok.

[Guest Girl Emily]

Louanna,

The first thing you need to do is register for a primary care doctor. You should get an apointment for within a month or so. If not already registered with the va goto member services at va hospitall or clinic with your dd214. While there goto the primary care clinic and tell them you need a primary care Dr. They will hand you a piece of paper with the scheduling # on it. Call from a va phone in the building, usually by the elevators. I was given an appointment the following week when I registered in San Diego.

Remember the first appointment is a basic health check up and an opportunity for you to decide if the Dr is someone you can work with comfortably. If you decide you are not comfortable with them you may request a change. The patient advocates office can help with local procedure. It is in this appt. That you can ask for a psych consult for depression or if you want to be direct your ongoing gender dysphoria. If you are in a real hurry go to the psych urgent care clinic and tell the receptionist you need to speak to a psychiatrist they will see you that day and schedule a followup appt. If you are feeling suicidal please call the VA hotline for help the number is 1 800 273 TALK .

[Guest Louanna]

thanks a ton! your a lifesaver this helps a great deal. I will go this week and get everything sorted out.

[Guest melissabloch]

well u need to be enrolled in the VA health care system find your local Vahospital or outpatient center, fill out the va form 1010ez (application for health benifits) enclose dd214 with the application

[Guest Louanna]

well i just went in set up everything, and got basic psych eval like those 30min sessions, but soon i go back and talk, i talked to them and she seemed nice i guess they see this thing more often here in washington then some little va center but everything seems to be on track now. thanks everyone for help and advice

[Guest Gina9223]

YAY for Louanna!

If you want to thank anyone on the improvements that you’ve found at the VA and how its handling Trans people drop a line of thanks to the Transgendered American Veterans Association. They’re the organization that’s been spearheading that.

[Guest Louanna]

Well today's appointment was interesting. The lady wasn't friendly at all. fed me abunch of bs about how the va doesn't do this or doesn't do that. and she said she wouldn't give me therapy and i asked if someone else would help me she was like No! without even asking anyone else. said she wasn't qualified to handle this. so whatever im go outside and get a referral since va can't help me in the facility im go outside. She kept saying the endo doctor would help me more then her. ? she was so frustrating asked me if i was religious .. then asked how tall i said 5'10 she was like you would make a tall women? lol anyways it was a bad morning. Told me i had taken enough steps yet ? and dressing up and going out on weekend wasnt enough for now.. i guess because im not a lil flamboiyant girly gay boy, or already look super feminine i havent taken enough steps. i think ive taken more steps then most. and my steps are laid out in a process. and shes just delaying it. next time im going in with pictures, ton of makeup and saying i have a bf.

[Guest Gina9223]

Hi Louanna,

Yeah, sounds like you got a jerk who hasn’t read any of the new materials.

Please contact TAVA’s Laura Radigan at http://www.tavausa.org/contact.html

Talk to her about the incident.

Some times some people simply do not understand that they are not to use their own definitions or interpatations of the freaking rules…

freaking bible thumping jeebus freaks...

[Guest Louanna]

i think im just gonna call the administrator for that department, and see if i can just go around her. and see what i need to do to get an outside therapist if need be. if that dont work then i guess i will contact the tava ?

[Guest Girl Emily]

Louanna,

I am sorry you ran into such an ugly individual. I am not sure I could have maintained a calm lady like demeanor in the face of such an assult.

You should go and speak to a patient advocate and file a formal complaint. I may have missed it, did you say what her position was? You have a right to change your care provider and in light of the hostility she expressed I don't believe you will have a problem getting someone else to help you. You have been given 5 years of eligibility for VA medical care by law as a OEF/OIF veteran. Now is the time to use your military bearing that you possess and demand the respect you have earned as a veteran. The bullets you faced didn't go around you just because you are transgendered. I say that figuratively as just being in the military is risky and you served honorably and have the medals to prove it. Now is not the time to be soft spoken but to speak calmly but forcefully and demand that your medically recognized condition be treated with the care and respect that is given to any other condition. Also ask if they have a GLBT advocate or ombudsman to protect veterans like us from this type of treatment.

Don't be shy, you will find that most of the VA is filled with caring people.

Huggs

[Guest Donna Jean]

Well today's appointment was interesting. The lady wasn't friendly at all. fed me abunch of bs about how the va doesn't do this or doesn't do that. and she said she wouldn't give me therapy and i asked if someone else would help me she was like No!

Louanna.....

This is just terrible...

But, like any other organization, the VA has it's idiots, too....

I'd make footprints on her scalp from going over her head..There is absoutely no reason for the way that you were treated.

Please don't give up, Honey...

The VA is supposed to be there for us vets.

Unfortunately...it's not standardized and different VA's have different ways of opperating.

Good Luck, Hon!

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest Louanna]

cause i mean im a straight forward person, like on the pre-screen therapist appointments i had told em i was depressed and had alot of issues. and i clearly mentioned about gender and changing. the first 2 were fine. but when they transferred me to the next person the primary care whatever... and as soon as i asked about hormone refferal she was like we dont do sex change things here! ? lol sigh and for her to tell me because she isnt qualified to give me therapy or anyone else. i wanted to smack her.... oh and another thing since im not super gay or live as a woman 24/7 now. <which is pretty impossible in my circumstances> im not getting taken serious. so i guess i have to fake it to get what i want.

[Guest Girl Emily]

Have you called the patient advocates office and filed a complaint and requested a new primary care doctor?

Are you seeing a psychologist or social worker as well?

Are they treating your depression? And how are they doing it? Therapy or drugs?

Maybe both?

Are you in group therapy or one on one?

They will give you what you need. You just need to ask them clearly for what you need.

I would request one on one therapy sessions with any medication they prescribed to treat your depression because you believe that your depression is secondary to your gender problems and don't feel comfortable discussing it in a group setting with cisgender individuals.

They should respect your desire for this type of treatment.

It may take a few months to reach your goals

I am in a similar starting position with my gender treatment. I only have the advantage of year long relationship with my primary care doctor. Others are getting this type of treatment and we should be able to get it as well

Huggs,

[Guest Louanna]

well she was a psychologist, and i've been to group therapy outside but its a far drive 45mins. but whatever i called the closest gender therapist. and they will fax something to va for me to transfer to their facility. i dont get a primary care doctor til apr 7th?

[Guest Louanna]

NEW NEWS! lol so i get letter in mail 2days ago to remind me i had a mental health appointment at 9am today! i was like what? considering i had alrdy made a appointment to go back april 22nd, so i go and find out that they had given me a new therapist that was taking me on, and had already reffered and made me a appointment with the endocrinologist!!!!! so i guess hormones are coming quicker then i excepted. lol im so happy today. i guess everything does happen for a reason... oh and i never filed a complaint against the other therapist, she said she would bring it up in staff meeting and see what happens. and she was true to her word.

[Guest Girl Emily]

Louanna,

Yea! That is so wonderful. My heart is rejoicing with yours. I'm glad the VA is finally working for you.

Huggs,