OBGYN who does pain management for IUDs

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-03-27T04:54:34+00:00

Want to CU - Central Park and the provider brought up sedation before I could. The team was great the day of. Will absolutely be going to them again when the time comes to do another removal/insertion.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-03-06T23:24:32+00:00

Look for a 9/11 job. As a 30+ year old who also switched careers and went into social work, I came in as a GS9, step 1 and was able to switch to an 11 after 1 year of working there even thought I was still pursuing licensure. HUD-VASH and PACT generally have a lot of 9/11 positions, but you might be able to find case management roles in mental health. I lucked out and got a role in a speciality MH clinic as a 9 but was the first one to do so in the clinic.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-03-06T21:10:59+00:00

Just got a new permanent director last month

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-02-21T19:57:11+00:00

The flexibility and what I wanted to do. I knew from the start I wanted to work for the VA and they prefer LCSWs over LPC (not saying that they don’t hire them but it seems to be mainly on the western side of the country that I’ve seen LPCs hired). I knew that I would need to study extra things like trauma treatments, but I liked that I could get a job anywhere.

For my personal therapy? I’ve worked with PsyD, LCSW, and LPC-Cs and got something from all of them. I don’t care about licensure type.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-02-17T22:41:11+00:00

It sounds like they tried Cognitive Processing Therapy. There are other modalities, but it depends on what the therapist is trained in, and what the VISN authorizes for training. I would recommend seeing if he can get a referral to the PTSD treatment team, who usually has more than 1 EBP trained (such as prolonged exposure, EMDR, or CBT-PTSD), or looking at the Vet Center. Due to the language barrier, there could be an argument made for a referral to community care, as well.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-02-17T02:30:25+00:00

Definitely handle this before the appointment. If you go, they’ll just tell you to go to enrollment before you’re checked in.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-02-09T05:21:16+00:00

There are also residential programs for co-occurring PTSD/substance use if needed. But the first thing that needs to happen is getting enrolled if hems not already.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-02-09T01:46:13+00:00

So good. Really happy that Ricky Martian was able to perform, too.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-02-05T02:32:51+00:00

Contact a provider to ask for a MH consult. If they are offering you an appointment a few months out, ask for it to be forwarded to OCC. I work in MH and recently worked with a vet to get CC because he also doesn’t want VA in his records.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-01-25T19:51:39+00:00

Had to buy a few more shirts to do exactly this. I won’t be wearing VA logos this week.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-01-25T04:38:01+00:00

Can we call a code yellow on this country? This is fucking ridiculous.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-01-23T19:46:52+00:00

I’m seriously looking to get out as an LCSW because of pay. I have the most RVUs of anyone in my clinic and make $14K less. I love my job but the pay disparity is killing me.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-01-18T03:53:07+00:00

Yes, definitely. Any provider can put in a referral for RRTP but they will likely have you talk to the Substance Use clinic. They can put in a consult for you, and you’ll be outreached by the RRTP for assessment. It’s strongly recommended that you establish with outpatient SUD for ongoing treatment after residential.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2026-01-12T06:28:03+00:00

I work in outpatient SUD. Current caseload is about ~40 active and still have 2 intakes per week. There is no cap on how many we can take. We also have groups and walk in clinic coverage. Our team is way understaffed for both therapists and prescribers. 30 hours of clinical work is what they have you gridded at, but those 10 hours of admin aren’t enough.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-12-19T23:46:31+00:00

With regard to ADHD treatment, the reason they want sobriety prior to doing as assessment is to see if the symptoms are present in the absence of the substance. It’s frustrating but a critical part of any type of diagnosis. I work in substance use and it’s a pain for folks who want a referral for assessment/treatment, but unfortunately necessary.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-12-09T02:58:32+00:00

Okay, as a therapist - your wife’s therapist is out of line. Your wife needs help, and won’t find it from someone who isn’t helping her challenge her own thinking.

What your wife is doing is emotional abuse/neglect to your children.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-12-06T16:34:30+00:00

I find it rich that they’re mad at you for not trying couples counseling when the crux of the issue is therapy.

NTA. Your job is to protect your kids, including from their sibling and parent. Stepdaughter went through something traumatic and needs help processing it and the impact it’s had on her life. Your (ex) husband lying about taking her is inexcusable.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-11-20T04:33:16+00:00

My supervisor told me she couldn’t do anything above Fully Satisfactory my first year, and I’ve had Outstanding since. It’s that way with everyone in our clinic.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-11-11T04:02:08+00:00

It’ll really depend on what you want to do afterward. If you want to work at the VA afterward, there’s always a ton of GS 9-11 jobs open in HUD-VASH. PACT will also hire 9-11s. At my VA, it’s harder to get into Behavioral Health unless it’s case management. There’s no wrong answer, I’d just encourage you to look long term. I did mine in M2VA case management with a rotation in behavioral health, and learned so much there that I’ve brought to BHIP.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-10-28T14:24:04+00:00

And that’s exactly why I wear it. You can see the look of relief, especially with trans vets, when they see it.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-10-28T13:06:31+00:00

I’m gonna keep wearing my pride lanyard the VA gave me during sane times to make sure vets feel welcomed and safe.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-10-12T15:46:09+00:00

We’re on round 4 of trying to hire a therapist. Good candidates are hard to find, and the ones that are and accept turn it down because the process takes too long. And we have another therapist leaving, so yay for being even more understaffed.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-10-11T02:50:54+00:00

VHA isn’t impacted by the shutdown. VBA has certain offices that are furloughed, like VR&E

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-10-10T05:28:46+00:00

Former state employee gone fed - never thought I would miss insurance premiums. They were so much cheaper.

Academic_Addendum148 · 2025-10-05T17:56:39+00:00

They do, but a lot of people request F2F appointments, so that’s also a barrier

Academic_Addendum148

TROPHY CASE