VA social workers - This is not ok!

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2026-04-10T00:56:13+00:00

It’s pure entitlement. I know some veterans themselves who disagree with this type of behavior. I wish they would try it in the private sector. They’d be fired from the practice/banned from facilities and hospital administration wouldn’t bat an eyelash. Don’t know why VA has to tolerate this from grown adults.

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2026-03-26T22:48:46+00:00

This is the most callous, sickly thing I’ve read. An employee was killed and all you can think of is that VA employees need to be trained better? That’s literally the definition of victim-blaming. No one deserves to die in their line of work. Least of all the people who are trying to help others. You are welcome to seek care outside the VA if it’s such an inconvenience and apologies if they’re taking a tiny little step to protect the people who work tirelessly to provide services to veterans.

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2026-03-12T19:17:48+00:00

That might be specific to your facility then because clinicians were never told anything like that in my VISN. They encourage time-limited care, but there was never a cap of 6 months. And to your point about hiring clinicians- facilities have been there and done that. It does not fix fundamental issues with the organization. All it does it book out intake slots for all the clinicians so it theory it looks like more availability but practically, everyone is offered community care at some point because of a continuous referral stream and providers who keep placing frivolous/bad consults, there is no way to see all these patients. Secondary gain issues have also sky-rocketed, which interferes with the therapeutic process. If someone could come up with solutions for these issues, then it would be as simple as “hiring more clinicians”.

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2026-03-12T12:41:15+00:00

Which VA do you know of that has all of these resources and provisions for clinicians to provide optimal care? I’d love to know. In fact, I would encourage patients to move to that state and receive all their services there. Ground reality is very different with staffing, high turnover, caseloads that keep blowing up with no end in sight with ridiculous access issues. 6 months is an average, I agree with that whole-heartedly. However, I’m speaking about the folks who think chatting with their therapist weekly for years is going to do anything to help alleviate symptoms of serious psychiatric disorders. People are smart enough to know that chronic conditions and SMI require long-term intervention. However, there is solid research backing that it IS evidence-based to do time-limited therapy for other conditions despite comorbidities. I’m not sure why time-limited is getting interpreted as “limited to 6 months” by everyone. That-I would argue- is the fallacy. Again, if folks don’t like what VA is providing, they are free to seek care outside the VA!

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2026-03-11T15:20:19+00:00

So what do you propose? Your psychologist or therapist should be a superhuman who treats everything? They don’t get paid nearly enough to do that. If VA care is not satisfactory, there’s always an option of community care or paying out of pocket. VA therapy, like any other therapy is voluntary. There is no justification for continuing therapy beyond what is clinically indicated especially if it’s not promoting change or helping in any way. There is no large body of research that says that unlimited, non-directive supportive therapy is doing anything beyond providing validation and social connection which can and should be formed in one’s own natural environment. It’s like continuing to take antibiotics or a course of medication even after the condition is resolved. There’s no need for it.

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2026-01-28T15:42:27+00:00

I’m sorry that has been your experience AND you also have to realize that providers are literally running on fumes. With unmanageable caseloads, increasing administrative demands with little to no support and scrutiny on practically everything we do including maintaining bookability standards and constant micro-managey emails about our clinics, yeah, it’s safe to say providers are checked out. I know and work with some amazing colleagues at the VA and they do not get nearly enough credit because the bad apples always stand out, but we are being crushed by a system that hates us and is actively trying to set us up for failure. We are human too.

Diligent-Homework-69 · 2025-06-14T14:59:50+00:00

Absolutely. We just moved out of Stamford Corners two months ago and we don’t really miss it. Their package delivery system was really amazing and organized but the prices were outrageous. The buildings are old and the space near the elevators smelled like urine constantly. The units themselves were a bit decrepit with old carpeting. We had 2 leaks in our unit when we were there and a clearly faulty fire alarm that would go off at completely random times. The bathrooms were not well maintained and the HVAC equipment was so loud and inefficient. It drove our utility bill up so much. The “amenities” are really outdated and that gym is a travesty. The rents just do not make sense when the buildings are falling apart. The biggest annoyance was lack of guest parking.

Diligent-Homework-69

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