And the VA muddles things again.
Ok, so I have been seeing a gender therapist OUTSIDE the VA, with VA approval and payments for over a year now. Suddenly, out of the blue, a phone call to attend a VA psyche evaluation; followed 2 days later by a letter saying the VA will no longer approve my visits to the gender therapist I have been seeing, because they CLAIM their own psychologists can offer the same treatment, in house.
So, I go to the appointment. The psychologist they had me seen by admitted he had only EVER heard of "Gender Identity Disphoria" TWICE in his entire lifetime, and that's ALL he knows about it. Admitted he is totally clueless. Even has no idea what it is, or why the VA wants me to see him. I politely asked him, "How are you supposed to help treat me if you have no concept, no training, and no understanding or experience with this?" His reply? "I have no clue. In my opinion, you've been seeing this other therapist, you should be allowed to continue; but the VA wants to take over your treatment,.... But NO ONE on staff HAS any training or experience with this, I know them all."
I say, "Are they going to hire someone with the training?"
He says, "If they are, no one has said anything about it to us,..."
I spent an hour and a half, trying to explain what transgender is, and what it entails. He got more and more uncomfortable, kept muttering, "This is well outside my area of expertise,.." and finally said, "If they try to assign your case to me, I will refuse to take it because I can't help you."
He didn't know what SRS or Sexual Reassignment Surgery was until I said "Genital reconstruction" at which point he cringed, paled, and used his notepad to cover his crotch. "No,... this is too far beyond my training...."
*sigh* So once again, the VA has wasted my time, and benefits money on their own ignorance.
He said there was another Dr. there they might send me to - named her. I told him I had seen her, and she was very pleased to send me to the OUTSIDE therapist I had been seeing!
He then said "Well, there ISN'T anyone on staff here with the training or experience to help you - so I have no idea who they're THINKING is going to be able to take your case."
Me neither.
So much for potential steps forward.
So, I go to the appointment. The psychologist they had me seen by admitted he had only EVER heard of "Gender Identity Disphoria" TWICE in his entire lifetime, and that's ALL he knows about it. Admitted he is totally clueless. Even has no idea what it is, or why the VA wants me to see him. I politely asked him, "How are you supposed to help treat me if you have no concept, no training, and no understanding or experience with this?" His reply? "I have no clue. In my opinion, you've been seeing this other therapist, you should be allowed to continue; but the VA wants to take over your treatment,.... But NO ONE on staff HAS any training or experience with this, I know them all."
I say, "Are they going to hire someone with the training?"
He says, "If they are, no one has said anything about it to us,..."
I spent an hour and a half, trying to explain what transgender is, and what it entails. He got more and more uncomfortable, kept muttering, "This is well outside my area of expertise,.." and finally said, "If they try to assign your case to me, I will refuse to take it because I can't help you."
He didn't know what SRS or Sexual Reassignment Surgery was until I said "Genital reconstruction" at which point he cringed, paled, and used his notepad to cover his crotch. "No,... this is too far beyond my training...."
*sigh* So once again, the VA has wasted my time, and benefits money on their own ignorance.
He said there was another Dr. there they might send me to - named her. I told him I had seen her, and she was very pleased to send me to the OUTSIDE therapist I had been seeing!
He then said "Well, there ISN'T anyone on staff here with the training or experience to help you - so I have no idea who they're THINKING is going to be able to take your case."
Me neither.
So much for potential steps forward.
Replies
Wow!!! That is ridiculous! It\'s 2014 that makes no sense at all. Like really...
I know - it\'s the actions of some nameless paper pusher trying to make it look like they are doing something, when all they are doing is f**king things up.
Typical behavior of our government their left hand never knows what their right hand is doing. I hope someone over there wakes up and sees how stupid this is.