What is the VA doing using unlicensed psychologists to treat veterans?

Complaint targets VA psych staffTreatment by unlicensed psychologists doesn't affect patient care at Haley, the VA says.
By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE, Times Staff Writer
Published December 4, 2007


TAMPA - Providing the very best mental health care to soldiers returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan is one of the highest priorities for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

But at the nation's busiest VA hospital, the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, the most-troubled and vulnerable veterans are often treated by the least-experienced psychologists, according to a complaint to the state.

About 12 of Haley's 34 psychologists - more than a third - are unlicensed and receive little if any direct supervision, according to a complaint filed Nov. 29 with the Florida Board of Psychology.

The VA disagrees with the complaint's figure, saying just nine are unlicensed.

The complaint, filed by Haley psychologist Brian Nussbaum, said some of these psychologists still use the title of either "psychologist" or "clinical psychologist" with patients.

If true, that would violate state law.
In an interview on Monday, Nussbaum said three of the four psychologists working in Haley's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic are unlicensed. Nussbaum is the only licensed psychologist in the clinic.

And he said Haley's suicide-prevention coordinator also is an unlicensed psychologist.

Nussbaum, who agreed to an interview after the St. Petersburg Times obtained a copy of his complaint, said he fears patient care is endangered by this inexperience.
Unlicensed psychologists, he said, are typically people who have recently obtained their psychology doctorate and have far less clinical experience than their licensed counterparts.

"I have nothing to gain by doing this and everything to lose," he said. "The majority of mental health services provided to our newest generation of veterans is being provided by our least-experienced staff."

VA officials denied that patient care is impacted and said that all unlicensed psychologists receive ample supervision and are on track to receive their licenses in the future.

Florida and federal law allows unlicensed psychologists to work as long as they receive constant supervision, the VA and state said.
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How large does the font need to be on this to even come close to describing what is going across my mind at this very moment?I cannot believe they are doing this. Treating veterans with such sub-standard care as they have been receiving is one thing, but to subject them to unlicensed psychologist is illegal, unethical and dangerous!
I received an email from Senator Martinez about how much we need to support the charities across the nation who are "taking care of the troops" and "our veterans" while he is one of the senators of the 49th ranked state for taking care of our mentally ill population. Yes, these citizens even include veterans. We are number 2 for the veterans population, ranked number 3 for homeless veterans, and yet in Tampa they are using unqualified people to dispense, or pretend to, psychological treatment!

Doing this is like asking me to put on a white coat and diagnose veterans as well as asking me to hand out whatever medication I think is right for them and damn the consequences. This is ridiculous. I've read every report that has come out in the last 25 years and studied this as if my life depended on it because it does, since my husband has PTSD and he is part of my life. How can they do this? Easy, there is a body willing to show up so they can act as if they are really doing something.

Can there be any wonder remaining why it is so difficult for people like me to get these veterans into treatment when they read something like this is going on? This also explains something that happened last night.

I went to a National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) last night. I am new to the group but have admired the work they do nationally for many years. When I walked in the door, informed them of what I do, I was greeted with hero status. They had been contacted by the VA looking for help from them. Reading this report explains why they need more help. The government isn't giving it to them.
If they are doing this in Tampa, how many other veteran's hospitals and clinics are they doing it in as well? What the hell am I supposed to do with these veterans I've been trying to get into treatment when I cannot even be sure once the get their foot in the door, they will be treated by highly trained, licensed people?
It is nearly impossible to get some of these veterans to the point where they are willing to go for help. It was hard enough trying to get them still wanting it with the backlog of claims and long waiting times. After this, there will be many more who won't even put one foot in the door. That means we will have more homeless veterans, because help is not there, more families falling apart and yes, even more suicides.

Senator Martinez and Senator Nelson have been sitting in Washington as veterans go to hell in a hand basket and we fail them at every turn. How dare they ask people to support charities when they do not even support them WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS?

Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Namguardianangel.blogspot.com
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington