As of 7/01/2024, I am currently accepting new clients with evening and weekend availability.
As of 7/01/2024, I am currently accepting new clients with evening and some weekend availability.
For service connection three elements are required.
1. The Veteran must have a current diagnosis.
2. The in-service event/stressors must be supported by credible evidence
3. A connection (called a nexus) between the current diagnosis and the in-service event/stressor must be supported by medical evidence.
Military sexual trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service. MST includes any sexual activity during military service in which you are involved against your will or when unable to say no.
Depression is a mental health illness that impacts you both mentally and physically. It can cause you to feel sad, lose interest in activities you previously enjoyed, withdraw from others, and have little to no energy. Physically depression can impact your immune system, sleep schedule, and even your weight.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder. Right now, PTSD is diagnosed when someone has certain symptoms they experience after a life-threatening event. It's more than just nightmares and flashbacks and impacts everyday life and relationships in many ways.
Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive fear, anxiety, discomfort, and self-consciousness in social settings.
Everyone knows there can be a bit of a love/hate relationship with the VA. Can they be great and provide excellent healthcare and benefits? Yes. Can they also be one of the most frustrating places in the world with the most red tape? Also yes. I've always wanted to work with veterans and their families but have found the red tape limits the ways I can do that; however, outside the VA there are plenty of options I have to help support veterans AND their support systems. A big piece of this is resources; whether that be supporting evidence for PTSD diagnostics for disability compensation or assistance in finding mental health resources near you I want to help you get the things you need that may or may not be coming from the VA.
First, I want have a short 5-10 min chat where we discuss your situation. This way I can understand better how best to help you.
Here we will spend roughly an hour doing a clinical interview where we discuss your medical history and asses your symptoms using the DSM-5-TR.
Once I've completed a review of your medical records and the notes from our conversation, I will draft a nexus letter. We will spend roughly 30 minutes to an hour going over it's contents and the assessment.
Now it’s time for you to submit your nexus letter along with the rest of your evidence. After this step, it’s in the hands of the deciders. It’s ok though I still have your back. If you have any issues with your nexus letter and the VA, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me through text, phone, or email. If you are in need of additional support and resources I will do my very best to help you. Let’s fight this together.
One thing I strive to do is be transparent; with that, I'm not going to make you jump through a bunch of hoops to know what to expect working with me. If you're looking for a NEXUS letter to cover how your daily life may be impacted by PTSD symptoms it's gonna take about 3 hours of our time and $300 flat. That's $300 for the NEXUS letter and all the records review, clinical interviewing, and documentation time I spend on it. Overall I usually only need you for about 1 - 1.5 hours for the clinical interview and then about 30-45 minutes to review the assessment and go over the NEXUS letter. I spend about an hour and a half reviewing the assessment, your records, and relevant case studies in support of your NEXUS letter. The thing is I have no guarantee this letter will impact the VA's decision in your claim so I don't want you to have to throw thousands of dollars at it; I'm just using my hourly rate that covers my time and all that fancy schooling I had to do to get the credentials needed to be a qualified mental health professional.
Unfortunately, teleportation isn’t available yet. So chances are an in-person session wouldn’t work. Instead, we will use a HIPPA compliment telehealth platform to make it as convenient as possible.
I’ve watched those Veterans closest to me struggle with the VA and their mental health. I truly want every Veteran to have to opportunity to get help in that fight. IGY6
In mental health, we use this fancy book called the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” or the “DSM.” Right now we are on the 5th version of this so people usually say DSM-5 (or DSM-5 TR since they revised some of the text). Basically, it’s a giant book that lists symptoms and criteria for a mental health professional to say “yup you have this diagnosis.” Usually as a mental health professional people will use different types of assessments to see how you meet the criteria; I personally use an assessment the Veteran’s Administration developed that looks at each criteria and really dives into if you meet the criteria or not.
Nope. Any exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence can lead to a PTSD diagnosis. Unfortunately, we know this can happen outside of a deployment as well.
Ahh my biggest pet peeve…the standard “everyone with PTSD has these triggering memories and acts out” stereotype. Rememer when I said we use a giant book to see which criteria you meet to say you meet diagnostic standards? Flashbacks and memories are two of MANY symptoms. Also on that list are avoiding things and people (even if they aren’t tied to the event), memory difficulties, negative beliefs about yourself, others or the world, anger, feeling detached from others, sleep difficulties….see the point. There’s a lot. You can 100% have a PTSD diagnosis and never have one flashback or nightmare about the event.
1. I’m a mental health nerd that wants to be sure that everyone has their mental health needs met. 2. I have a lot of veterans in my life who have gone through the same process of having to prove to the VA that they deserve the benefits they have earned. If I can put some stuff on a website or spend 2-3 hours with someone to help them get the things they need I want to do that.
Now it’s time for you to submit your nexus letter along with the rest of your evidence. After this step, it’s in the hands of the deciders. It’s ok though I still have your back. If you have any issues with your nexus letter and the VA, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me through text, phone, or email. If you are in need of additional support and resources I will do my very best to help you. Let’s fight this together.
If you’re struggling emotionally and need to talk to someone, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, I can’t be with you 24/7. It may take me a few hours or even a day to respond to you since Enlitens doesn’t do crisis management. Feel free to call me or schedule an appointment but if you need something right now try one of these resources.
Call 24/7 for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor.
Call 800-273-TALK (8255)
Have a free, confidential chat with a trained counselor. Available 24/7.
Text ACTION to 741-741
All resources are free, confidential and most are available 24/7.
Behavioral Health Response provides crisis support, telephone counseling, and mental health resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mercy Behavioral Health offers free, confidential evaluations for anyone who has a concern about a psychiatric, behavioral or addictive disorder. Evaluations, as well as referrals to physicians or community resources, are available 24 hours a day.
A one-of-a-kind collaboration with multiple St. Louis area community partners, this new service brings together SSM’s behavioral health team and the comprehensive support of local mental health resources.
Located on the SSM Health DePaul Hospital Campus | Use parking lot #8 on DePaul Drive
The Military Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and Veterans, even if they’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care.
A safe, judgement free support service for LGBTQ and questioning youth who are struggling or thinking about suicide. Available 24/7
Their advocates are here to listen without judgment and help you begin to address what’s going on in your relationship. Their services are always free and available 24/7.
If you’re struggling emotionally and need to talk to someone, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, I can’t be with you 24/7. It may take me a few hours or even a day to respond to you since Enlitens doesn’t do crisis management. Feel free to call me or schedule an appointment but if you need something right now try one of these resources.
Call 24/7 for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor.
Have a free, confidential chat with a trained counselor. Available 24/7.
Text ACTION to 741-741
All resources are free, confidential and most are available 24/7.
Behavioral Health Response provides crisis support, telephone counseling, and mental health resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mercy Behavioral Health offers free, confidential evaluations for anyone who has a concern about a psychiatric, behavioral or addictive disorder. Evaluations, as well as referrals to physicians or community resources, are available 24 hours a day.
A one-of-a-kind collaboration with multiple St. Louis area community partners, this new service brings together SSM’s behavioral health team and the comprehensive support of local mental health resources.
Located on the SSM Health DePaul Hospital Campus | Use parking lot #8 on DePaul Drive
The Military Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and Veterans, even if they’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care.
A safe, judgement free support service for LGBTQ and questioning youth who are struggling or thinking about suicide. Available 24/7
Their advocates are here to listen without judgment and help you begin to address what’s going on in your relationship. Their services are always free and available 24/7.
