Veterans Mental Health Disability Testing and PTSD Evaluation
Getting the assistance you need as a veteran shouldn’t be hard. Evaluations for disability benefits are available here in our Wesley Chapel counseling center, near Tampa, FL. Below you’ll find a description of all of the veteran services that we offer to veterans and their families. When you’re ready to schedule your mental health disability testing session, please click the ‘Schedule Today’ button. Let’s get the process started for you.
Evaluations for Disability Benefits
Are you a military veteran that is struggling with mental health challenges? Is it difficult to get through your daily routine because of your psychological struggles? Do you sense that your mental health challenges are destroying your relationships? Have you noticed that most or all your mental health challenges began during active duty or after discharge?
During active duty, days are filled with fast-paced training and missions. The high level of intensity required to complete these tasks can be a distraction and it can be difficult to detect when something is wrong.
Now that you are a civilian and have more time with your thoughts you may have noticed that your mind gets stuck on negative images or thoughts. Sometimes these images are horrific experiences that you have experienced during your service.
Additionally, some veterans describe difficulties with self-worth. Often, because of hearing an onslaught of degrading comments given by your superiors. You may have believed all the hateful things that were said to you.
Physical injuries are often recognized by others when veterans are injured in the line of duty. Yet, the emotional scars are often unnoticed by others. These emotional scars are often hidden for long periods. Often, because of the military emphasis on the importance of being mission-focused. Not, as you may be concerned about, being internally focused.
Servicemen and women are often ridiculed when they speak out about their stressful experiences. Stuffing painful emotions may have served you well to maintain focus on the mission. But, those same survival skills of stuffing emotions are no longer serving you well in civilian life.
Signs a Mental Health Disability Evaluation is Needed:
- You have experienced incredibly stressful or traumatic events during your military service.
- It is difficult to function in your current occupation because of your mental health struggles.
- Your relationships have suffered due to your mental health difficulties.
- You are now in a mental frame of mind that will allow you to accept financial help to address your mental health needs.
- It is difficult for you to feel safe. You end up staying home the majority of the time because being in public feels too overwhelming.
We know how difficult it might be to begin therapy. As a veteran, you may be hesitant to schedule a therapy appointment because you have not been ready to share your story with anyone. It’s difficult to talk about the things you saw and did and you aren’t sure if a therapist can even understand. However, the painful experiences you endured during active duty do not have to define your life forever. We are here for you, with a professional, caring psychologist who understand the unique experience veterans face. We are prepared to hold your pain and evaluate your service-related mental health difficulties.
Components of the Disability Evaluation for Veteran Benefits:
The testing process for VA disability benefits is clear at Sheltering Oaks Counseling. We will make sure you fully understand the steps, whether or not you are currently doing therapy for veterans with us. For mental health disability evaluations, we will provide you with:
- A diagnostic intake interview with a licensed psychologist. Time to discuss your current and past mental health struggles.
- An empirically-based psychological assessment. Taken on a computer to further assess mental health struggles.
- A comprehensive psychological report from your psychologist. The report will identify relevant mental health diagnoses that are service-related.
What should you bring to your appointment for a VA disability evaluation?
- DD-214 Form.
- Driver’s License or Identification Card.
- A list of any medications you are currently taking (if applicable).
- Any previous mental health rating decisions (if you have previously been rated by the VA).
If you have an inclination that you might need to talk with someone, do it. Counseling is a perfectly normal and valuable experience that benefits many people. Is it time for you to get help and feel more connected in your relationships?
Ready to Schedule an Appointment for testing or therapy?
We know how difficult it can be to take the first step to ask for help. You also may have questions! Our team of mental health professionals are available to help you through this process. Call today and we will get you scheduled with one of our therapists or testing psychologists. If you have questions before you begin, we're here to answer questions about therapy, testing, our counselors, or anything else. Please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch with you soon!
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Other Mental Health Services at Sheltering Oaks Counseling
Your family may need help in more than one way. At Sheltering Oaks Counseling, we want to meet the mental health needs of every member of your family. Therefore, we offer a number of mental health services at our Wesley Chapel, FL based therapy clinic. For example, our therapists offer Christian counseling, counseling for young adults, therapy for cancer survivors and trauma therapy. We also have marriage counseling, family therapy, play therapy, and counseling for ministers. Not only can we help you in our Tampa area counseling offices, but we can also work with you anywhere in the state with online therapy in Florida.
Additionally, we offer several types of testing services, including neuropsychological testing, ADHD testing, psychoeducational evaluation, Gifted testing, and more. Finally, our specialty services for veterans and parents as IEP advocates can help you too! We would love to connect when you are ready to reach out.