Dr. Ashley Winkleman, PhD

not helping VA veterans

This provider quit a session within 15-20 minutes of a scheduled 1 hour appointment. I am a combat veteran who has waited for over a year to have a mental health appointment. The provider was unable to understand the frustration and concern with veterans committing suicide at alarming rates. This appointment was a few days after a veteran made the national news for mental health issues and committed a mass shooting. This appointment was on a Friday morning before Veteran’s Day weekend. This provider was unable to name effective therapeutic methods for treating PTSD and informed me that she does not take notes during her sessions. This provider also was reluctant in allowing me to view any of her written notes related to our time and session. This provider still has the DSM-IV on her bookshelf for patients to see. Needless to say, this provider quit the session 15-20 minutes into it and had no contingencies afterwards. She simply stated “I will consult” after dismissing me as the… patient. This is on a weekend where veterans often reflect on their time in the military and remember traumatic experiences. No care was given as the provider let her own personal emotions stand in the way of a veteran who needed help and may be more sensitive than any other time of the year than now. I am ashamed that the VA does not screen for quality professionals but instead give way to increasing demands for psychologists. We need quality more than quantity and this is a tangible example.