Active Duty Service Members: Why You Should Consider Seeing a Therapist Off-post
Seeking behavioral health while on active duty can be a complicated, and nuanced issue to say the least. There are pros and cons to seeing behavioral health on base vs. someone in the community. Clearly - as a private practice owner, I’m biased. Many of the points I’ll mention below speak to the benefits of seeking treatment off-post. That said, I hope that if you are looking for on-post support you don’t let this dissuade you! Many amazing providers work on-post, and some duty stations have amazing facilities. This list is just to help you consider the relevant factors in making your choice.
Please keep in mind if you are an active duty service member - you will always need to get a referral (from your primary care, or on-post BH) to see an off-post provider who is in-network with Tricare. Luckily we are a preferred Tricare provider, so look no further!
Access and availability
Providers on-post are responsible for the care of every service member at that duty station who would like to be seen. Unfortunately, at times this means that you might have to wait longer in-between sessions. While this can also be true in the civilian world (especially with larger companies and community mental health centers), this tends not to be true for off-post private practice therapists.
Most of my clients are seen weekly in the beginning and work to decrease frequency as they improve and gain confidence. I only take on new clients when I have space, so I can be available as needed for my clients.
Getting a say in who your therapist is
You want to know that the therapist you are opening up to is going to understand your challenges, be able to help you, and can help make you feel comfortable along the way. I’d want the same! A significant benefit of going off-base is the ability to search for a therapist that fits your needs. You can search for a therapist based on our specialties (what we treat), the types of therapy we do, how we identify, and more. For those of us with listings and websites, you can as much time as you need to go through our content and get a feel of who we are. For many people, getting placed with a therapist you know nothing about can be intimidating.
Concern for your confidentiality
On-post: Your employer also employs the therapist you see on-post. There are inherently two sets of interests at play - the client’s interests and that of the military/their unit. I don’t know a ton of people who feel comforted by this fact.
Off-post: You employ your therapist to help you. Therapists well connected to the community know the barriers that keep military-connected clients from being honest in therapy. It is not uncommon for clients to have progress reports requested, which can cause a lot of anxiety if you’re unsure about the process. If this is a concern for you, please mention it in your consultation. I’m happy to discuss how I generally handle documentation and progress updates in these situations.
Convenience
Seeing a civilian therapist could allow you more flexibility and convenience than you’re used to! I see all my clients via telehealth (video call on a HIPAA-compliant platform), so they can decide where they’re most comfortable holding their session. No need to get dressed up, or make a special trip out for a session.
Colorado Springs is home to several military installations including Ft. Carson, Peterson, Schriever, Cheyenne Mountain, and the Air Force Academy. Finding a therapist who “gets” service members, and understands the norms of community can help you feel more comfortable. Whether you seek care on-post or off-post, taking care of your mental health can be an essential part of optimizing your overall well-being.
