Recently, a study completed at the VA with psychologists has stated that many psychologists feel they are working at a factory job due to the number of veterans they see for therapy and the lack of variety and growth in their jobs. I would like to “second this motion,” so to speak.
I work at the Central Texas VA in the mental health clinic. I work a hybrid schedule which means I am in the office three days per week. My supervisor is right across the short, short hall from me. She watches everything I do, and makes sure I adhere to my schedule, which actually is 8:00am to 4:30pm, with only a 30 minute break for lunch. In theory, we are supposed to also receive two 15-minute breaks but we don’t. She will not allow me to take a longer than 30 minute lunch regardless, even once a week. to get an allergy shot. I see on average six veterans per day plus do two groups per week. I have asked to do other types of work in the department because I feel burned out, and was told no. However, a new psychologist is now being allowed to have a variable schedule which really pisses me off. It’s probably the only way they could get him to come on board. He was smart. I was not.
Psychologists are measured by productivity even though we can only see so many veterans per day, which makes no sense. I am always booked up, and yet I don’t make all of my quotas. I have no idea what they want me to do, except see veterans on the lunch half-hour and time off, I supposed. Which I am not going to do.
Central Texas does not apply nor encourage training except for clinicians in Austin. I live in the cursed town of Temple so the last training I attended was two years ago. And yet, we are supposed to deliver “high quality therapy” to veterans. It’s hard to stay fresh when you receive no training, no time off for training, and no encouragement. And, a full schedule with no breaks. And having to complete progress notes on the weekends (with no credit for time spent). The only supervision we receive are in 15-minute daily “huddles” with our treatment team and once monthly staff meetings which mostly just tell us what we are doing wrong.
Because we are so booked and understaffed, we can only see veterans once per month, if we are lucky. Sometimes once every three to four months. This is honestly not therapy but some kind of support for them. Therapy is done on a regular basis which is not possible at our VA. Veterans get angry about it and even threaten suicide over this lack of care, but the VA truly does not care about people, only numbers.
I have applied for other psychology jobs in the VA and not even received an interview. This could be due to my age, even though the VA guards “against” ageism, again, in theory.
I know this is a negative “downer” post, but there is no one to talk to about this. Even our HR department does not care and does not want to help. Sometimes I can only find release by writing out my thoughts and emotions, even if it also makes me nervous to do so.
Since we no longer have an active union, we can’t even get help from them.
I guess I wish this job had turned out differently but instead it has contributed to burn-out, depression and anxiety in me.
I am planning to leave. It was just nice to read an article about how the VA treats psychologists. It validated my experience and makes me feel I am not imagining things.
Percolations 