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Welcome...
* 37 Years of mental health care in our community.
* $253,872 in Charity Care given to clients in need.
* 734 Veterans of the Afghanistan, Iraq, Gulf, Vietnam, North Korean
and WW II - Wars, served in 2007.
* $13,000 raised to help homeless veterans! Click for details.
MHC SUPPORTS VETERANS!
Fred Betz: LCPC, Outpatient Therapist
I am a Vietnam combat veteran and work with veterans who have P.T.S.D. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
There is real enjoyment in being able to help combat veterans come to terms with the trauma that they experienced and to realize that they are not "crazy" (as they often put it). Having the unique advantage of being able to relate to my own personal reaction to P.T.S.D. is a great asset.
I can clearly recall talking with Dr. Julius Earl, Psychiatrist in our private practice office in Billings during the 1980's. We had become friends as well as associates while working together and one day after work he asked me, " Who did you do your P.T.S.D. therapy with?" My immediate response was, " I don't have P.T.S.D.! " I remember his leaning over, tapping me on the shoulder and saying, " Tuesday and Thursdays after work Fred. " The relief that I felt that someone would listen to my story and help me to understand what I had been through was overwhelming! That was the beginning of my journey to really understand the effects of P.T.S.D. To learn about the denial and my belief that it was not O.K. for me to have this mental illness. The realization that I wanted to "be stronger that that" and that I should be able to "get over it on my own." My personal resistance to having this Mental Illness was eye opening! I was able to learn about how the trauma had changed me and my perceptions of the world around me.
I feel privileged to use my personal experiences along with my clinical training to engender similar understanding in our Mental Health Center clients. It is wonderful to pass on the help that I received from Dr. Earl to others.
Angie Schmidt: BS, VA MHICM and VA Outpatient Intensive Case Manager
I've been employed at the Mental Health Center for three and a half years and have been working with veterans, as an intensive case manager, for 2 years.
My grandfather was a World War II veteran and my father was a Vietnam Combat veteran, but it wasn't until working with veterans did I realize what they ultimately stood for and how proud they are for having served their country. The veterans I've worked with range in age from 26 yrs old to 85 yrs old and they are all unique individuals.
As a VA case manager I'm able to link veterans with community resources and advocate for them. Most veterans have a very small support system and the MHICM and Outpatient programs are able to provide them with the support they need to be successful. Trust is a big issue and if there's anything I've learned it's that consistency and efficiency are key in gaining their trust.
My job is a challenge and yet at the same time very rewarding. It's an honor and privilege to work with these men and women who exude pride and passion for what they believe in. It wouldn't be as satisfying without the continuity of care through our medical department, outpatient program and the community based VA clinic in Billings, along with the assistance and support from the Veteran Affairs at Fort Harrison in Helena. They are wonderful and caring people.
Tasha Wickens, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Outpatient Therapist
As a Montana Native, I realized at a young age what a vital role veterans have in our society and specifically in Montana. In our state, you can bet that one out of ten adults has served in the military, and it is likely you have a family member or friend who has been affected by some type of combat trauma. As a therapist, it is my personal goal to do what I can to help veterans and families of veterans better understand how their lives have been shaped or changed by their experiences.
PTSD has left generation after generation of combat veterans seeking respite from their memories, nightmares, grief, and feelings of hurt and anger. Unfortunately, many combat veterans turn to alcohol or drugs for the brief reprieve from their PTSD symptoms. However, they then find themselves feeling more depressed and having problems with family and work. Veterans also frequently find themselves feeling distanced from family, friends, and things they once enjoyed. This often leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
I worked with many homeless veterans at the Community Crisis Center who were angry at the VA system and did not want anything to do with the government, and many who did not know what options were available to them as veterans. I have also worked with veterans at the Mental Health Center who have led lives most would say have been successful, but felt like a part of them was missing and never felt complete. I feel it is my job as a citizen, and as a therapist, to help veterans, families, friends and society to understand the symptoms of PTSD and how to help soldiers cope with the traumas experienced in war.
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