When military veterans need to see a medical professional these days, an appointment often involves a trip to Des Moines — or farther.
Fortunately, an arrangement with the Vets Center of Des Moines allows Jasper County veterans the opportunity to see a licensed independent social worker. Penny Sax has been making the trip from the Vets Center, located in West Des Moines, to Newton for about two years.
Sax brings a specially painted Vets Center SUV to the Jasper County Annex building on North Second Avenue East on the first and third Monday of each month. With that vehicle parked out front, it’s a sign that veterans can come in for therapy sessions.
“I”m considered a clinician,” Sax said. “I can do individual or couples clinical therapy for combat vets for PTSD, or for any other type of military trauma.”
Sax had six clients on her schedule this Monday. Most of the veterans she sees were referred to her by other medical professionals, so a veteran who meets with her is typically already seeing a psychiatrist, so medicine management is already handled.
Sessions between LISWs and veterans are not typically ongoing appointments with no plan of limit. Therapy tends to run four to six one-hour sessions, depending on progress.
“A lot depends on how well each veteran is managing their symptoms,” she said.
The Vets Center of Des Moines, like its counterparts in other cities, is aimed at the psychosocial side of helping veterans adjust in society. There are more than 300 nationwide, including ones in Sioux City, the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids.
A brochure about the Des Moines Vets Center begins with the sentence “One fact of war is that in its aftermath, while nations enjoy peace, some warriors experience psychological and social distress.”
All of the Vets Center’s services are free to veterans and their families.
Jasper County Veterans Affairs Director Chris Chartier said having Sax available on the first and third Mondays is of great assistance.
“Recognizing the need — as well as the distance — to a VHA facility, the Jasper County Commission of Veterans Affairs coordinated with the Vet Center over a year ago to provide local office hours in Newton with a skilled professional from their staff,” Chartier said. “This has brought an opportunity unlike any other rural area of Iowa to provide federal mental health services to local residents with neither an associated fee nor a 45 min drive.”
Sax said she always make sure to not give veterans the impression that she is a case manager, or that she has can magically resolve all of their issues. A veteran who is seeing an LISW often has other medical or mental health needs.
“It’s all about learning to cope with things,” Sax said. “Everyone’s challenging in coping is different.”
Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com