A few years back, I jumped successfully jumped through the SI hoops for a prior mental health condition (resolved) and subsequently let my medical expire, intending to go BasicMed. Unfortunately, I've been turned down twice now because I don't have a current status report from a mental health counselor. Here's the problem: I'm asymptomatic and no one will see me for enough sessions to write a status report. You know, because I've recovered, and therapists are in short supply, and they feel I'm wasting their time. I've met with three therapists and have called a dozen others. None will meet/continue to meet with me. Has anyone been through this? Any creative solutions for me?
Where is that requirement coming from? Something your examining physician thinks he needs? Can’t you find a different doc to do the Basic Med exam?
Betterhelp.com? Not sure if that would be an option. Never used it, but heard an add on the radio the other day.
This might be one of those cases where it would have made sense to go Basic Med while your medical certification was still valid. That helps get the doc off the hook for attesting to your condition at the time you saw him. You say it was "a few years ago" that you got the SI, but I think that's the pitfall for the doc issuing the Basic Med. How many years and why did you discontinue the process? A "prior mental health condition" is a red flag for a "current mental health condition" unless proven otherwise, which is why the FAA takes such a rigorous position on it in their own certification standards. You can understand the concern by the Basic Med physician.
I think you may have hit on the problem. The physician being asked to sign off may be unwilling to do it without a current report from a specialist. The therapists may simply be too busy or just not interested in a report that going to be used to fly airplanes. To anon: are these new therapists or the same providers who helped you jump through the SI hoops? You may need to jump through those same hoops unless you manage to find a more willing BasicMed provider.
Look at it from the Dr point of view…they cannot state “I know of no condition” without having a current report. I find it difficult to believe nobody is willing to meet with you. You have a needed medical service and they are in the position of serving. Don’t tell them your history and that you’re cured, just ask for the service you need. If it’s your previous therapist, it should be relatively quick. I wonder about their liability from denying service. State related I suppose.
My S/O is a clinical psychologist. If you called her today, you may not get in this year. Since COVID, which allowed telehealth in more states as well as interstate, many, many more people are seeking help.
Liability for what? This isn't a health crisis (by the OP's own admission). It's a paperwork crisis. It does reinforce a point I've made in several previous comments about having Basic Med as a back-up even if your medical is current. The physician issuing the Basic Med exam has the history of a recently issued and current FAA medical as a basis for issuing the Basic Med. It's a good option to keep in mind even if you don't know of an impeding issue. It lasts for four years and typically will allow you to operate if you're in a situation where your AME issued medical is deferred for an extended period of time, particularly if you follow the self-grounding regulations precisely as they are written. I think the mere out-of-pocket expenses involved in SI renewal will drive many healthy pilots to Basic Med. It certainly did in my case.
The mental health provider doesn't know that for sure. Not this case (I think), but if someone was denied service by a therapist and then harmed themselves, some very difficult questions should be asked. Therefore, can a therapist afford to deny service to anyone?
Well, I think the OP indicated that the reason they couldn't see him was that he disclosed that it was for doing enough sessions to create a report, and they all felt that would be "wasting their time". I can't blame them for that, and if anyone might be harmed by "denial of service" it would be the patients who needed care but had to wait because the therapist was fully booked with creating a paper trail for pilots needing proof of not needing the service they provide. When there is a shortage of providers it's certainly appropriate to triage and provide care for those who are more critically in need. I think it would take some extraordinary circumstances to entice a lawyer to challenge that action.
If a man walked into my office with that history and no prior contact, I would politely explain that a single point does not make a line. I would not be surprised that he has the view “but I am fine”. And I would have to reply, “insufficient information” to testify. Get in to see at least a PhD psychologist for several sessions…..be patient.
