Two ways we support veterans
Access ongoing care through your VA Community Care referral or TriWest benefits, or connect with Ashleigh for a separate, private-pay mental health evaluation for your disability claim.
TREATMENT​​
VA COMMUNITY CARES NETWORK | TRIWEST
SUPPORT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
​Wild Ember works with TriWest and the VA Community Care Network to provide therapy and psychiatric medication management for veterans with an approved TriWest/VA referral and authorization.
Individual Therapy
A space to work through your concerns, build coping skills, and pursue meaningful goals with your clinician.
Medication management
Psychiatric assessment, treatment planning, and follow-up to review symptoms, medications, and your response to care.
GETTING STARTED WITH CARE
01 Connect with your VA team
Ask your VA health care team about a Community Care referral to Wild Ember for therapy, medication management, or both.
02 Coordinate your appointment
Once your referral is received, our office will contact you to coordinate scheduling and confirm authorization details.
03 Start your care
Complete your intake forms and attend your first appointment. We'll discuss your needs and next steps together.
Your VA authorization identifies the approved services and dates of care. Coverage applies to the services included in that authorization.
SEPARATE PRIVATE PAY SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH CLAIM DOCUMENTATION
Nexus letters & DBQ evaluations
With Ashleigh McDonnell, PMHNP-BC
​
Ashleigh offers private-pay mental health Nexus letter evaluation/documenation and Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) services for veterans seeking clinical documentation for a VA disability claim.
Mental Health Nexus Letters
An individualized clinical opinion addressing a potential connection between your mental health condition and military service or an existing service-connected condition, supported by the available evidence.
Mental Health DBQs
A structured evaluation documenting mental health symptoms and their impact on daily life, relationships, and work using the relevant VA questionnaire.
Self-Pay/Cash-Pay
These evaluations are billed separately from treatment and are not billed to TriWest, VA CCN, or insurance. Contact Marc for current fees and what is included at marc@wildemberpsych.com.
WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE
01 Tell us what you need
Contact Marc at honor@wildemberpsych.com about your request. He'll discuss the service, fees, records needed, and next steps before you schedule.
02 Gather your records
Relevant service records, mental health treatment records, prior evaluations, and VA decision letters can help inform the assessment.
03 Meet with Ashleigh
Discuss your history, symptoms, and how your mental health affects your life. Clinical documentation reflects the evaluation and evidence reviewed.
Evaluations provide an independent clinical opinion. A favorable nexus opinion, disability rating, or claim approval is not guaranteed. VA makes the final benefits decision and may request its own examination.
​
Our private nexus letter and DBQ evaluation services are independent of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and any Veterans Service Organization (VSO). These services are separate from VA-authorized treatment provided through VA CCN.
​
Payment covers the clinical evaluation and professional services, regardless of the findings or claim outcome. All payments are final and nonrefundable, except as required by law.
A FEW COMMON QUESTIONS
Do I need a VA referral for therapy or medication management?
Yes, for care through VA CCN a referral must be made through your primary VA provider and sent to our office by the CCN team before scheduling.
​
Does my Community Care referral cover a nexus letter or DBQ?
Our private nexus and DBQ evaluations are separate self-pay services. They are not included in your therapy or medication management visits and are not billed through your VA CCN treatment authorization.
​
What does a private evaluation cost?
Contact the office at marc@wildemberpsych.com for current pricing, the scope of the evaluation, required records, and the anticipated timeline. Fees are discussed before you schedule.
​
Will a private DBQ replace a VA C&P exam?
VA may still require a Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination. A private DBQ does not cancel a VA-scheduled exam. VA does not reimburse the costs of privately obtained DBQs.
​
​
