Article archive / November 2017
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 11. Source pages: 1, 8, 9, 10.
The psychology community is honored to have an exceptional trio of psychologists in its midst, from the same family tree of Thrasher. This is a family that together has served both the country and those who protect it. Dr. Fay Thrasher, her kid brother Dr. Andrew Thrasher, and his son, Dr. Andrew J. Thrasher, III, who returned recently from Afghanistan, are all highlighted in this special feature.
Dr. Fay Thrasher has been a cornerstone at the Alexandria Veterans Administration Health Care System where she has served as the Chief in Psychology Services for the last 16 years. As a member of the Medical Staff group, she has full administrative and supervisory responsibilities for the psychologists and staff in the psychology service.
Fay’s younger brother, Dr. Andrew Thrasher, is also a licensed psychologist who served in the Army briefly, and while he remembers it mostly as a “vacation,” coming close to being deployed left him with some insight for those who go to battle. For the past decade he has dedicated a portion of his time to the Give an Hour program, which helps troops integrate back into civilian life. Andrew will be retiring next year from his work at his clinic, Psychotherapy Clinic, LLC, in Sulphur, Louisiana.
Andrew’s son, and Fay’s nephew, is Dr. Andrew Justin Thrasher, III. Andrew J. Thrasher, or “Drew,” to family, completed military service in April this year with the United States Army as a BDE Psychologist, and has taken on responsibilities at the clinic in Sulphur. He only recently returned from Jalalabad, Afghanistan where he served in Operation Resolute Support, as the BDE Psychologist – Task Force Sluggers, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, providing primary behavioral health coverage for embedded units and battlefield support with critical psychological services.
Dr. Fay Thrasher told the Times, “Having my brother and nephew in the same field gives us common ground to confer and understand the actions of others and family dynamics. I have to give credit to our mother who promoted us to achieve higher realms of education and truly supported us mentally, emotionally and financially. Andy, Drew and I were most fortunate to have had her and Drew’s mother in our lives and as our mentors and inspiration,” she said.
Dr. Drew Thrasher said, “I grew-up surrounded by the field with my father, mother, and aunt involved professionally or personally with psychology throughout my childhood. It was such a unique and wonderful upbringing,” he said. “Analyzing everything was the norm for me growing up. I can remember reading about transactional analysis at about eight years old. I’m pretty sure we had the world record for most family conferences. I don’t think I ever imagined myself as anything else but a psychologist.”
How did Fay Thrasher get started in psychology? Her first degree was in English Education from Mississippi State University and then she earned a Masters in Counseling and Guidance from McNeese State in 1963. “I was an institutional counselor for Lake Charles Mental Health when I realized I did not have the appropriate training to provide appropriate services for the caseload I was assigned,” she said. From there she went on to earn a Masters and PhD from Louisiana State University in 1970. Her internship in clinical psychology was with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in New Orleans.
Following a position as Chief Clinical Psychologist at the Lake Charles Community Mental Health Center, her extensive career with assisting Veterans began when she next accepted a position as Clinical Psychologist in the Mental Hygiene Clinic at the Salisbury, North Carolina Veterans Administration Medical Center, in 1973.
From there Dr. Thrasher moved to the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, San Antonio, Texas, and accepted the position of Chief, Psychology Services. Following this she took the role of Chief, Psychology Services, at the Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where she remained until 1987.
In the 90s she returned to Louisiana and in 1995 accepted the position of Chief, Psychology Service at the VA Medical Center in Alexandria, now called the VA Health Care System. Along with the duties of Chief, Dr. Thrasher has performed other roles including Lead Psychologist for Primary Care, Smoking Cessation Coordinator, Sexual Trauma Coordinator, Consultant to the Women’s Clinic, and she was the psychologist for Individual and Group Psychotherapy services.
Dr. Thrasher has also worked in private practice at times, providing psychological services at the Freedom Counseling Center in Pineville, Louisiana, and has consulted to Social Security Disability in providing examinations.
“The best thing about my career is that I can truly give the appropriate services to those who need mental health treatment,” she said, “and I am fortunate to have gained positions that I can assure that this is done not only by me but also other Psychologists under my supervision. I learned so much about life and positive living that the training I have had has benefited not only me but those I touch. I count it all joy,” she said.
Younger brother Dr. Andrew Thrasher also has had connections with Veterans, through his efforts in the Give an Hour Program.
“My personal experience with the military occurred when I joined the draft,” Dr. Andrew Thrasher previously told the Times. “For those unfamiliar with the term draft, it is a rather antiquated ritual that used to occur in the United States. At the age of 18, men in this country were required to sign up for the military draft and could be called into the military service at any time. To avoid any future surprises of being called to service, I volunteered for the draft to fulfill my two-year obligation. I was stationed at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was rather enjoying my stint in the Army.” Then he experienced what it might be like when he was ordered to report for battle to an unknown area in the Middle East.
“I was a member of the missile command which was part of the Strategic Army Corps. Apparently, I could be deployed to battle in order to strike quickly in the case of a military emergency. The emergency was called off and I was not deployed; however, I vividly remember standing in line, with my rifle, at the airport preparing to board a military plane. Even though I was a soldier, I was completely unprepared to go into battle.”
He got a hint of the possible stress. “I can only imagine the horror of being involved in combat and will always have a warm spot for those that served our country in this manner.”
Dr. Thrasher has worked with Veterans in his practice and encourages others to help through the Give an Hour which he feels is a worthy organization and a way to assist those who “deserve our respect and admiration for their service.”
“This is a worthwhile organization that gives psychologists an opportunity to give back to the troops that were deployed and are now integrating back into civilian life.” Give an Hour engages volunteer professionals who provide free and confidential mental health care to those veterans and their families. They can be found on the web.
While Dr. Andrew Thrasher is gearing up for retirement next year, he points out that his son will be taking on responsibilities at the clinic in Sulphur.
Drew recently completed his service in the Army. “I got out of the Army in May of this year,” he said, “and I’m still adjusting to civilian life. I’m currently in private practice with my father in Sulphur, Louisiana, and I love the diversity of clients and freedom of hours. I also do a lot of work with veterans which made the transition easier.”
What has it been like having family members in the same field? “It’s wonderful!” he said. “The experience they bring to the table is astounding. I just hope I don’t get hit with a bill for all the ‘free’ consulting.”
Dr. Andrew J. Thrasher (Drew) only recently returned from Jalalabad, Afghanistan, where he served in Operation Resolute Support as the BDE Psychologist. There he provided primary behavioral health coverage for embedded units and battlefield support with critical psychological services. His work included making rapid decisions working in conjunction with medical teams to support those injured, including end-of-life care. During the first weeks of deployment, he was called to provided structured traumatic event management following a C-130 crash.
With an undergraduate and honors from McNeese in 2005, he went on to earn his Masters and PhD from the APA accredited Fielding Graduate University based in Santa Barbara, California. He is also currently working on another Masters in clinical psychopharmacology through the Fairleigh Dickinson University program based in Teaneck, New Jersey.
He completed both an internship and post-doctoral residency at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, in Fort Gordon, Georgia, training in health psychology, military psychology, warrior transition battalion wellness, neuropsychology and diagnostics. During his post- doctoral work he trained in advanced military psychology, family medicine, combat and operational resilience and the Traumatic Brain Injury evaluation and recovery program.
Over the years he has trained with Dr. Mike Gallagher and Dr. Patrick Hayes at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, with Dr. Larry Dilks at Counseling Services of Southwest Louisiana, where he helped assess victims of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, and with Dr. Leslie Drew and Dr. Kelley Pears at the Alexandria Veterans Administration Health Care System.
He has extended training through various modes for Aeromedical, Combat Stress, and Traumatic Event Management. His research includes addictions, pain, psychometrics, disabilities, and traumatic brain injury, all supervised by Dr. Dilks and presented at the Southwest Psychological Association.
As the BDE Psychologist at Fort Polk, he provided rapid behavioral health assessment, consultation, and treatment in garrison and austere environments, also was the consultant to commanders for directed evaluation, chapter evaluations, deployment readiness and other services, and he assisted in identifying at-risk soldiers and provided recommendations and treatment plans and other consultative assistance to aid commanders and other medical providers.
Dr. Thrasher has been decorated with the Army Commendation Medal, awarded to members of the Armed- Forces who distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service.
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, given to those who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievements or service to the United States.
He has also been awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
Dr. Andrew J. Thrasher will be taking over for his dad in the Psychotherapy Clinic, in Sulphur, providing individual and group psychotherapy and also traumatic stress disorders, psychological and neuropsychological assessment, disability evaluations and veteran compensation and pension exams, among other traditional services.
“Joining the military was an exhilarating and rewarding experience as a psychologist. The hours were often brutal, particularly on deployment, but overall I’m glad I was able to serve others in a greatly understaffed profession within the military.
“Being away from my family during my deployment to Afghanistan was the toughest thing I’ve ever experienced,” he said.
“Professionally, I am in my last semester at Farleigh Dickenson for a Master’s in Psychopharmacology, so I hope to add that to my practice in the future. Personally, I enjoy every second I can get with my wife, Regan, and our kids, Andrew and Zoe.”
While Drew’s father is thinking of slowing down, Dr. Fay Thrasher is continuing on a steady track. “I cannot separate my personal and professional plans as they are one,” Dr. Fay said. “I do intend to continue providing services as long as God continues to bless me with good health in mind, body and spirit.”
The Thrashers recently lost beloved Sandra, wife to Andrew and mother to Drew. She was also in the field, with a Masters in counseling and speech pathology. “She was a wonderful mother and human being,” said Drew. “I actually chose Fort Polk as my duty station, so that I could keep the family close to her during her last few years. I wanted the kids to know her. It was fortunate that I was able to be with her on my terminal leave from the Army during the last month of her life.”
When asked about the future for psychologists, Dr. Fay Thrasher said, “The future of Psychology remains a mystery to me; however, I believe that we will remain essential to the welfare of others.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.