In  28-years with the VA, I was  Administrative Officer for the VA/UCLA Behavior Health Program in the San Fernando Valley and was the Western Regional Director for Public Affairs.  The Veterans Health Administration traces its roots back to the end of WWII.  At that time, the quality of  VA doctors was so poor that the AMA would not take an application from one of them.  The VA established affiliations with medical schools.  The schools provided the staff for Hospitals and VA provided training funds.  This created the system that focuses on Physicians and those with greater post graduate training.  Additionally, the VA is under incredible political pressure to provide the highest quality care.  This creates an emphasis on employees with more formal education, not less.  The US currently has a shortage of Behavioral Health professionals.  I suggest that you look at creative solutions.  For example, the number of therapy groups could be expanded through tele-medicine.