LIVE: Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Military Service and Trauma - Part 3
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Pacific
2 Hours | 2 CEs
Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH presents a live virtual professional training program on Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Military Service and Trauma - Part 3 with special contributions from Dr. David Joseph.
“I didn’t serve. I can’t understand what my Veteran clients went through.” The Veteran Identity and Mental Heath training series follows a Veteran through three transition points.
The first two trainings in this series cover Initiation into the military and Military Service. While it is not a requirement, it is strongly recommended to take theses programs in the series first.
This third session discusses trauma experiences that are common amongst Service Members and may ultimately impact their identity as Veterans after service. Each transition point impacts the Veteran’s identity beyond their service. This includes expectations at each transitional stage of service that, if fulfilled or not, may impact one’s sense of self as a Veteran upon discharge.
Veteran culture will be explored through the lens of the military experience and asks the learner to think about the Service Member through experiential exercises in order to get “comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Military-related trauma will be discussed as we consider how combat and military sexual trauma affect the identities and mental health of service members. Transition challenges during service will be explored through the context of development and identity formation. This unique learning experience offers the opportunity for learners to explore their own attitudes and beliefs about the Veterans they work with.
This training is intended for professionals who work (or live) with Veterans at any stage of their career and can benefit from the unique perspectives available in this learning experience.
Training outline:
- Introduction
- Imaginal Exercise- lead the audience through a scenario of what it would be like to serve overseas
- Discuss transition challenges during service
- Discuss combat trauma and its implications and complexities (with video support)
- Discuss the unique nature of military sexual trauma and its complexities
Personal experience, case studies, research, and credible online resources will be shared throughout the discussion