Kim Ruocco, MSW, the Vice President of Suicide Prevention and Postvention for TAPS, is an internationally known subject matter expert who uses her education, personal experience and information gathered from thousands of survivors to help others more fully understand suicide. Over the past decade, Ms. Ruocco has developed a best-practice, comprehensive, peer-based program that offersRead more about STMSS 13 – Kim Ruocco – Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors[…]
Read more STMSS 13 – Kim Ruocco – Tragedy Assistance Program for SurvivorsAre You A Veteran, Care For One, or Work With One in Any Way?
If you served in the military, regardless of when, where, how long, or how you left, you’re a member of a unique group of individuals who hold a common set of values, like Honor. Integrity. Loyalty. Service. If you’re a family member of a service member…spouse, parent, sibling, significant other…then you served in a different way, but served all the same. Head Space and Timing is focused on providing veterans, their family members, and interested members of the veteran’s community with the awareness around all aspects of veteran mental health. Our intent is not only to have real and meaningful discussions about mental health and wellness, but to support and inspire veterans to be able to use the strengths they gained while they were in the military to make a positive impact on their community, in whatever way they want.
Mental Health from a Combat Veteran Perspective
The unique combination of 22 years of military experience and training as a clinical mental health counselor combine to provide a unique perspective on veteran mental health
Duane France (Now)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Duane France (Then)
Retired Army Noncommissioned Officer
Feedback on Head Space and Timing
Check out what people are saying about Head Space and Timing content
Jane S.
This Book is Incredibly Useful
Duane's understanding of the combat veteran experience is unparalleled. He does not however, assume that all vets or their experiences are the same, which is what makes this book so helpful to me as a provider who sees combat veterans in my work with horses. As a civilian, I am always hungry for resources that help me understand what's behind and beneath what we hear from veterans we meet, as well as resources to offer vets who see themselves as 'crazy'. This book is incredibly useful on both accounts. The distinctions Duane makes for vets to help them understand the dilemmas they may face coming home, as well as the distinctions he makes among the various 'categories' that define their inner landscapes are bound to help almost any veteran at any stage of readjustment to civilian life. The book is both a map and a compass (i.e. it's impossible to know how to get where one wants to go unless one knows where he or she is at any point in time). Another aspect of the book that is really important to us in our work, is that it de-stigmatizes the need for veterans to attend to their mental health. Going from the notion of mental illness to mental well-being is one of the biggest challenges both veterans and civilians need to do if veterans are going to become assets to their communities...and if we are going to fulfill our responsibility to truly serve those who have served us.
Joe M.
An Outstanding Read
Duane France is authentic. A combat veteran and clinical mental health counselor with a striking ability to articulate the thoughts of veterans. Several passages in this book are simply outstanding including Meaning, Purpose, and Veteran Mental Health; Moral Injury; The Doomsday Clock; Compliment or Criticism to name a few. Duane keeps things interesting throughout the book - some passages are contemplative, some have a twist of humor, and some contain good rules to live by as one transitions from the military. Duane’s authenticity is on display throughout the book, and it’s unmistakable to veterans in the following lines: 1. The problem is, a lot of the veterans I meet are carrying a load of personal accountability that is greater than they should. 2. As boring as this is, at least it’s not the sheer utter boredom of being stuck on an outpost with nothing but a pack of cards. 3. We keep thinking that someone is going to walk into their office and say, “Ha! Caught you! I know you’re just a grunt at heart! What are you doing here?” For mental health professionals who work with veterans the passage Eight Things a Mental Health Professional Wants a Veteran to Know is an insightful read and should be thoughtfully considered.
Daniele L.
A Veteran's Capacity for Stress
Fantastic explanation of how stress is affecting us without our awareness. I am a crisis counselor, working in the community with a multitude of different people, and I have found that my "emotional bucket" analogy to explain how stress/emotions can get backed up is effective across the age group. I have wrapped myself in circles trying to explain emotions to a rational person and all it does is agitate them further. What I have learned though is that awareness of our level of stress is paramount, because regardless of what we choose to believe we can handle our bodies cannot, leading individuals to be more susceptible to experiencing trauma, developing PTSD, increased risk from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, addiction... the list goes on and on. So while many people, especially Veterans, are able to push through and move on, in the long run, without the awareness of our emotional buckets, this can be damaging physically, mentally, and emotionally. Great article.
Latest Content
-
Mar, 31
STMSS12 – Dr. Nick Polizzi – Real Warriors Campaign
Dr. Polizzi is the government action officer for the Real Warriors Campaign and the inTransition program at the Psychological Health Center of Excellence. He is an experienced mental health care specialist with a demonstrated history of program leadership, management, and clinical supervision. Dr. Polizzi is z licensed clinical psychologist skilled in leading teams, tracking outcomes,Read more about STMSS12 – Dr. Nick Polizzi – Real Warriors Campaign[…]
Read more STMSS12 – Dr. Nick Polizzi – Real Warriors Campaign -
Mar, 24
STMSS11 – Mark Divine – The Unbeatable Mind
About Today’s Guest: Mark Divine is a retired Navy SEAL Commander, New York Times Best-Selling Author, Founder / CEO of SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind, founder of multiple million-dollar businesses, lifetime Martial Artist, Ashtanga Yoga teacher, and host of the Unbeatable Mind podcast At twenty-six he graduated as Honor Man (#1-ranked trainee) of SEAL BUD/S class numberRead more about STMSS11 – Mark Divine – The Unbeatable Mind[…]
Read more STMSS11 – Mark Divine – The Unbeatable MindMar, 17
STMSS10 – Howard and Jean Somers – Suicide Prevention Advocacy
About Today’s Guest: Howard Somers, M.D., and Jean Somers, are the parents of CA Army National Guard SGT Daniel Somers. Daniel took his life in June, 2013, after suffering for nearly a decade with Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Gulf War Syndrome subsequent to serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Daniel’s condition was exacerbatedRead more about STMSS10 – Howard and Jean Somers – Suicide Prevention Advocacy[…]
Read more STMSS10 – Howard and Jean Somers – Suicide Prevention Advocacy -
Mar, 10
STMSS09 – Dr. Rajeev Ramchand – Suicide Prevention Research
About Today’s Guest: Rajeev Ramchand, PhD is the inaugural Craig Newmark Fellow at the Bob Woodruff Foundation. He comes to the Foundation after serving as Senior Vice President for Research at the Cohen Veterans Network where he established the organization’s research agenda and laid the foundation for conducting research within the network. Prior to CVN,Read more about STMSS09 – Dr. Rajeev Ramchand – Suicide Prevention Research[…]
Read more STMSS09 – Dr. Rajeev Ramchand – Suicide Prevention ResearchMar, 3
STMSS08 – Kacie Kelly – Warrior Wellness Alliance
About Today’s Guest: Kacie Kelly oversees and manages policy, operational, and programmatic efforts on veteran health and well-being for the George W. Bush Institute Military Service Initiative, which includes the Warrior Wellness Alliance. She manages strategic efforts to promote the partnerships, collaboration, and alignment among organizations that are so crucial to fostering the health andRead more about STMSS08 – Kacie Kelly – Warrior Wellness Alliance[…]
Read more STMSS08 – Kacie Kelly – Warrior Wellness Alliance -
Feb, 25
STMSS07 – Kayla Williams – Center for a New American Security
About Today’s Guest: Kayla M. Williams is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at Center for a New American Security. She previously served as Director of the Center for Women Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she was primary adviser to the Secretary on department policies, programs, andRead more about STMSS07 – Kayla Williams – Center for a New American Security[…]
Read more STMSS07 – Kayla Williams – Center for a New American SecurityFeb, 18
STMSS06 – Joe Chenelly – AMVETS
About Today’s Guest: Joseph R. Chenelly was appointed national executive director of the nation’s fourth largest veterans service organization in May 2016. In this capacity, he administers the policies of AMVETS, supervises its national headquarters operations and provides direction, as needed, to state and local components. Joe previously served as AMVETS’ national communications director. JoeRead more about STMSS06 – Joe Chenelly – AMVETS[…]
Read more STMSS06 – Joe Chenelly – AMVETS -
Feb, 11
STMSS05 – Dr. Eugene Lipov – Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD
About Today’s Guest: Dr. Eugene Lipov is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management and has been practicing in the field of pain medicine since 1990. He completed Northwestern Medical School in 1984, Anesthesia Residency at University of Illinois in 1989, and Advanced Pain Training in 1990. Dr. Lipov pioneered adaption of a sympathetic blockRead more about STMSS05 – Dr. Eugene Lipov – Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD[…]
Read more STMSS05 – Dr. Eugene Lipov – Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSDFeb, 4
STMSS04 – Cicely Burrows-McElwain – VA/DoD Liaison, SAMHSA
About Today’s Guest: Cicely Burrows-McElwain is the Senior Public Health Advisor, Military and Veteran Affairs Liaison, National Policy Liaison Branch, Division of Regional and National Policy/ Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation (OPPI), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Cicely currently works to advance veteran outcomes through government department collaboration to address the mentalRead more about STMSS04 – Cicely Burrows-McElwain – VA/DoD Liaison, SAMHSA[…]
Read more STMSS04 – Cicely Burrows-McElwain – VA/DoD Liaison, SAMHSA