I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom. -Bob Dylan I had been in the Army for less than a day when I was given responsibility over something. A book, the basic information that a trainee needs to navigate initial training. It was my responsibilityRead more about The Responsibility Paradox[…]
Read more The Responsibility ParadoxAre 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
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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.
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Nov, 27
Helping Veterans Reach Out For Help
A veteran you care about is hurting. Everyone can tell, it seems, but the veteran themselves. They’re withdrawing from others, speaking less, can’t seem to control their emotions. They’re anxious all the time, angry at little things, or constantly depressed. Maybe they’re drinking too much, or engaging in reckless and dangerous behavior. You’ve suggested thatRead more about Helping Veterans Reach Out For Help[…]
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Nov, 20
Internal and External Characteristics of Military Culture
You can take the service member out of the military. It’s very hard to take the military out of the service member. It’s not that it can’t be done, only that it’s very difficult…and the service member may resist it kicking and screaming. When discussing the need to see military life as a separate culture,Read more about Internal and External Characteristics of Military Culture[…]
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Counseling Today: Suicide prevention strategies with the military-affiliated population
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Nov, 6
The Adaptability Paradox
If there’s one thing that service members, veterans, and their families are able to do, it’s adapt. There are many more things that they can do, but adaptability is one of the most important. Things change in the military literally overnight. While deployed to Afghanistan, the time for my next assignment came up. I pulledRead more about The Adaptability Paradox[…]
Read more The Adaptability ParadoxOct, 31
HST150 – Maureen Elias – Advocacy for Suicide Prevention
Full Episode Summary Episode About Today’s Guest: Maureen joined the Army in 2001. During her military career she served in Darmstadt, Germany and Monterey, California. She was promoted to corporal in June 2004 and sergeant in February 2005. Maureen was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. Maureen currently lives in Bowie,Read more about HST150 – Maureen Elias – Advocacy for Suicide Prevention[…]
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Oct, 30
Three Questions About Joining the Military
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Read more Three Questions About Joining the MilitaryOct, 24
HST149 – Bobby Herrera – The Gift of Struggle
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Oct, 23
On Responding to Unexpected Traumatic Loss
And I said, “Fly on my sweet angel” – Jimi Hendrix The day before it happened, two days before, you had no idea that your life was about to change. It came as a shock, and unbearable truth that you couldn’t avoid: the tragic loss of someone you cared about. Death is sometimes hardRead more about On Responding to Unexpected Traumatic Loss[…]
Read more On Responding to Unexpected Traumatic LossOct, 17
HST148 – Caitlin Thompson – Suicide Prevention
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