Summary: Ken Falke is a 21-year combat veteran of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community and retired Master Chief Petty Officer. Ken is highly respected around the world as an innovative and forward thinking leader on the subjects of wounded warrior care, military and veteran transition, counterterrorism, military Read more…
With much of the work that I do with veterans, it’s like we’re still carrying the same loads that we did when we were in the military. The heavy rucksack, the duffle bag drag, the weight on our shoulders…and our mind, our souls. The burden of these weights can be Read more…
Summary: Marco A. Bongioanni is a NYS licensed mental health counselor who has been a Readjustment Counseling Therapist with the Bronx Vet Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, since 2014. He works both in the individual and group setting, offering primarily outpatient counseling services for combat Veterans diagnosed with Post Read more…
I talk a lot about changing the way we think about veteran mental health. When I do, I get a variety of responses. These include stigma, “Veterans just don’t want to talk about mental health. They think it makes them weak.” They include dismissal, “Veterans don’t need therapy, they just Read more…
Summary: Amy B. Otzel is a Retired U.S. Army Behavioral Health Sergeant, Iraq War combat theater Veteran, former Readjustment Counseling Therapist with the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center and CT State Military Support Program Clinician, and Licensed Psychotherapist. While informed by graduate degree achievements in psychology, professional counseling, Read more…
There is a mysteriousness when it comes to therapy and mental health. Some might think that it’s a bunch of psychobabble BS, or something like. Others think it’s snake oil, some made up mumbo-jumbo that has people talking about their feelings and whining about how their papa didn’t hug them Read more…
Summary: Thomas Ayala PhD is a skilled organizational advisor, counselor, and change agent. He is adept and comfortable in the role of organizational consultant, yet contrasts that role with management of an outpatient mental health clinic. A diverse and talented individual, Tom possesses influential knowledge and notable interest in the Read more…
I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world – Rick Blaine, Casablanca Sometimes, when we’re in the middle of a firefight, it’s hard to see the big Read more…
Summary: Pam Saulsby – an experienced journalist, word architect, communications strategist, digital storyteller, dynamic speaker, engaging interviewer, and music artist – is a multimedia relations specialist for the Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, DC. A true master communicator she advocates for veterans and their families as a Read more…
One of the key aspects of military service is training. Training, training, training. We train in the heat, we train in the rain, we train on the water and in the sky. There’s never a question about why we do it; we know why we do it. Preparation. I am Read more…