If you are not a veteran, you may have some thoughts about what PTSD is and how it may impact veterans. If you’re a coworker or employer of a veteran, you might think to yourself, “I love veterans. I thank them for their service. I shake their hand on Veteran’s Read more…
There is one barrier to seeking mental health treatment that veterans seem to face. That barrier is often the one that is most difficult to overcome. It’s the barrier inside each of us, the internal stigma against seeking treatment. The whole “suck it up and drive on” mentality. The “I can handle Read more…
Maybe my point of view is somewhat skewed. I work with veterans daily who are struggling with challenges they are having as a result of their experiences. Relationships, reaction to both combat and non-combat trauma, lack of a sense of purpose and meaning, substance addiction. A lack of understanding about Read more…
The epidemic of Veteran suicide is pervasive and insidious. As we celebrate those who serve our nation through military service, it would be well if we could take the time to have an honest conversation about the impact of veteran suicide. CLICK HERE TO VEW A LARGER VERSION OF THIS Read more…
I’m not talking about the Benedict Cumberbatch version of Sherlock, or even the Basil Rathbone version of Sherlock. I’m talking about the original, fictional, A. Conan Doyle version of the famous consulting detective. I know what you’re thinking, “What, in all possible worlds, could a fictional character from the turn Read more…
As a professional counselor and military veteran, one of the most rewarding aspects of the work that I do is helping other veterans come to a point of awareness and understanding about their experiences in the military, and setting the stage for change if that’s what the veteran is willing Read more…
A recent article on the New York Times web site talks about a senior Army leader, Brigadier General Donald Bolduc, how open and forthcoming he is about his experiences regarding mental health concerns, and the treatment he sought to address these concerns. In a recent social media conversation, I talked Read more…
If you want to see an example of military resilience, take a look at the movie Unbroken. This is a dramatization of the true story of Louis Zamperini, the Olympic athlete, Army Air Corps Bombardier, and WWII POW. If you haven’t heard Louis’ story, take a few minutes to check Read more…
If you ever want to interact with veterans in any way, I highly recommend that you listen to Jay Knight’s podcast, Veteranology, for an unvarnished inside look into what it’s like for a young leader in the military to rejoin the civilian world. Most specifically, one of the best episodes to Read more…
If there is one thing that veterans know, it’s leadership. Good leadership, bad leadership, toxic leadership, inspirational leadership. The concept of leadership is hardwired into the military’s hierarchical system, and is one of the core elements of success of America’s modern military. In my experience, those who haven’t served in Read more…