LIVE: Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Post-Military Life - Part 4

June 18, 2024  |  2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Pacific

Presented By Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA
Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA

June 18, 2024
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Pacific

2 Hours | 2 CEs

$100 Registration | Live Training via Zoom

Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH presents a live virtual professional training program on Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Post-Military Life - Part 4 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 previous trainings in this series cover Initiation into the military, Military Service and Military Service and Trauma . While it is not a requirement, it is strongly recommended to take theses programs in the series first.

This training takes the audience through the process of considerations as Service Members transition to civilian life. 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.” Broad miliary-culture-related definitions and terms will be discussed in the context of discharge from service. Transition challenges after service will also be explored. through the context of development and identity formation. The pros and cons of various PTSD-related treatments will be highlighted.

This training is interactive and will host a discussion of practical takeaways from the series to provide the audience with the tools needed to build strong relationships with Veterans in their communities. 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 transitioning from the military
  • Provide context of Veteran identity and defining difference between military and Veteran culture
  • Discuss discharge elements from service
  • Describe experiences of discharge (with video support)
  • Discuss transition challenges at work and at home
  • Discuss the experience of VA care and applying for disability
  • Discuss the effects of trauma and PTSD on daily functioning and relationships
  • Discuss the pros and cons of various PTSD-related treatments
  • Discuss the context of Veteran identity at this transition stage
  • Discuss practical takeaways and resources (with video support)


Personal experience, case studies, research, and credible online resources will be shared throughout the discussion

Intended Audience

This live program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals.

Experience Level

This live program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.

CE / CPD Credit

APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC: Click here for state and other regional board approvals.

Presented By

Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA

Dr. Kristen Vescera is a combat Veteran having served overseas in Afghanistan in 2012-2013. She spent ten years enlisted in the United States Army Reserve as a Psychological Operations Staff Sergeant and Instructor. She received her PhD in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University in 2021 where sh...

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of Veteran identity within the context of military culture

Describe several components of discharge and transition to Veteran status

Describe awareness of PTSD-related effects on the Veteran experience, including combat trauma and military sexual trauma

Describe various treatment approaches and interventions and how to integrate them effectively when working with veterans

Demonstrate knowledge of multiple transition challenges during a Service Member’s time in service

Demonstrate confidence in applying these skills

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Live Event Policy

Registration for our live events is covered for one (1) person per purchase. If you would like to purchase for a group, please contact our group training team.

Event Communications

Event Communications

When registering, use an email that is active and that you check regularly. We are not responsible for communications not being received; if you do not add caps@paloaltou.edu to your email safe sender list, our emails are likely to end up in your spam or junk folders.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy

Have a sudden change of plans and are unable to attend live? No worries; you will be given access to the on-demand version of the program once available. Please note if you attend live, no access to the recording will be given.

Event Conduct

Event Conduct

Professional conduct is expected during our live programs. Our goal is to make our events as interactive as possible for all participants. We reserve the right to remove any participants who are disruptive, act unprofessionally, or who we are unable to verify their purchase.

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CE Credit

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Convenience & Flexibility

Learn at your own pace, from wherever you might be!

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.