Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Initiation into the Military - Part 1
2 Hours | 2 CEs
This on-demand professional training program on Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Initiation into the Military - Part 1 is presented by Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA.
“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.
This program takes the audience through the initiation process of a Veteran’s identity shift from civilian life into the military. The remaining programs explore transitions that may occur while in the military -including trauma experiences- and the return 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.
This program provides the context of Veteran culture 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 military-culture-related definitions and terms will be explored through the context of development and identity formation. This unique learning experience offers the opportunity for learners to explore their own attitudes and beliefs about the Veterans they work with.
This program 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.
Program Outline
- Introduction
- Imaginal Exercise- lead the audience through a scenario of what it would be like to join the military
- Provide context of Veteran identity and define the difference between military and Veteran culture
- Discuss reasons why people join the military
- Discuss enlistment processes
- Discuss core components of the military
- Describe basic training (with video support)
- Describe transition challenges
- Discuss the context of Veteran identity at this transition stage
Personal experience, case studies, research, and credible online resources are shared throughout the discussion
Intended Audience
This on-demand professional training program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals
Experience Level
This on-demand professional training 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.
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 reasons why Service Members join the military
Describe knowledge of multiple transition challenges from civilian life into the military
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...
Curriculum
1. Program Introduction
2. Military and Veteran Culture & Joining the Military
3. Transition Challenges, Identify, and Clinical Implications
Develop a Specialty Area of Practice
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Expert Instructors
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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.