Counselors may feel unequipped to address the personal, spiritual and trauma needs of veterans at end-of-life, but must develop fluidity, adaptability and courage for these important final conversations. Research on this topic has largely been conducted in the medical community, but counselors play a significant role in supporting veterans in making peaceful transitions from life to death. This presentation draws on interviews with over 80 veterans to identify insight and knowledge about their end-of-life needs.
Learning Objectives:
Identify the specific military culture considerations for counseling combat veterans.
Describe the clinical implications of the war/conflict and time period in which the veteran served.
List specific techniques for compassionately meeting the needs of combat veterans at end-of-life
*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate
The focus of this webinar is to provide clinicians in the field an overview of the military and its culture, which will create a better understanding of this population’s needs and how counselors can best serve them.
Following up on a presentation at the 2017 ACA Annual Conference and Expo, this educational session will provide attendees with contextually informed strategies for working with and advocating for trans- military service members and veterans during an uncertain time. In 2016 the Pentagon ended the ban on trans-people serving openly in the U.S. military—yet recent moves by the Trump Administration leave trans-service members feeling uncertain and fearful about their future. All counselors must be prepared for those service members, in the face of this uncertainty, to continue to seek services outside of the military. The authors will review background information in the context of the current political environment, followed by two case studies, based on original qualitative interviews with trans-military service members. They will then lead audience members in a workshop-style, small-group activity in which they will apply the information presented to the presented cases.
Learning Objectives:
Gain a better understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by trans military personnel and veterans, as well as the barriers they have historically faced to both medical and mental health treatment.
Learn key concepts related to minority stress and identity concealment, and be able to apply those concepts, using the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies framework, to the experiences of trans military clients through a case example.
Apply at least three potential counseling interventions/approaches, rooted in evidence-based treatments, that may be appropriate for the trans* military population.
