Understanding Military Culture: Enhancing Treatment for Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and Their Families (3HR)

Course Description: This 3-hour CEU course is designed for licensed mental health professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of military culture and its impact on veterans, transitioning service members, and their families. Participants will explore the core values, traditions, and challenges inherent in military life to enhance therapeutic rapport and treatment efficacy. The course will cover the unique barriers to mental health care faced by this population, strategies for addressing family dynamics, and practical approaches to fostering resilience and wellness during the transition to civilian life.

Course Objectives: By the end of this 3-hour CEU course, participants will be able to identify and analyze the core values, traditions, and experiences that shape the identity of service members and veterans, including the psychological impact of deployment, combat exposure, and reintegration challenges, to provide culturally informed care. They will examine the stigma associated with seeking mental health care within military and veteran communities and develop strategies to mitigate barriers, such as confidentiality concerns, career implications, and resource access. Additionally, participants will explore the effects of military life on family systems, including frequent relocations, extended separations, and reintegration, while implementing family-focused therapeutic approaches to strengthen relationships, foster resilience, and address the unique stressors faced by military families, while receiving information on resources and referral sources specific to veterans and transitioning service members.

Instructor: Christi Garner, LMFT