“Duty, Honor, Country.”
Those three hallowed words reverently dictate
what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.
Douglas MacArthur
Veterans of the armed forces often face challenging circumstances in life because of their military experiences and can benefit from professional help. Veterans who have mental health and cognitive conditions associated with military duty can benefit from counseling, outreach, and linkage to services. Veterans typically suffer from mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and anxiety and depression. In addition, Veterans can sometimes have physically-related ailments related to their battlefield experiences, such as: Traumatic Brain Injury, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Ischemic Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, and Parkinson’s Disease, to name just a few.
Awareness that there may be a problem is the first step in getting the help that you need. Veterans usually have the greatest need for help and support but often have difficulty reaching out for help.
If you find yourself having thoughts like these below, you may want to consider getting help:
- I have been dealing with this on my own for a long time. Is counseling really necessary for me?
- I used to trust my buddies who were with me in the military. Can I really trust a counselor?
- I am tired of the way I have been feeling. Can I really take the step to call someone for help?
- I really want to be able to talk. Can I really share the stories I have held close to me for so long?
- I don’t think you’ll understand what I went through. Can I let go of holding on?
I am able to be of service to Veterans because I understand the military culture. I served in the United States Air Force for 20 years in the Medical Services Corps. I also worked in the Veteran’s Administration (VA) in the mental health field for many years. I can assist you with accessing a confusing maze of healthcare benefits that are available for Veterans at the VA and how to access these for yourself. I understand what you are going through and how alienated you can feel sometimes without having the right person to talk to.
I am knowledgeable about the unique needs of Veterans and I am here to help.
