By Patrick Bayhylle
For those who have proudly and bravely served our country and are now dealing with depression, generalized anxiety, substance abuse or posttraumatic stress disorder, it can be difficult to find the right mental health professional. Some veterans feel like a person who has not served could not comprehend certain experiences they have had and therefore not be able to help.
It makes sense that veterans struggling with mental health issues would want to speak to someone who has been there. After all, who better to understand the effects of war? Someone who has served in the armed forces not only knows the culture and range of experiences a fellow veteran might have, but he or she also knows how long deployments or exposure to violence and life-threatening circumstances can affect them. Train Vets to Treat Vets is a unique doctoral program at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP) that is working to address that.
Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, Train Vets to Treat Vets does what its name suggests. It trains student veterans to work directly with fellow veterans and their families who may be struggling with a variety of mental health issues. Currently, seven student veterans participate in the Train Vets to Treat Vets program. In addition to classroom instruction about helping veterans and their families, the students provide counseling to veterans at homeless outreach centers and community mental health centers. Upon earning their doctoral degree, these veterans are prepared to be psychologists and mental health counselors for any population, and particularly effective when it comes to helping veterans.
Student veterans enrolled in the program take classes with traditional students, but it is clear they have a unique skill set. “We notice, perhaps more than with other students, that they are extremely comfortable with and highly oriented to working in groups, form strong bonds with one another quickly, and are extraordinarily capable of following through with projects and “missions” that involve serving veterans,” said Robert Dingman, PhD, Director the school’s Military and Veteran Psychology program. “They are hard working, inspired to serve others, confident of their abilities, and highly intelligent. Student veterans organize themselves rapidly and comfortably into effective systems of communication, and are highly responsive to direction and feedback. “
Outside of the classroom, student veterans excel when it comes to quickly and effectively engaging with fellow veterans who are struggling. Dr. Dingman explains: “Given their military experience, these student veterans are extremely knowledgeable about the culture of the armed forces, and are therefore able to immediately establish rapport with other veterans. We have seen in clinical settings that veterans are quickly put at ease with our student veterans; often they speak in terms of a brotherhood among them. “
David, a 30 year-old student now entering his second year of study at MSPP, served as a Corporal in the Marines during two tours of duty in Iraq. He decided to pursue a career in mental health after seeing the troops he led struggle with depression, suicidal thinking and substance abuse after deployments. He felt tremendous responsibility to help and protect them, but without training he felt he had little to offer.
Dave has completed his first year of training at a Veterans Homeless Center in Boston, where he did group therapy and suicide prevention training for vulnerable men and women, and will soon begin a second year of training at another veteran’s center. David is also actively engaged in outreach to other veterans and has a passion to continue to serve as he moves forward.
The Train Vets to Treat Vets program serves a dual purpose by not only training veterans, but also ensuring that veterans in the community can speak to someone who understands their unique needs. Many veterans struggle, upon returning from deployment, to secure meaningful work, so a career in providing behavioral health services to fellow veterans and their families truly is a win-win.
MSPP hopes the Train Vets to Treat Vets program will be a model for other schools and training centers looking to address the issues of underemployment and mental wellness for returning veterans. Currently, there are only a few schools nationwide that provide such a unique curriculum, but this program is the only one focused on recruiting veterans to work in the mental health field. The Train Vets to Treat Vets program provides valuable and therapeutic experiences for both the student veteran and his or her fellow service member, enabling both to return to living stable, productive and satisfying lives.
For more information about the Train Vets to Treat Vets program, or to make a donation to the Train Vets to Treat Vets scholarship fund, visit http://www.mspp.edu/community/military-veterans-psychology/index.php.
For specific questions about the program, feel free to email Robert_dingman@mspp.edu.
Patrick Bayhylle is the marketing and communications manager at Screening for Mental Health, the parent organization to Military Pathways.
