Veterans Counseling
The stress of combat can persist long after one’s duty has ended. These emotions affect not only the veteran, but also their loved ones.
Due to the traumatic environment in which active military serve, veterans are at a significantly higher risk for developing certain mental health concerns such as posttraumatic stress (PTSD), depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and anger management.
All the conditions above can be affected or caused by the following contributing factors:
Poor health
Unemployment
Financial difficulties
Feeling disconnected upon returning home because others are unable to relate to their experiences or offer meaningful emotional support
The grief from loss of a friend during combat
Survivor’s guilt
As mental health professionals who work with veterans, we will assess each person individually and take all symptoms and life experiences into consideration before starting treatment. Service in the military isn’t necessarily the cause of their struggles. A veteran may have a mental health condition that is unrelated to their military service.
Counseling for the family members
Military life and deployment can take a toll on every member of the family. The need to adjust may lead to increased tension between family members.
Impacts of active service on the family may include:
Children and teenagers may become irritable or rebellious
The parent at home may have to cope with the increased burden of caring for the family alone
Family members may feel anxious, alone, or unsupported
Adjustment to changes, if the family member returns seriously injured
There may be a range of emotions as one reintegrates
The returning family member may have experienced personality changes or developed mental or physical health concerns
Children may have been born or reached a different stage of development
Marital bonds may have weakened