Veteran & Military Family Member Support
Are you a veteran or military family member? Is life not going so well, are you suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety, or any other mental health condition? Do you think it’s time to talk with a therapist?
Military life has unique challenges...
For service members, veterans and their families, there are unique strengths and vulnerabilities that come with military life. As non-military therapists/counselors, we understand the complexities of the military lifestyle, and how it can affect individuals both during their time in service and after they return home. We are committed to providing quality mental health care for those who have served and their family members who have supported them; this includes helping clients identify their individual strengths as well as recognizing any vulnerabilities that may be present.
Military life has unique challenges that can have a negative effect on veterans and their families. The stress of military service, battle-related trauma, and adjusting to civilian life can have a long-lasting effect on one’s life. Members of the military and their loved ones may develop mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Common Veterans and Military Family Issues:
Here are some of the most prevalent issues facing veterans:
Combat injuries, suicidal thoughts, addictions to narcotics and alcoholism, lack of readiness to return to the civilian population, loss of identity and community, mental health diagnosis including: anxiety, PTSD, depression, and grief.
Here are some of the most prevalent issues facing military family member:
Heartache and worry due to deployment, shame for living life while your military member is deployed, loss or loneliness, anxiety, depression and/or secondary trauma, transition difficulties, grief related to military casualties.
Counseling techniques for military members & their families:
For military members and veterans, finding the right kind of therapy can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are many forms of evidence-based therapies that have been proven effective in helping veterans and service members overcome trauma, depression, and other mental health challenges. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), accelerated resolutions therapy (ART), and exposure therapy techniques.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals understand how his or her thoughts affect feelings and behaviors. CBT supports emotion regulation, distress tolerance and building habitual coping strategies. ACT teaches skills such as mindfulness, psychological flexibility and getting in touch with the present moment; helping you not get hooked by the past or future. These two cognitive therapies can help a person manage difficult situations more effectively, build trust internally to handle difficult emotions, develop increasingly supportive relationships and find resolution.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Exposure Therapy techniques help to remove fears around objects, activities or situations that can trigger internal discomfort, avoidance, relapse or flashbacks. Helping an individual address traumatic memories in a safe, supportive environment so that they can learn to resolve triggers, erase physical discomfort and relapse distressing images and sensations.
For more details about our veteran and military family support therapy options in Scottsdale, call us at 480-300-2635 for a free 15 minute consultation or email us with your questions. If you’re ready to get started, schedule online here.
Counseling with Specialized Focused on Military Members & Their Families:
At MUV Counseling we strive to create an atmosphere of understanding and support. Our therapist team’s highest honor is serving Military Members, Military Spouses and their families. We work with several veterans foundations to bring affordable therapy to service members and veterans.
Selena Soni, LCSW, has been a therapist for 15+ years working with veterans in hospital and outpatient settings. Selena has participated in various training to increase service knowledge and bring military competency to each session. STAR tier one trained.
Marguerite Higbee, LMSW and Angela Boswell, LMSW are MUV Counseling’s, veteran’s specialists.
Marguerite has been a military spouse and is a sister of a Marine who is in his 20th year of service. She has navigated the unique challenges that come with having loved ones in the service, both as active duty members and veterans. Marguerite understands how difficult it can be for service members and their families to transition from military life back into civilian life, so she is committed to providing quality, culturally competent therapy services to our nation’s heroes and their families. STAR tier one trained.
Angela draws on her experience as a wife to a Retired USMC Infantryman, who served 20 years with numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. This has given her firsthand experience and understanding of military culture, caregiver of a combat veteran with PTSD, and the insight to truly say she understands.
If you are struggling, have questions or just want to explore if counseling is for you please reach out to us.
