Staff, Students of Mental Health Disciplines Trained to Work Effectively With Student Veterans

Veterans returning to a college campus have a very different experience than that of traditional college students, according to Ted Bonar, a clinical psychologist from the Center for Deployment Psychology. Bonar was the keynote speaker during an all-day training on Aug. 27 at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center and sponsored by the Pat Walker Health Center and the Division of Student Affairs. The event provided insight into the lives, strengths and difficulties of student veterans.

The training conducted by Bonar began with a focus on the experiences of service men and women who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). Bonar also delved into the stressors of the deployment cycle on the lives of students serving in the military. During the afternoon he covered researched based clinical strategies for working with individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, depression and anxiety. One of the therapeutic techniques that is empirically efficacious is Prolonged Exposure Therapy, which involves having those with PTSD recount their memories of traumatic experiences with the professional guidance of a trained clinician.

One of the key points Dr. Bonar made was that everyone who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom did not return home with mental health issues or physical injury. Research shows that roughly one third of the military personnel returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom will suffer from traumatic brain injury, PTSD or depression, but that means most veterans have experiences with which they can cope.

“While we’ve got to make sure we understand warning signs of these disorders when they exist in our student veterans, we also have to be careful not to ‘over-pathologize,’” said Bonar. “In spite of the emotional turmoil of being in a war zone, human beings are resilient.”

The program also highlighted several stressors specific to a veteran returning to university life, such as being a different age from classmates and being away from the people they served with in the military.

“The veteran returning to campus has an experience far different from that of the traditional college student,” “said Bonar. “Campus life and culture is vastly different than what you find in the military, even if someone hasn’t deployed. It’s important for people at the university to understand these differences so that veterans can be recognized and welcomed on campus.”

Attendees of the training included Student Affairs staff, staff of local veteran organizations like the Vet Center, and clinical mental health professionals and students from local institutions of higher learning including the University of Arkansas.

“Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the U of A has worked diligently over the last few years to train and educate their staff and the community on ways to improve the services provided to student veterans,” said Dr. Danette Heckathorn of CAPS. “Through these trainings and other outreach efforts, CAPS hopes student veterans who need some assistance while they are at the U of A will be encouraged to come by the center.”

CAPS is located on the second floor of the Pat Walker Health Center or call 479-575-5276 for more information about available services.

“As a Graduate Assistant in the Veterans Resource and Information Center (VRIC) and a Counseling Graduate Student, I found the quality of the training exceptional,“ said Joanna Pollock. “I gained understanding of the emotional stress of the deployment cycle and an even deeper appreciation for the work we do at VRIC helping student veterans with G.I. benefits and community connection.”

Bonar shared from his experience working at the University of Illinois that student veterans often are met with university staff that do not know how to help them secure their educational benefits earned through their service time, typically referred to as G.I. Bill benefits. Post Sept. 11 G.I benefits are now available to many student veterans who served after the Sept. 11 attacks.

“We want student veterans at the University of Arkansas to know that appointments are welcomed at the VRIC in 632 of the Arkansas Union if they need to apply for G.I. benefits or have questions.” said Sylvia Scott, director of off campus connections. The Veterans Resource and Information Center is also a general resource center for student veterans and can refer them to other services that may benefit them in the university, as well as, the larger community.