Counseling Military Veterans: Advocating for Culturally Competent and Holistic Interventions

Abstract

The large number of military personnel returning from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with symptoms of mental illness has led to increased focus on specialized veteran mental health treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder. While this focus is both beneficial and warranted, it may lead to a myopic view of the experiences and needs of veterans. This article examines the responsibility of mental health professionals to balance the unique nature of veterans' experiences with their individual diversity rather than viewing them or their experiences through a strictly pathological lens. Failing to take a holistic approach to counseling each veteran may inadvertently stigmatize veterans as a group. The value of wellness counseling and the risks of over-pathologizing symptoms underscore the need to take a more diverse approach to counseling veterans and assist them with reintegration into their communities.