Becoming a Warrior of Mental Health in Veterans Affairs (VA) Psychotherapy
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Luchene, Kristen M.
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Alvarez, Josefina
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Adler University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2020
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
128 p.
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Psy.D.
Body granting the degree
Adler University
Text preceding or following the note
2020
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Approximately one in five veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq experience Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or depression, with on average, 20 veterans dying by suicide per day. Many Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) male veterans in need of care do not access treatment due to concerns about mental health care within the VHA system and having negative past experiences with the system. Other potential reasons closely relate to the military culture and its accustomed attitudes, beliefs, and values. This study explored the experience of five male OIF/OEF Army and Marine Corps combat deployed veterans who previously participated in VHA psychotherapy. Through an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach, participants completed a semi-structured interview, which revealed four major themes: VHA care, therapy, warrior ethos, and warrior ethos in therapy. The findings from this study can be utilized to increase culturally competent psychotherapy services with the VHA and enhance the quality improvement of VHA mental health access.