1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

 This on-demand professional training program on Demystifying Difficult Conversations with Veterans about Firearms is presented by Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA.

Firearm use and ownership are a controversial topic. However, the rate of firearm suicide among the Veteran community continues to increase. This highlights the growing need for clinicians and mental health providers to better understand and destigmatize conversations with the Veterans they serve. This program underscores the problem of Veteran firearm suicide, discusses barriers you may encounter when having secure storage conversations with Veterans and how to navigate these challenges, and provides several firearm storage resources for both you and your Veteran clients.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe at least three facts regarding the extent of the problem of firearm suicide among Veterans
  • 2 Describe at least two ways to start conversations about firearms with your Veteran clients
  • 3 Describe several current resources for Veterans and Family Members about firearm suicide prevention

  • Intended Audience

    Clinicians and mental health providers who work with Veterans, especially those in mental health specialties such as clinical psychology, counseling, or social work, and those engaged in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, or culturally competent care for military populations.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

  • Practice Setting

    • VA medical centers

    • Community mental health agencies

    • Private practice

    • Other clinical settings that serve Veterans and their families

Presented By

Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA, PhD, MPH, MA

Dr. Kristen Vescera is a combat Veteran having served overseas in Afghanistan in 2012-2013. She spent ten years enlisted in the United States Army Reserve as a Psychological Operations Staff Sergeant and Instructor. She received her PhD in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University in 2021 where she studied suicide and resilience factors for Service Members and Veterans. She earned her master’s degree in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, concentrating on public mental health, holding certifications in health communication and health education. Dr. Vescera also received a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Denver. She has published numerous book chapters and articles related to suicide prevention and resilience in multiple settings. She has held a faculty position at the University of Maryland, University College Europe and has engaged in several presentations and lectures around military culture, suicide risk and resilience factors, and other psychological principles. Dr. Vescera is currently working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention in Canandaigua, NY as Associate Director of Education focusing on developing, disseminating, and evaluating national training and education programs aimed at preventing and reducing Veteran suicide.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Discuss facts about Veteran suicide

  • Poll about comfort level in speaking about firearm secure storage

  • Discuss literature about having these conversations in clinical settings

  • Group discussion about barriers

  • Discuss ways to make the conversation more comfortable (highlighting Veteran cultural competence)

  • Show videos highlighting some of these concepts

  • Discuss resources

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.