2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Veteran Identity and Mental Health: Military Service - Part 2 is presented by Kristen J. Vescera, PhD, MPH, MA.

“I didn’t serve. I can’t understand what my Veteran clients went through.” The Veteran Identity and Mental Health training series follows a Veteran through three transition points.

The first program, Initiation into the Military, introduced the transition from civilian life to the military. While it is not required, it is strongly recommended that you take the first program in the series. 

This program takes the audience through the transition considerations during a Service Member’s time in the military, which ultimately impact their identity as a Veteran after service. Each transition point impacts the Veteran’s identity beyond their service. This includes expectations at each transitional stage of service that, if fulfilled or not, may impact one’s sense of self as a Veteran upon discharge. 

Veteran culture is explored through the lens of the military experience, and the learner is asked to think about the Service Member through experiential exercises to get “comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Military life will be discussed in the context of the service era, relationships, and the importance of hierarchies. Broad military-culture-related definitions and terms are explored through the context of development and identity formation. This unique learning experience offers learners the opportunity to explore their own attitudes and beliefs about the Veterans they work with. 

This program is intended for professionals who work with (or live among) Veterans at any stage of their career and can benefit from the unique perspectives offered in this learning experience.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Demonstrate an understanding of Veteran identity within the context of military culture
  • 2 Describe awareness of several relational factors that influence a Service Member’s identity while serving
  • 3 Describe awareness of several contexts and settings that may influence a Service Member’s meaning-making while in service

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for anyone who works with, supports, or lives with Veterans, regardless of their professional background. It is especially valuable for individuals in mental health, counseling, social work, healthcare, and related fields, as well as for family members, caregivers, and researchers. Participants will gain practical knowledge and new perspectives to better understand and address the unique needs of Veterans and their families.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals (counselors, therapists, psychologists)
    • Social workers and case managers
    • Healthcare providers working with Veterans
    • Staff and volunteers at Veterans’ service organizations
    • Hospital and rehabilitation center personnel
    • Researchers focused on Veteran populations
    • Students in relevant fields
    • Family members and caregivers of Veterans
    • Anyone who interacts with or supports Veterans in a professional or personal capacity

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience working with Veterans.

    • Beginner: Participants new to working with Veterans or military culture, seeking foundational knowledge about Veteran identity, military transitions, and cultural considerations.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience working with Veterans, aiming to deepen their understanding of the complexities of military service, identity formation, and relational factors impacting Service Members.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience working with Veterans, looking to refine their expertise by integrating advanced concepts of military culture, identity development, and nuanced clinical considerations.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants work in clinical, community, academic, and home-support environments serving Veterans and their families, via in-person and telehealth care. This training addresses the concern, “I didn’t serve. I can’t understand what my Veteran clients went through,” by building culturally informed, trauma-aware practice across three key military-to-Veteran transition points. These settings emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and practical skills that translate to daily workflows.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • VA medical centers and outpatient clinics
    • Vet Centers and community mental health agencies
    • Hospital behavioral health units and integrated primary care
    • Rehabilitation and recovery programs
    • Nonprofit Veterans’ service organizations
    • University counseling centers and research institutes
    • Private practices serving Veterans and families
    • Telehealth and virtual care platforms
    • Homeless outreach and transitional housing programs
    • Long-term care and home-based caregiving environments
Presented By

Kristen J. Vescera, 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. 



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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Provide context of Veteran identity and defining difference between military and Veteran culture

  • Discuss the context of different service era experiences

  • Discuss differences in military experiences (with video support)

  • Describe the role of the hierarchies service

  • Describe the role and context of relationships in service

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).

Sponsorship Approval Statements

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), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #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. Palo Alto University 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. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by 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.