Master of Science in Counseling
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Item The Military Empathy Myth: Exploring Diverse Counseling Barriers in the Armed Forces(2017-11) Dicks, Brenna M.The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs require both diverse and culturally competent therapeutic approaches to produce effective mental health counseling for service members and veterans. To determine current levels of counseling efficacy, an anonymous online survey consisting of two quantitative health care satisfaction measurements and qualitative short answer questions was e-mailed directly to active military members and veterans to share their experiences and attitudes concerning mental health counseling. Several telephone interviews were also conducted to gain further insight into military and veteran impressions about therapy and military culture. Analyses of the online measurement concluded that rank, number of deployments, education level, and completion of mandatory counseling programs were major factors in influencing service member attitudes. Qualitative analyses yielded three domains of response and opinion: pervasive client dissatisfaction with treatment by a counseling provider, the importance of the military experience in establishing positive counseling rapport, and systemic barriers to treatment. Current findings confirm major blockades to developing effective therapeutic relationships yielding positive counseling experiences among service members and veterans. Keywords: military, mental health, veterans, counseling, military stigma