ODL 382: Serving Those Who Served: Understanding and Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Veterans and Their Families

Created On:  1/26/26                  

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.

Counselor Skill Groups: 

3. Treatment Plan
4. Counseling Services
6. Case Management

Overview:

Veterans and their families face unique psychological, social, and cultural challenges that can significantly impact mental health and well-being. This comprehensive 5-hour training is designed for mental health professionals – including social workers, counselors, psychologists, and case managers – who provide clinical and community-based services to veteran populations. Participants will gain insight into military culture, the psychological impact of service-related experiences, and evidence-based approaches to treatment.

Special attention will be given to screening and treating conditions common among veterans, such as PTSD, depression, suicide risk, substance use, and traumatic brain injury (TBI), while integrating cultural responsiveness and ethical considerations. The training will also address systemic barriers to care, family dynamics, and the role of community support.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Describe key elements of military culture and explain how these elements influence help-seeking behaviors and therapeutic engagement among veterans and their families.
• Identify common mental health conditions among veterans, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, suicide risk, substance use disorders (SUD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and describe their clinical presentations.
• Apply culturally responsive screening and assessment tools for identifying mental health conditions in veteran populations, with attention to suicide prevention strategies.
• Demonstrate evidence-based and trauma-informed interventions for veterans and their families, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and motivational interviewing (MI).
• Examine the ethical and systemic challenges that impact access to care for veterans, including stigma, confidentiality in military-connected systems, and social determinants of health, and apply relevant professional codes of ethics.
• Evaluate the psychosocial impact of military service on families and caregivers, and identify strategies to support relational healing and reintegration.

Presenter:

Samantha Getha, LCSW and Owner of Waves of Courage Counseling LLC

Samantha “Sam” Getha is a licensed clinical social worker in Alaska and Virginia, specializing in trauma-focused care for military and veteran families, in addition to her experience working with healthcare workers and law enforcement. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, focusing on military mental health.

An expert in trauma, including complex PTSD and attachment trauma, Sam brings over 9 years of experience from her roles as a hospital social worker, mental health provider, family advocacy outreach manager, and domestic abuse victim advocate on military installations. Drawing from a lifetime immersed in military culture as a military brat and spouse, she brings a unique perspective and empathy to her work.

Samantha is a Certified EMDR Therapist and certified in trauma-sensitive yoga, valuing ongoing education and having taught mindfulness in inpatient and one-on-one settings. She strives to be culturally competent in all aspects of her practice. In her private practice, Waves of Courage Counseling LLC, Sam currently offers one-on-one online therapy sessions for adults 18+, as well as clinical supervision and consultation. She is a Virginia Board-approved supervisor for social workers and contracts with non-profit organizations to expand her reach.

Originally from North Carolina, Sam is a second-generation Filipino American who now resides in Northern Virginia, enjoying outdoor adventures with her husband and dogs.