11 Protocols For Psychologists And Coaches Working With Veterans And Current Serving

11 Protocols For Psychologists And Coaches Working With Veterans And Current Serving
By Barry Zworestine

If you are an Allied Health Professional working with Veterans, below are eleven protocols that can support you to impact positively and collaboratively on the Veterans you are seeing.

1. You first need to educate yourself about Veterans and their territory. Ignorance will not get you through their front door. 
2. Demonstrate trust and respect through being informed and understanding their language. 
3. Ask yourself whether you plan to be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. 
4. Listen and learn before you try preaching and teaching. 
5. Assess the modalities you use. All veterans are different. One size does not fit all. Simply using one evidence-based modality with one size fit all approach will not work. 
6. Try leaving your professional ego at the door. Get real. Get human. 
7. Don’t expect compliance to what you think is best practice. You haven’t yet earned the right to rank. 
8. Degrees may equal smart, but your behaviour and presence may still be anything but practical or valuable. Who you are and the informed care and respect you demonstrate mean everything. 
9. Who you are is more important than what you do. Sort out your people skills if necessary. 
10. A veteran entering your room is entitled to sit facing wherever he wishes. Move or vacate your chair if needed. 
11. Trauma is in the brain and body. Think about extending your training and skill set to include Brain, Body and Neuroscience based understanding and modalities. Veterans are flexible and adaptable and will expect the same from you.