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Whether working with the veteran or a family member, the dynamics of an injury or posttraumatic stress disorder that is war-based are different from other forms of nonwar trauma, and they need to be addressed as such. Career counselors, marriage and family counselors, school counselors at all levels, mental health counselors and hospice counselors would benefit from the insights in this article.
Why am I so passionate in asserting this point? In World War II, the typical combat veteran saw 40 battles per year. During the Vietnam War, the average number of battles per year for the combat veteran rose to 240, according to Deborah Grassman, author of Peace at Last. Additionally, the exposure to combat or combat stress expanded from infantry and artillery roles to a much broader set of roles. Emerging data suggest that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have seen even higher incidences of exposure to combat.
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization indicates that 10 percent of World War II veterans were adjudicated as disabled by the Veterans Administration. The figure rose to nearly 25 percent for Korean War veterans
and to 50 percent for veterans of the Vietnam War. The DAV estimates that disability rates for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars could rise as high as 80 percent.
When I was earning my counseling degree in 1974, I dared not mention
that I was a decorated Vietnam War veteran (1969-1970) for fear of reprisal. When I was earning my doctorate in
the 1990s, being a veteran was more accepted, but the challenges of recovering from war service were little understood by our profession. Today, professionals such as Myers are shedding light in dark corners of the room for veterans and their families. It appears that the American Counseling Association is making strides in lighting up the whole room. Thanks!
Tom Wiltzius, Ph.D., LPC Principal, enVision Performance
Solutions LLC Appleton, Wis. u
New!
Harm to Others: The Assessment and Treatment of Dangerousness
Brian Van Brunt
“This wonderful book is a much-needed guide for all of us working in the field of risk assessment for violence. I have worked in this field for many years and have amassed a lot of experience, and
I will have this book on my desk so I can refer to it every time I get that gut-wrenching call that begins, ‘I am worried that this person could act out violently. What should I do?’” (This opinion is not the opinion of the FBI. It is solely the opinion of Dr. Mary Ellen O’Toole.)
—Mary Ellen O’Toole, PhD Author, Speaker, Senior FBI Profiler (ret.), Forensic Behavior Consultant
Harm to Others offers students and clinicians an effective way to increase their knowledge of and training in violence risk and threat assessment, and it also provides a comprehensive examination of current treatment approaches. Although the text includes many examples from K–12 and college/university settings, which are particularly relevant for mental health professionals in school settings, the underlying concepts and suggestions are useful for counselors, psychologists, and social workers who face these issues in their daily practice.
In an easy-to-understand, jargon-free manner, Dr. Van Brunt shares his observations, extensive clinical expertise, and the latest research on what clinicians should be aware of when performing risk and threat assessments. In addition, he offers numerous examples from recent mass shootings and rampage violence to help explain the motivations and risk factors of those who make threats. Two detailed case examples are presented to illustrate key concepts related to assessing dangerousness. Treatment options are then described, using a variety of diverse case studies to demonstrate concrete approaches for clients who have been identified as at risk for violence following a threat assessment.
2015 | 272 pgs | Order #78103 | ISBN 978-1-55620-342-8 List Price: $52.95 | ACA Member Price: $37.95
Shipping and Handling: $8.75 ($1.00 for each additional book)
Order Online: counseling.org
By Phone: 800-422-2648 x222 (M-F 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Brian Van Brunt
The Assessment and Treatment of Dangerousness
December 2014 | Counseling Today | 9