Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 2818 RAPPORT | Feature Story William James also makes a special effort for women who have served. In response to feelings of marginalization women often report throughout the national discussion of caring for vets, the Col- lege has hosted a special weekend for females and children for the past three years. Following a short program, women are offered massages, meditation sessions, group discussions and yoga in an attempt to both honor them and remind them of the impor- tance of self care, according to Dingman. Too often, clinicians don’t ask their patients about prior military service,” said Harold Kudler, MD, chief consultant for mental health at the Veter- an’s Administration, speaking at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. “If they are not asked, vets think you don’t care,” he said. There are 22 million US veterans, but only nine million receive care in the VA health system. “The vast majority of vets don’t use the VA,” said Kudler. “Furthermore, the vast majority of mental health professionals that these millions of women and men turn to for help have no specific training about how to serve veterans and their families.” It’s true, the shortage is dire, but the good news is that 91�㽶��Ƶ�������� has developed a na- tional model for educating military service members, veterans and civilian students to provide state- of-the-art, culturally sensitive behavioral health services to individuals and families psychologically wounded by war. In 2013, the College opened a new academic concentration: Military and Veterans Psychology. Though not all veterans studying at William James intend to treat vets, the presence of the growing number of current and former military people on the campus helps create a specific culture, according to Dr. Robert Dingman, Director of the military initiative. “We have chosen to honor and respect people’s service,” he says, “and make them feel comfortable, understood and recognized.” The number of military-affiliated, veterans or dependent students on the campus, not including members of the faculty and staff, has grown to nearly 50. Dingman acknowledges that there will never be enough veterans to fulfill the need for mental health professionals who are veterans. That’s why he and the College are eager to train the maximum number of “culturally competent” professionals. He says that William James is the only College deliberately recruiting combat veterans to become military psychologists. Elena Tillman, PsyD, being commissioned as a Navy Lieutenant following commencement ceremonies in June 2016. FROM CIVILIAN TO NAVY LIEUTENANT Over the last few years, there has also been an interest in military and veterans psychology among 91�㽶��Ƶ�������� civilian students. Elena Tillman, PsyD, had the unique experience of being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Navy at her