Why Understanding Military Culture is Essential when Working with Veterans

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Patricia Watson from the National Center for PTSD and Dr. Christopher Loftis from the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention about how vital it is for behavior health care providers serving Veterans or Veterans’ loved ones to become more familiar with military culture and lifestyle.

Dr. Patricia Watson has been a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD since 1998. Prior to that, she was an active duty Navy psychologist for eight years. Dr. Watson received her doctoral degree from Catholic University and completed a postgraduate fellowship in pediatric psychology at Harvard Medical School. She has co-authored the VA/DoD online course, “Military Culture: Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals,” as well as multiple educational materials and manuals related to resilience, support, and treatment for active duty service members, Veterans, and first responders.

Dr. Christopher Loftis is a licensed clinical psychologist and consultant with more than 15 years of policy, program management, and practice experience in the nonprofit, commercial, and government sectors. He is currently the national director for VA/DoD Mental Health Collaboration within the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

Together, Drs. Watson and Loftis help listeners better connect with Veterans through awareness of the military experience.