S5 E6: Kelly Walch and Cat Corchado on Addressing the unique Mental Health Challenges of Women Veterans

Beyond Theory

This podcast episode from Beyond Theory highlights the often-overlooked mental health struggles faced by women veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life. Guests Cat Corchado, a veteran and community relationship ambassador, and Kelly Walch, a therapist specializing in trauma recovery, provide insights into the unique challenges and paths to healing for women who have served.

Women veterans frequently feel isolated and invisible compared to their male counterparts, representing a small minority at veteran events. This sense of disconnection can exacerbate the difficulties of reintegrating into civilian society.

Moreover, women in the military often contend with pervasive sexual harassment, assault, and trauma. These experiences are often minimized or swept under the rug, with victims facing stigma rather than support. Recent data shows an alarming rise in reported sexual assaults against servicewomen.

Upon leaving the service, women veterans encounter additional obstacles as single parents, including finding employment, housing, and childcare with limited support systems. Shockingly, women veterans are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to non-veteran women.

The military culture of strength and self-reliance can deter women from seeking needed mental health support, as they feel pressure to prove their resilience and capability. Overcoming this stigma and reaching out for help is crucial for healing and recovery.

Connecting with fellow women veterans through organizations like Woven provides vital understanding, camaraderie, and resources to navigate the challenges of transition. Increased representation and visibility, such as women veterans being honored in public ceremonies, offers much-needed validation and inspiration.

Therapist Kelly Walsch emphasizes the importance of having compassion for the impacts of trauma on the nervous system. Struggling veterans, she advises, should seek support and "co-regulation" by connecting with others, rather than trying to cope alone. Somatic strategies, peer support, and trauma-informed therapy can be transformative for women veterans in building resilience and reclaiming their lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Isolation and Invisibility: Women veterans often feel disconnected and overlooked compared to their male counterparts, which can compound the challenges of transitioning to civilian life.

2. Military Sexual Trauma: Sexual harassment, assault, and trauma are pervasive experiences for women in the military, often minimized or stigmatized rather than addressed and supported.

3. Transition Challenges: Upon leaving the service, women veterans face unique obstacles as single parents, including finding employment, housing, childcare, and navigating civilian systems with limited support.

4. Homelessness Risk: Women veterans are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to non-veteran women, underscoring the need for targeted support and resources.

5. Stigma and Help-Seeking: Military culture can discourage women from seeking needed mental health support, as they feel pressure to prove their strength and resilience. Overcoming this stigma is crucial for healing.

6. Peer Connection and Community: Connecting with fellow women veterans through dedicated organizations provides vital understanding, camaraderie, and resources to navigate the challenges of transition.

7. Trauma and the Nervous System: Trauma profoundly impacts the nervous system, and having compassion for these effects is essential for recovery. Seeking co-regulation and support is crucial for healing.

8. Somatic Strategies and Therapy: Somatic approaches, trauma-informed therapy, and gender-specific resources can be transformative for women veterans in building resilience and reclaiming their lives post-service.

9. Representation and Visibility: Increasing public representation and honoring of women veterans can provide much-needed validation, inspiration, and awareness of their unique experiences and contributions.

10. Call to Action for Behavioral Health: The behavioral health community must provide tailored, holistic support for women veterans, normalizing help-seeking, offering specialized resources, and advocating for their needs.

This episode is a powerful call to action for the behavioral health community to provide tailored, holistic support for women veterans. Breaking the silence around their experiences, normalizing help-seeking, and offering gender-specific resources for trauma recovery, social connection, and reintegration are essential. By coming together to uplift and empower our sisters in service, we can create a society that truly honors the sacrifices and strength of women veterans.