Inside the Mind of a Veteran

Filmed at the California Southern University School of Behavioral Sciences. Please visit http://www.calsouthern.edu/psychology Inside the Mind of a Veteran Presented by Joshua Taylor, PhD Description: In this presentation, Dr. Joshua Taylor will outline common psychological issues facing veterans from the various military branches, exploring commonalities and differences among them. He will begin by addressing the thinking, feeling and behaving aspects of military functioning and military life. This is often overlooked in the therapeutic setting, by the veterans, their families and the therapist. Understanding these important elements can shed light on the issues being addressed. Dr. Taylor will also address the critical differences and distinctions that separate the veteran from the civilian population, and why recognizing these differences is an important part of successful therapy. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the lecture, participants will be able to: – Describe the different branches of the military and what their respective roles often are in shaping the psyche of the veteran. – Understand the roles of cognition, emotion and behavior regarding PTSD and vicarious trauma. – Identify key concepts that can assist the therapist in treating veterans. – Explain how and why understanding the “military way of life” is critical to establishing the therapeutic relationship. Bio: Dr. Joshua Taylor is a clinical psychologist and currently the regional program manager at the San Bernardino County behavioral health center. He is a published author and has presented to a wide variety of universities, organizations and conferences on issues relating to veterans’ mental health, PTSD and trauma. Dr. Taylor serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Phoenix and is considered an expert on trauma. He has provided behavioral health staff training on mental illness, as well as oversight of crisis intervention training for law enforcement programs. In addition, he has been a regional MHSA Housing Program liaison. Dr. Taylor is a past member of the Orange County Disaster Response Team and a sworn civilian member of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team. He also has been recognized by the Orange County Health Care Agency and Orange County Superior Court for his training on veterans’ issues and emergency response activities.