%s1 / %s2

Playlist: Veterans Day: Providing Emotional Support for Those Who Serve

Compiled By: Chuck Wolfe

 Credit:

In my weekly Emotion Roadmap radio talk show I help people manage their own emotions and their emotional relationships with others. In this playlist I feature two separate pieces with a veteran who was deployed in Afghanistan and his wife who is heavily involved in supporting families of veterans and in helping returning veterans reintegrate to home, community and society. The interviews are informative, filled with insights and resources. The first interview is about being away, and how it feels and what can be done to make holidays more bearable. The second interview focuses more on veterans returning home. Even if you are not directly connected to a veteran, but you want to help out a veteran and his or her family, this series will be useful to you. The last segment features Dr. Julian Ford who does an excellent job describing and addressing what can be done to help those who suffer from posttraumatic stress syndrome. To all those who are veterans that choose to listen to these shows please know how much I, and so many others, appreciate your sacrifice and service. Thank you! Hide full description

In my weekly Emotion Roadmap radio talk show I help people manage their own emotions and their emotional relationships with others. In this playlist I feature two separate pieces with a veteran who was deployed in Afghanistan and his wife who is heavily involved in supporting families of veterans and in helping returning veterans reintegrate to home, community and society. The interviews are informative, filled with insights and resources. The first interview is about being away, and how it feels and what can be done to make holidays more bearable. The second interview focuses more on veterans returning home. Even if you are not directly connected to a veteran, but you want to help out... Show full description

Help for veterans returning home

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 31:43

“Thank a returning veteran for their service.” Jean Stetz Puchalski

What can each of us do to help veterans’ families when the veteran is still deployed? Listen to Jean share her ideas about reaching out to veterans and to their family members.

In celebration of Veterans Day here is an interview with Joseph Puchalski, long time National Guardsman who had been deployed to Afghanistan. Joe served in a combat mission as a force protection platoon sergeant in Afghanistan. Joe’s team provided support and security for a provincial reconstruction team that helped with rebuilding Afghanistan schools, roads, hospitals, mosques and so forth. Joe’s wife Jean is principal consultant at Individual Difference at Work. She specializes in leadership development, coaching, building resiliency, and post deployment reintegration programs.

Tribute_to_my_father_sumner_wolfe_small

For everyone who wants to understand more about the feelings of a veteran who is away for the holidays involved in a combat mission, Joe provides insights about what it is like to be in a combat mission far from home over the holidays. He talks about the military environment and how the military makes great efforts to help members of all religions to experience some of the traditions associated with their religious beliefs. And while it is quite different than being at home with family there is a lot that people at home can do to make it meaningful. Learn about “flat daddies” and how they are a tool to help young children stay connected to their fathers who are away on military service.

The show originally aired in two parts in December 2010 and in January 2011.

Help for veterans returning home Part 2

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 28:28

“One of the things that you can do for a member of the military who is currently serving is to help take care of their family. That happened for us and it made a phenomenal impression on me.” Joe Puchalski

In celebration of Veterans Day here is an interview with Joseph Puchalski, long serving National Guardsman who has served in Afghanistan. Joe’s wife Jean is principal consultant at Individual Difference at Work. She specializes in helping returning veterans re-enter their communities and return to their families. This is the second part of a two part series that focuses on how the community, family, friends and others can help military personnel while they are away and when they return home.

Honoring_all_who_served_small

“One of the things that you can do for a member of the military who is currently serving is to help take care of their family. That happened for us and it made a phenomenal impression on me.”  Joe Puchalski

When Joe returned home he discusses the transition back to civilian life. For Joe, time and support from spouse, family and friends helped immensely. And Jean says "while the good news is your spouse is coming home, the bad news is also that your spouse is coming home." We may fantasize and romanticize our expectations and then we have to manage the reality which often requires changes, some small, some large, some welcome, some not. To make the best possible experience for all returning veterans be thoughtful, be patient, be open, be understanding  and be supportive in every way that you can. Jean and Joe continue to share insights and resources in this second part of the two part series about veterans returning home.

Helping people deal with post traumatic stress

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 49:40

Dr. Julian Ford has a program and a grant targeted to help veterans deal with post traumatic stress syndrome. Dr. Ford's research, clinical work, and teaching focuses on assessment and psychotherapy of posttraumatic stress disorder, emotion regulation, healthcare utilization, and ethnocultural factors. Dr. Ford developed and conducts research on the TARGET psychosocial intervention model for adult, adolescent, and child traumatic stress disorders. Dr. Ford Chairs the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Scientific Review Subcommittee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. For a simplistic way to understand what happens in post traumatic disorder Dr. Ford explains what happens to people is that part of their brain triggers the alarm center which is there to protect us, but it goes off without a real threat. Dr. Ford's TARGET program is a formal training program that helps people take control over their emotions and that is EXACTLY the goal of our radio show, i.e., to "Take the Wheel and Control How We Feel!"

Courage_small While we teach listeners how to use The Emotion Roadmap for managing their own emotions and their emotional relationships with others, Dr. Ford's TARGET program provides a user manual and formal training for emotional control. It is targeted to work with people from all backgrounds. He does specialize in helping veterans. Dr. Ford introduces an acronym, FREEDOM which ultimately frees us from stressful reactions that are not grounded or based on reality. Each letter represents a step in the TARGET Program: Focus: Recognize triggers; Emotions you are experiencing both those that trigger alarm as well as those strengths that exist but may be in the background; Evaluate your thoughts, Define your goals, defining what is really important to you helps you to lessen the stress and become more calm; Options, choose the thoughtful, mindful choices that recognize and reinforce emotional intelligence, Make appropriate choices and manage and regulate emotions.

Helping Homeless Veterans, A Family Affair

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 53:28

Rachael McDermott and her dad, Jim Diana, volunteer
their time helping homeless veterans. Rachael works for
career services for Harvard and helps veterans develop skills and strategies for finding employment. Jim, a former Vietnam Vet, helps disabled vets by spending time with them, lifting their spirits. Both Rachael and Jim feel really special about helping homeless vets. Hopefully more people will reach out to help veterans after hearing this interview. As a very positive benefit to listening, towards the end you wil hear wonderful employment tips from Rachael for anyone!

Cw_head_shot_oct_2011_small

Chuck Wolfe connected with Rachael McDermott on LinkedIn and discovered that she and her dad have been volunteering helping homeless veterans. Rachael’s Dad, Jim Diana served as a First Lieutenant in the Army’s 9th Infantry Division from 1967-1970.  He was deployed to the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War and led many combat operations.  Rachael is the Assistant Director of Employer Relations at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Career Services Office, in Cambridge, MA.  In this role she provides career advising to Harvard graduate students and coordinates events and career fairs to connect employers with students.  Rachael and her dad volunteer at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. Rachael is committed to helping veterans find meaningful work. In the interview Chuck asked both Rachael and Jim to talk about their feelings volunteering with the veterans and the benefits of helping others. Chuck also asked Rachael to share some job hunting tips to help anyone seeking employment. She shares some wonderful strategies and information that will be helpful to anyone. Rachael’s dad volunteers to visit with the disabled homeless veterans. His resilient spirit is seen as a blessing by many.

 

A TRIBUTE to Veterans and Horses: Helping Each Other to Heal

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 48:09

Listen to this fascinating interview with Mike Beck, singer, song writer, horseman, and volunteer contributor to the Joyful Horse Project. The Joyful Horse Project helps combat veterans who have dealt with, or are dealing with some tough issues themselves partner with horses in need of emotional rescue. Mike created a TRIBUTE CD of lovely songs, mostly about horses, available for sale with all profits going to the project. The interview describes the program, the benefits, and we play and talk about my favorite songs from the CD.

Chuck_on_horseback1_small

The Joyful Horse Project is about rescuing horses.  It also has a unique program designed to partner veterans with horses called the Veterans Equine Therapy Service (VETS). Combat veterans work closely with a horse and a coach while their family members enjoy relaxing time with other military families. Veterans, through their training, become expert at understanding the importance of trust building and creating teamwork. This background, along with the coach's guidance, enables veterans to help emotionally needy horses re-establish trust and bonds with people. At the same time the horses are receiving guidance, the veterans also find that this work helps them to deal with their own stress. Many report gaining insights into and improving relationships.

In Praise of Veterans and One Special Veteran People Call Santa Claus

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 54:23

The Emotion Roadmap featured a show about veterans close to when we celebrated Veteran's Day in 2019. One caller talked about a veteran living in assisted housing who made it his responsibility to feed others who are struggling. People referred to him as Santa Claus. It is a lovely story and is surrounded by other comments in praise of veterans and a story about dealing with loss. Enjoy!

Santa_vet_small The Emotion Roadmap featured a show about veterans close to when we celebrated Veteran's Day in 2019. One caller talked about a veteran living in assisted housing who made it his responsibility to feed others who are struggling. People referred to him as Santa Claus. It is a lovely story and is surrounded by other comments in praise of veterans and a story about dealing with loss. Enjoy!

In Praise of Veterans and One Special Veteran People Call Santa Claus

From Chuck Wolfe | Part of the The Emotion Roadmap: Take the Wheel & Control How You Feel series | 54:23

The Emotion Roadmap featured a show about veterans close to when we celebrated Veteran's Day in 2019. One caller talked about a veteran living in assisted housing who made it his responsibility to feed others who are struggling. People referred to him as Santa Claus. It is a lovely story and is surrounded by other comments in praise of veterans and a story about dealing with loss. Enjoy!

Santa_vet_small The Emotion Roadmap featured a show about veterans close to when we celebrated Veteran's Day in 2019. One caller talked about a veteran living in assisted housing who made it his responsibility to feed others who are struggling. People referred to him as Santa Claus. It is a lovely story and is surrounded by other comments in praise of veterans and a story about dealing with loss. Enjoy!