lOMoARcPSD|22015503
Discussion 1- Victims of Sexual and Physical
Abuse and Combat Veterans
Orientation to Counseling Professional Identity (Liberty University)
lOMoARcPSD|22015503
A Professional Development Plan
As a counselor-in-training (CIT) who intends to specialize in trauma recovery, two
targeted populations I intend to provide services to, are victims of sexual and physical abuse, and
combat veterans.
A recent study indicates that nearly 80% of men, who have been sexually abused, will
disclose their abuse; however, on average, they wait over 15 years to share about their encounters
(Romano et al., 2019). As a child, I endured over nine years of both sexual and physical abuse at
the hands of my father, it took me nearly 27 years to disclose my sexual abuse. The Psychology
Today website is an excellent referral source for counselors to reach their target client base. This
website allows the potential client to search their local area for participating practitioners that list
their specialties on their profile.
The 2021 National Veterans Suicide Prevention Report, which reports through the year
2019, indicates approximately 17 veterans a day completed suicide in 2019 (U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, 2021). Although I am proud of my military service and the job I did as a special
operations officer, the damage my mental wellbeing sustained from the years of direct-action
combat experiences, nearly caused me to be one of the 17. I want to provide the help that was
instrumental in saving my own life. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is an excellent
referral source. Nationally, the VFW has teamed up with self-funded organizations, such as Give
an Hour, that provide free counseling to veterans, the local VFW chapter maintains referral lists
of local providers who are trained to work with the veteran population.
Members of the American Counseling Association (ACA), are able to access specialized
ongoing professional development training courses that will help better prepare me to serve both
populations. Additionally, in having an American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
membership, I receive discounted rates on continuing education courses through LightUniversity.
These courses provide evidence-based theories, methods and treatments that utilize a Christian
worldview approach.
I intend to spend my first 2 years of practice in the VA Healthcare system, here locally,
that would be the Portland VA Medical Center located at 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd.,
Portland, OR 97239, phone: 503-220-8262. Another possible location to practice here locally
would be with the Brightways Counseling Group located at 1310 Meridian Dr., Woodburn,
OR 97071, phone: 503-953-0310.
References
Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention
Annual Report (2021). Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-
sheets/2021/2021-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-9-8-21.pdf.
Romano, E., Moorman, J., Ressel, M., & Lyons, J. (2019). Men with childhood sexual abuse
histories: Disclosure experiences and links with Mental Health. Child Abuse & Neglect,
89, 212–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.12.010
